The National Federation of Anglers manager for the NFA’s England Team with Disabilities, Alan Bates, has announced a ‘tried and trusted’ squad to fish the 2002 World Championships for Angler’s with Disabilities being staged at the National Angling Centre in Llanelli, Wales on Saturday and Sunday, August 17/18.

The five-man squad were chosen after a tough trial match fished on the same water: Alan Bates said “We have to include three angler’s who are wheel-chair bound in the team of four and the squad of five are young, enthusiastic and most important, have fished for England before.”

The team has a new coach for this year’s World Championships – Dave Vincent is on Embassy Division One National Championship duty: NFA qualified coach Mark Lewis from Newtown, Wales is the man trusted with the job of winning medals for the team.

Alan Bates says: “The water suits us and we are confident of collecting some medals. The target species are roach, skimmers, bream and rudd and there are a few bonus carp.

“The tactics will be pole and waggler and this year we are in a position to practice on the water regularly. Included in our very strong team is Mark Eves from Maidenhead, Berkshire who was runner-up in Italy in 2000. Barnsley’s Stefan Gent has also made the team and he was fourth individual in Portugal last year.”

The full team is: STEFAN GENT, Barnsley; MARK EVES, Maidenhead, Berks; PAUL CHUDYK, Godalming; JOHN DICKENS, Sheffield; CHRIS NADALLEK, Grantham.