WHITE ACRES/NFA Ladies Team England received a boost to their 10th Ladies World Angling Championship gold medal challenge this week when current sponsors, White Acres, announced that they intend to sponsor the world champions for at least three years. General manager of the luxury Cornish holiday park, Allister Wilson, said: “We are delighted to be full sponsors of the team. We have agreed a complete new set of clothing and promotional luggage and we are treating this as a ‘long-term’ sponsorship.”
Not surprisingly, England coach and former world angling champion Tom Pickering, has named the same squad that won last years world Championship in Slovenia; this means that World Individual Champion, Sandra Scotthorne, will have a chance of defending her crown. “I am thrilled to be in the squad and I am taking nothing for granted. We have practised on the venue and all of the team has done well. The lake is full of fish and I believe we have an excellent chance of retaining our crown.”
The squad is: Sandra Scotthorne, Wendy Lythgoe, Helen Dagnall, Claire Dagnall, Wendy Locker and Emma Pickering. Coach Tom Pickering added: “We have an excellent squad and they have done well in practise. We will go into the championships as favourites but we have to be cautious. Teams of the calibre of Italy and France will also catch lots of fish on this venue.”
Team manager Frank Lythgoe commented: “The squad is well prepared and confident. They know the pressure will be on them but this year they will not have to face a two-day drive across Europe to compete. No-one should expect this to be a walk-over victory for England but we are quietly confident we will do very well.”
National Federation of Anglers President, Ken Ball, had a five-hour workout on Furzton Lake yesterday (Thursday) and took a roach or perch on every cast. “I ended up with more than 30 lb of small fish taken on a six-metre whip. The water is heaving with fish with the big carp well out basking in the sun” said Ken.Bosnia only entered yesterday but the organisers agreed to accept their entry. Event manager David Kent said: “Bosnia‘s late entry has caused us all sorts of problems; we have printed the programme and the tabards are almost finished but we will cope. We have accepted Bosnia to keep in line with the spirit of the competition.”
The organisers hope the World Championships, fished over the holiday weekend, will attract a good crowd. “We know there will be lots of events on but there is only one Ladies World Championships and entry will be free. There will be a used tackle and discount tackle village. It will be a great two days entertainment” commented David Kent