The Drennan Team England squad will consist of: Sean Ashby (2012 World Champion), Will Raison (former World Champion), Alan Scotthorne (5 times World Champion), Steve Gardener (Most capped England angler), Steve Hemmingray (Former European Champion) and Des Shipp.
Missing out this year is Stuart Conroy, Mark Addy said:
“Stuart has done fantastically well for the team but this venue, being a small fish one, will I feel suit Steve Hemmingray better, and Steve Hemmingray thoroughly deserves his chance to take part at the top level.”
The team will leave for Poland two weeks before the event to familiarise themselves with the water, and will be keeping a close eye on the venues form leading up to the event.
Mark Downes, Drennan Team England Manager stated:
“This is a strong team that will be tackling a very difficult venue. The small 35m wide canal just on the outskirts of Warsaw does not have a great head of fish at present, and unless there is some form of stocking I can see it developing into a small fish, low weight event.
This year looks like being a good, but difficult one. We go to Serbia for the Europeans with some new good young blood, and hopefully we will do well. Poland will have its own challenges, which I’m sure this massively experienced team can master.”
Dick Clegg OBE, International Events Manager of the Angling Trust, added:
“I would personally like to thank Stuart Conroy for all his hard work and tactical awareness that he has brought to the team during the past ten years. The management team of Mark Addy and Mark Downes have gone for what they consider is a horses for courses squad this time around, but I know that Stuart will be back in contention next year. Steve Hemmingray will make a great addition to this extremely talented team and I expect them to put up a medal winning performance in Poland.
The venue is the organisers’ second choice after the first was turned down by the FIPSed technical commission, but early reports are that it may still be a low weight event.”
