Drennan Team England proved they really are at the top of their game when it comes to fishing by taking the gold medal team win in the Nations World Championships on the Zeranski Channel in Northern Warsaw, Poland from 14th – 15th September 2013.
This team really show why they are ranked number one in the World by also taking the individual honours with Steve Hemingray (Former European Champion) winning silver, and Alan Scotthorne (5 times World Champion) winning the bronze medal with both getting two section wins over the two days of the Championship. A weight count back saw Didier Delannoy of France take the individual Championship title with 2 points and 9.845 kg, and just pip Steve Hemingray by 2 kg.
The Drennan Team England squad consisted of; Alan Scotthorne (South Yorkshire), Will Raison (Aldershot), Sean Ashby (Derbyshire), Des Shipp (Bristol), Steve Hemingray (Leicestershire), Steve Gardener (Surrey) and Joint Managers, Mark Downes and Mark Addy.
This year saw 36 teams taking part in the World Championships, with the United States putting a team into the World Championships for the first time in years.
The team went into the event with the impression that bleak were going to be the main species, and for the first few days of practice that looked the case, but as the week progressed the bleak got fewer and fewer and by the Thursday it looked as if the event would still be dominated by small fish but now roach, averaging 35 gms and Plaquetts, a small silver bream that average 25 gms.
It had developed into an ‘English Style’ canal match not dissimilar to the ‘Stainy’, so the tactics were formulated. 7 x balls of dark Sensas terre de somme with 10% Sensas black lake with 200ml of joker at 13m all cupped. 7 x balls of a light black peaty leam plus Terre de Somme at 10-11m with 200ml of Joker cupped (the bottom was very soft in some areas and this settled on top of the silt. 3 balls of Peat and Leam at 6m with 50ml of Joker at 6m.
The team started at 6m and worked the 3 lines over the four hours, catching 3 or 4 fish of each before switching. Topping up only occurred if the line really began to fish well, if not then it was a matter to be patient and keep moving about. The team soon discovered that small hooks and baits were essential and 2 to 4 joker on the hook were much better than a single small bloodworm.
Day one saw Drennan Team England use this negative approach to deliver a record four section wins and a third for seven points. Section A a mile away from BCD and E sections was dominated by better skimmers and bream, while the other 4 sections fished to the plan perfectly delivering 4 section wins.
Day two was all to play for, but Team England was leading with a clear advantage from the first day’s performance. But everyone had sussed what the team was doing and everyone tried to emulate us , but once again the team put in a staggering performance with only Will Raison struggling on the difficult A Section.
Mark Downes, Drennan Team England Joint Manager added “ The week went like a dream, the team fished brilliantly, the venue was great, but most importantly we had a fabulous entourage of helpers, all of whom contributed to this great win.”
“The last two years have been tough for the team, the venues were hard , the species alien and the tactics obscure to us, and that will happen more and more as time goes on , but when we are given a venue that only half suits our style we are hard to beat.”
Mark Addy, Drennan Team England Joint Manager stated “the team and helpers have worked well this year, we were ahead of the game from day one and we stayed there. “
Dick Clegg, OBE, International Events Manager said “Unfortunately I was unable to attend this year’s World Championships for the first time in 30 years, and am absolutely gutted to have missed what was obviously a fantastic team performance”.
“I can only congratulate all the squad including the management and bank runners who between them got the tactics spot on. I am however, disappointed for Steve Gardener who for the first time since 1987 in Portugal had to sit it out for both days in a major championships. Well done to Steve Hemingray with a perfect 2 points on his first World Champs winning silver and of course to Alan Scotthorne also 2 points in finishing with a bronze. Finally thanks once again to our sponsor Peter Drennan of Drennan International who’s financial input is invaluable to the teams success.”
Final Team Results
1st England – 22 points
2nd France – 33 points
3rd Poland – 39 points
4th Belgium – 47 points
5th Czech Republic – 49 points
6th Italy – 53 points
Top 6 Individual Results and England Placings
1st Didier Delannoy, France – 2 points (9.845 kg)
2nd Steve Hemingray, England – 2 points (8.475 kg)
3rd Alan Scotthorne, England – 2 points (7.275 kg)
4th Muris Djug, Bosnia Herzegovina – 3 points (6.840 kg)
5th Adam Niemiec, Poland – 3 points (4.455 kg)
6th Sean Ashby, England – 3 points (4.385 kg)
10th Des Shipp, England – 5 points (7.355 kg)
33rd Will Raison, England – 10 points (4.780 kg
