In a week that saw London win the Olympic bid and then saw their joy disappear due to the terrorist atrocities, England’s finest anglers triumphed in the two-day World Championships fished in Finland.
The going was tough on the Saimaa Canal but Drennan England were well placed seven points behind the fancied Belgians after the first day. But a superb day two performance saw the team sweep to victory and William Raison of Farnborough net the individual bronze medal.
Joint team manager Mark Downes said: “After two days of gruelling fishing the lads readily shone under baking hot sun as the resident bream and perch failed to materialise in numbers and England fishing a spartan mix of Sensas Lake and leam and a miniscule amount of jokers managed to eke out weights between 450 gm and 1.5 kg for good consistent results over the two days.”
“Individually Will Raison once again shone, a section win on Day one and fourth on day two to take the bronze medal, but four times World Champion Alan Scotthorne, who finished fourth, could have had a fifth gold medal had he not lost a 6 oz skimmer bream at the net on day one.”
Joint manager Mark Addy added: “It was an outstanding team performance, one that echoed our performance in Paris in 2001. This team is without the best in the world.”
A jubilant NFA president, Terry Fell attending his first World event said: “I am chuffed to bits and look forward to taking the trophy back to our Nottingham headquarters where it will take pride of place in our cabinet.”
Teams: 1 Drennan England, 64 pts; 2 Belgium, 76; 3 Hungary, 77; 4 France, 78.
