Brian Cooke reports on the recent World shore championship held in the Netherlands.
Congratulations to the Irish Shore Angling team who have taken the bronze medal in the 2012 World Shore Angling Championship, held in Holland.
The fishing was very tough over the week with anglers casting into a shipping channel that contained tackle grabbing ledges. The predominant species were dabs to 30 cm, whiting, pouting and some lovely soles. The weather was very changeable and gales combined with big tides tested the resolve of the competitors. Most fish were taken at distance and zones were won with 15-25 fish.
The Irish team improved every day, finishing seventh on Day 1, moving up to 5th and 4th on succeeding days.
Coming into the final session, they had to close a 4 point gap on the Italian team in third, a massive gap to overturn in this event given the quality of the opposition.
But the Irish team pulled it off, using all their experience and skills to leapfrog the Italians and claim another World Championship medal for an Irish Shore team. The qualification pool system
has certainly proved a success, this medal adding to the gold won by Ireland in South Africa in 2010.
Congratulations to team manager Tom Lillis and the team : Martin Howlin, Joe Duggan, John O’ Brien, Derek Kenrick, Eugene Farrelly and Kieran Begadon.
Full results are available at :
http://www.sportvisserijnederland.nl/sportvissers/wc_shore_angling_2012/?page=wc_shoreangling_2012
