England team announced for World Champs in Poland

Drennan Team England’s quest to be crowned World Champions this September will be aided by a new face as Steve Hemingray earns a call up at the expense of Stuart Conroy.

Joining team regulars Alan Scotthorne, William Raison, Steve Gardener, Des Shipp and current World Champ Sean Ashby, former European individual champion Steve makes the step-up from the England Euro team for the match, held near the Polish capital Warsaw over the weekend of September 14-15 where bleak and small fish are once again expected to play a big part in what looks like being a tough match.

“Stuart has performed fantastically for the team since his debut in Paris back in 2001 but this venue, being a small fish one, will I feel suit Steve Hemingray better, and Steve thoroughly deserves his chance to take part at the top level,” said England Co-Manager Mark Addy. “Knowing him as I do though, I’m sure Stuart will be back in contention for his place next year.”

Looking at the fishing, fellow boss Mark Downes has his concerns about a venue that was the second choice of organisers and given the poor fishing at recent World and European events, is hoping the authorities take measures to ensure a decent match is in wait for the cream of world match fishing.

“We’re taking a strong team that will be tackling a very difficult venue,” he revealed. “The small 35m wide canal is just on the outskirts of Warsaw but does not have a great head of fish at present, and unless there is some form of stocking I can see it developing into a small fish extremely low weight event.”