Following last year’s European silver medal win in Spain, Mark Downes and Mark Addy have decided to give some ‘young blood’ a chance to establish themselves.
Stepping down this year for the European Championships are Steve Gardener and Steve Hemmingray. They are replaced by Barnsley’s Lee Kerry, who has already represented his country at youth level and Bristol’s Callum Dicks, a regular in the successful Dorking squad and a former Youth World Champion.
They will be competing with Will Raison, former European and World Champion; Alan Scotthorne, five times World Champion; Sean Ashby, 2012 World Champion and Des Shipp, one of the strongest anglers in the UK.
Mark Downes said:
“The new additions to the team are extremely talented individuals. It does take time to mature into a fully fledged international, and I believe both of these lads will adapt to the task admirably. Both have already had international experience at Youth and World Club level and they will fit in nicely”.
Dick Clegg, International Events Manager for the Angling Trust stated:
“I applaud the decision of the England management in introducing new blood to the European Championship team. Since the demise of both the Home Championships and the Six Nations it has become very difficult to change a successful team.
This European event has become almost the only competition that can be used to give potential anglers the chance to enhance their standings and I wish them the best of luck in Serbia”.
