Former World Champion Tom Pickering, Manager/Captain of the Preston Innovations England Feeder Team has now announced the team selected for the inaugural Feeder World Championships this year for the World Angling Games in Italy. They are; Tom Pickering (Manager/Captain), Glen Lawrence (Coach), Steve Ringer, Darren Cox, Steve Hemingray, Mick Vials, and Dean Barlow.

This year all England teams will be competing in Italy from 28th August – 4th September 2011 which has put some of the bigger names out of the picture already committed to fishing at other venues. Glen Lawrence, the current Barnsley Blacks Captain will be coaching this strong five man squad alongside Tommy on the River Tevere in Perugia, Italy, near the town of Todi.

Tom Pickering, Manager/Captain of the Preston Innovations England Feeder Team said “ I am delighted that after weeks of deliberating and looking at anglers fishing abilities I have selected a team of anglers based on their understanding of river fishing. The river Tevere contains chub, skimmers, carasio and wild carp, and I’m happy to say that these anglers are experienced in catching all these species.

All this team have international experience, apart from Steve Ringer. Darren Cox, Steve Hemingray and myself have fished for Drennan Team England, Mick Vials and Dean Barlow with the England Juniors, and also at World Club level and the Ladies World Championships as bank runners. All of this has had a big influence in whom I have selected and reasons why. Glen Lawrence, my coach has worked with me on the World Club Championships and Ladies World Championships over the years and had a lot of experience at the forefront of international angling. All in all this squad has a lot of international experience and they are all top anglers that are buzzing for this match to come around.”

Dick Clegg OBE International Events Manager for the Angling Trust has given his full support to the squad selected by manager Tom Pickering. Dick said “The squad that Tom has selected is strong in all departments and I have no doubt that they will come back with a medal. This inaugural event taking place in Italy in September should see the start of another period of England dominance in world fishing. Feeder fishing originated in the British Isles and although many European countries are now having specific feeder competitions, England should be too strong for most of them.
I would have liked to have been involved in this event but unfortunately it is one of several taking place at the same time but I know the squad will be well looked after by Tom Pickering and his assistant Glen Lawrence.”’

Matt Hicks, Product Development Manager, and spokesperson of Preston Innovations said "We are delighted to be sponsoring a team that is made up of such successful and experienced anglers. We are confident that the partnership of a talented team such as this – combined with the support and products that Preston Innovations will provide – can result in the England Feeder team continuing the tradition of fine results on the International stage by coming home with some medals. With a little luck, hopefully they’ll be gold!”

In the later part of 2011 Tom Pickering will invite anglers along to trials he will be running so he can watch them fish and see which team would be suitable to represent England in the 2012 World Feeder Championships.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News