The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland Float and Feeder Team qualifiers to select teams for the 2013 World, European and Celtic Cup teams will be fished in an All Ireland Qualifier format, to CIPS rules, over Six weekends in 2012.

The manager Mark Theedom feels that the new format of running events in all areas of Ireland, will be more inclusive and encourage many more anglers to participate in the current Ireland Team Qualifier system.

The Series will be fished on the following dates and venues (subject to fishing/water conditions on the venues selected).

1.   Sat/Sun 21/22nd April – River Barrow, Co Carlow.

2.   Sat/Sun 19/20 May – Inniscarra, Co Cork.

3.   Sat/Sun 02/03 Jun – River Shannon O’ Brien’s Bridge, Co Clare

4.   Sat/Sun 11/12 Aug – Lough Muckno, Co Monaghan.

5.   Sat/Sun 22/23 Sept- Lough Oughter, Co Cavan.

6.   Sat/Sun 20/21 Oct – Lower River Bann, Co Antrim.

It is proposed that the Float Qualifier’s will be fished on the Saturday and will also include a Junior section, the Feeder Qualifier will be fished on the Sunday on the same venue.

The series will be open to all anglers who are members of NCFFI affiliated clubs. It is hoped to create six good fishing weekends that are open and inclusive to all anglers and that dates are fully supported by all NCFFI clubs and provinces.

All senior anglers will pay 60euro entry fee for the six match series which will help fund teams travelling to the 2013 championships. Individual anglers who are not intending to fish the series but wishing to fish individual qualifiers in their local area will be charged a 15euro fee which will also go to team funds.

Optional pools with a 100% payout may be organised by the participating anglers.

Juniors will not be expected to pay any entry fee or pools.

Mark will select his Teams from the top 20 anglers in the Float Qualifiers and the top 50% of anglers taking part in the Feeder  Qualifiers.

Mark commented: “Anglers are not required to fish all matches, but by adopting this system we would hope to encourage more anglers to try for the national team, obviously the more qualifiers you fish the greater the chance of selection.”

Italian tackle giant Tubertini sponsors of Tubertini Team Ireland will also sponsor tackle prizes for both events.