Angler’s Mail – July 09, 2019

12 | 9 JULY anglersmail.com

B

ALTIC blasters Lithuania
delivered one of
international match fi shing’s
biggest ever shocks, with
a golden performance in

the 25th FIPSed European

Championships.

The Eastern European aces

defeated 16 rival nations over

two days on a tough River Bann

at Port Glenone, in Northern

Ireland.

Placed fourth after Day 1

with 25 points, behind host

nation Ireland on 24, Poland on

23 and France leading with 21,

Lithuania fared even better on

Day 2, fi nishing equal with The

Netherlands on 24 apiece.

Although the Dutch pipped

them on weight, Lithuania’s

consistency proved decisive

overall, after France, whose

Day 1 victory was built around

a surprise tactic of targeting

gudgeon on 5 and 6 m whips,

could muster only 34 points for

fourth on Day 2.

The upshot was a golden

total of 49 points for the fab

fi ve, representing a nation with a

population of just 2.8 million.

Individual Bronze for Tomas

Buzas, on 4 points, added icing

to their cake, while Mindaugas

Alekna was fourth on 6, Aurimas

Verbliugevicius 11th on 9,

Arnoldas Liaukevicius 21st on 13

and Andrius Krivosejevas 45th

with 17.

France’s 55-point total

secured second place on the

podium, with Stephane Linder

also collaring individual Silver,

thanks to weight advantage over

Buzas.

The Netherlands’ Day 2

triumph – spearheaded by

individual Gold medalist Ramon

Ansing’s 3-point tally – elevated

them to team Bronze with 58.

Lithuania boss the Bann!

● Euro Gold for Eastern aces ● Host nation Ireland pipped to Bronze ● England fi nish eighth

FIPSed European Championships SPECIAL REPORT

LITHUANIA’S victorious Euros

squad fl ew home on Sunday

evening minus one key member –

Arnoldas Liaukevicius – who fi rst

returned to England, where he’s

lived and worked since 2001.

Based in Feltham, near

Heathrow Airport, in West

London, Arnoldas is a regular

in the Drennan Oxford squad,

with whom he has won several

domestic honours, including

Angling Trust Winter League

team Bronze in 2017.

But, incredibly, he only started

fi shing fi ve years ago!

Angler’s Mail caught up with

Arnoldas just before he caught

a fl ight to Lithuania to attend a

presentation event for the team, to

fi nd out more about their victory.

“We started the practice week

with good info thanks to help from

Darren Davies. But the venue was

very hard, and we caught very little

at fi rst,” explained Arnoldas.

“We realised that an English-

style approach with maggots,

pinkies and hemp would be better

than just bloodworm and joker. We

also altered our groundbaits during

practice week, ending up with a

mix containing very little feed –

just 150 ml of joker, a few dead

maggots and pinkies, and 500 ml

of hemp.

“Loosefeeding hemp and a few

maggots was good. Double red

maggot was the best hook bait for

the bigger roach. We tried to catch

roach early. If that failed, we went

for perch.

“On a venue with top 5 and 6 kits

needed, we used very light fl oats

for that depth of water – 0.5 or

0.75 g, with small hooks, too.

“On Day 1, I was our lowest

scorer, with 10 points. On Day 2

Andrius struggled for 12 points. But

our other scores were very good

both days. It’s a dream result!”

Lithuania’s English link –

Arnoldas Liaukevicius is based

in West London and fi shes for

Drennan Oxford. He helped his

nation to unexpected glory.

Fast learner Arnoldas adds English infl uence

European Gold medalist

Ramon Ansing (Netherlands) with

his Day 2 catch.

Mighty minnows make history. Lithuania beat Europe’s

fi nest to scoop top team and individual silverware.

Shock champions – Lithuania, decked in laurels and

medals, at the airport after their Euro win.