THE Angling Trust is looking for ace coarse anglers who would like to compete for the England under 18s and under 23s - and will soon stage assessments, looking at the cream of young talent from around the country.
The U18s and U23s Youth World Championships are to be staged at Smederevo in Serbia from 7th – 8th August, but now is when the managers really start to look hard at who is a contender to fish for England.
Mark Downes, who co-manages the full Drennan England team, is also the main man for the under-23s.
The Sensas Team England youth assessment for the under 18s is on Sunday 29th March at Makins Fishery, near Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Applicants must have been under 18 years of age on 31st December 2014 to apply, returning their applications no later than 2nd March.
The Drennan Team England youth assessment for the under 23s will take place on Saturday 14th March 2015 on the Gloucester Canal staged between Hempstead Bridge and the turning bay over a four-hour session. Applications have closed – anglers had to have been under 23 years of age on 31st December 2014 to apply.
Applicants who do get invited along to the assessements must impress the managers, both of whom have steered teams to glory many times on the big stages.
Sensas U18s England manager, Steve Sanders will be looking for young anglers who have the ability to fish under pressure and to international rules. The hopefuls must be proficient in fishing bloodworm on the pole for roach, skimmers and perch.
Mark Downes, who manages the Drennan-backed under 23s, will be looking for anglers who have the ability to fish calmly while under pressure and have the ability to think on their feet.
The World venue will be a tough one where the pole will play a major role, so the assessment will be concentrating on pole and bloodworm fished at 6-8m and a full 13m. All competitors will be fishing to full international rules.
Sam Hughes holds the individual and team trophies he won at World youth level in 2013.
Can they win gold?
Last time around, the Sensas-backed Under-18s team so narrowly missed out on emulating 2013’s golden glory which had also seen Sam Hughes also won individual gold (pictured above).
They finished second in the 2014 FIPSed World Youth Angling Championships in Holland. On a topsy-turvy Nord Willan Canal, the cream of England’s youth match talent produced an awesome Day 1 performance to lead by five clear points – only for France to match that score on Day 2 and overhaul them by two points in the 16-team event’s overall reckoning.
Sadly, the 2014 Under-23s event fished on adjacent sections of the canal ended with double disappointment for more senior Drennan England intermediates, with desperately poor sport resulting in fourth place overall despite the slight consolation of Day 2 victory.
Steve Sanders and Mark Downes will be pulling out all the stops to ensure that their lads – once they decide exactly who they are – do their very best to enhance the nation’s awesome reputation at top level.
Apply by form only
Anyone wishing to apply for the assessment trials in the future must complete an England youth assessment trial form. Find out more by contacting Sandra Drew, Competitions & Events Manager at the Angling Trust. Email: sandra.drew@anglingtrust.net, or telephone: 0115 9061 301.
Remember forms for 2015 must be returned by no later than 2nd March 2015 for the under 18s selections. Under 23 applications have now closed. Application forms are automatically sent to anyone who applied for the assessment trial last year.