While England continue to pick up silverware in the FIPS World Championships and other major international events, it seems strange that the team hasn’t hosted the main event since 1994, at Holme Pierrepont.
The thought of the England football team without Wembley, or rugby union without Twickenham, for example, seems absurd, yet these sports would kill for the trophy haul of England’s anglers.
The lack of a home venue for flagship international events could be put down to many criteria, but surely a homecoming would be massive for the sport. So where do we stand when it comes to reviving the dream of a home World Championships?
High hopes and tough criteria
One man keener than anyone to see that happen is England coach Mark Downes. “The team is buzzing after the European Champs and we’d love to see the biggest events return home,” he said. “Other international teams would enjoy coming back to compete in the UK, and while there are logistical challenges, the Angling Trust has an action committee looking at this.”
Indeed, the Angling Trust’s head of competitions, Steve Fitzpatrick, told us that a top-class international venue and centre of excellence was a long-term goal of the body.
“It would be great to revive the euphoria of a major international competition,” he said. “It’s been far too long and, rest assured, we’re working hard behind the scenes to try to make this a reality.”
As for the possibility of a fixed home and centre of excellence, Steve said: “That’s the dream, having a legacy fishery that can be used for multiple major events. However, at present we just don’t own any venues on a par with those of, say, Italy, where angling is better funded and recognised as an elite sport. Current criteria are incredibly stringent, but we’re working hard on areas like funding and sponsorship to ensure we can overcome any hurdles.”
Hosting major events could give fishing and the economy as a whole a huge boost, and Steve agreed: “When you factor in accommodation, tackle and other costs, it’s around £3,000 per angler to compete at the World Championships. This could be great for the host area and for growing the sport.”
Home truths
While the Trust was understandably cagey about naming venues and events with bids in process, lifelong angler and commentator Keith Arthur was candid that big gaps had to be bridged before any ‘Wembley of angling’ could become a reality.
“I don’t believe we have a current natural venue to handle the pressures of a big international event,” he said. “Basically, it’s two weeks of daily matches with lots of bait going in, and I don’t think any of our rivers have enough of the right fish to cope.
“Perhaps if someone put 30,000-40,000 carp into the Huntspill? Even then, it would need massive work on the banks, and who’s paying? The Great Ouse Relief Channel is another option, but it would be a huge undertaking to get it into shape. We should have gone all out for Holme Pierrepont when it was struggling, but we walked away and left it to the boating fraternity.”
Yet, Keith still believes a top-class future venue is possible. “Get the right people on board and for under £5 million we’d have a centre of excellence to benefit every branch of angling, from casting areas for sea anglers to rapids for fly fishing. A one per cent levy on tackle would do it in an instant!” he said.
World championships by numbers
28 Years since the World Championships were held in Britain at Holme Pierrepont, where England won team and individual gold.
£3,000 Approximate cost per competitor at a World or European Championships.
36 Number of angling teams now representing England in every category, including coarse, carp, fly and sea fishing, with women and disabled anglers represented.
35 Number of team medals won by England in the World Champs. We also have the top two most decorated individuals of all time – Alan Scotthorne and Bob Nudd (five and four individual golds, respectively).
THE VENUES: POSSIBLE CONTENDERS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL ANGLING EVENT
Holme Pierrepont: Rowing courses dominate today’s international scene, and with plenty of space for competitors and audiences alike, along with decent nearby accommodation and transport links, this venue might still be the strongest available. But with no fishing for years, unknown stocks and competing interests, it would take a mammoth effort.
River Trent: The iconic river would make for a fascinating match and has a history of some of the biggest contests British angling has ever seen. Although fish stocks are healthy, in the current era logistics are tricky, not least because the waterway is also used by giant commercial craft.
Gloucester Canal: This large man-made waterway has excellent mixed stocks and bags of space, having hosted several big events in recent years, including 400-peg Nationals. Logistics with parking and other factors would require huge efforts, though.
Aire & Calder Canal: Another huge canal which has hosted National events and has come into form in recent years. Access to some sections could be an issue, and a lot of work would be needed before a successful event could be staged.
