Angler’s Mail – July 09, 2019

anglersmail.com 9 JULY | 13

EUROPEAN

CHAMPS

FINAL TEAM

RESULT

Lithuania 49

France 55

Netherlands 58

Ireland 66

Poland 66

Spain 70.

Hungary 85

England 89

Czech Republic 90

Italy 90.

Germany 101.

Slovenia 104

Belgium 106

Russia 110

Luxembourg 110

Scotland 135.

Finland 142

IRELAND manager Vincent
Walsh admitted that slipping
out of a podium position
on Day 2 made the 2019

What went

wrong for

England?

EIGHTH place in a 17-team fi eld
represents a disappointing
Euro Champs outcome for
Team England, despite a Day
2 score of 39 points being
an improvement of Day 1’s
50-point tally.
A return to the European
side for top-ranked England
duo Alan Scotthorne and
Steve Hemingrey – whose
absence from last year’s Euros
was cited as one factor in the
ending of Drennan’s long term
sponsorship – was still unable
to offer podium prospects.
Will Raison was England’s
top scorer, 12th overall, on 10
points, followed by Steve in 31st
on 15. James Dent’s solid Day
1 score of 5 was followed by a
lowly 11, while Alan struggled
for 15 then 7.
Cam Hughes endured a Day
1 last but one section place for
16, and his Day 2 replacement
Matt Derry managed a
mediocre 10 in the second leg.

Northern Ireland’s River Bann proved to be a tough match length.

So, what went wrong for a

team fancied by many to take

a medal?

Co-manager Steve Sanders

reckoned the drawbag played a

major part. “We didn’t have the

best of draws, both in practice

and the match itself. Our Day

1 practise zone wasn’t even

included in the match. Alan’s

peg on Day 1 was virtually

unfi shable, and we had the

same in B section on Day 2.

“I’m not saying we did

everything 100 per cent

right during practice. We’ll

take certain things out of the

experience,” continued Steve.

“The event was brilliantly

run, but the fi sh just weren’t

present in numbers. This

time last year the locals were

catching big weights there. It

should have been fi shed in late

July, as originally planned, but

I’m told the date was moved

forward due to clashing with a

golf tournament!”

Team England ended up a disappointing eighth overall.

Euro Champs a bitter-sweet

experience.

“I’m very proud of the

team’s effort, dedication and

performance,” said Vincent.

“We were so close to a team

medal, and fourth place out of

17 of the World’s best match

teams is still fantastic.”

He also praised the National

Coarse Fishing Federation

of Ireland’s work in making

the match length a truly

international standard venue.

“We will now enjoy a legacy

based on that. Bann Bonanza

matches will be back.

“The Dutch anglers and

several others told me how

much they loved the venue and

want to return.

“The timing was unfortunate

this year, with the weather

conditions, but it was still a fair

fi shing match.

“From our perspective,

despite team match fi shing’s

decline in Ireland, we have

young anglers like Jordan

Hall, who won his section on

Day 1, and James O’Doherty,

who fi nished 12th overall,

as inspiration for the next

generation,” added Vincent.

Walsh anticipates

rich Bann legacy

Ireland

manager

Vincent

Walsh

with his

team’s top

performer,

James

O’Doherty.

Ireland’s Day 1 section winner
Jordan Hall.