The Angling Trust’s 2012 Talent Pathway programme will be open for applications from the 2nd to the 20th of July, providing a chance for talented young anglers to trial for the national junior angling teams in all three disciplines: coarse, sea and game. The Talent Pathway provides young anglers between the ages of 13 and 18 years with the chance to improve their skills and be selected to take part in competitive and training events. The programme culminates with the most talented anglers being offered a chance to trial for the England youth teams and be selected to fish for England. The scheme helps the Angling Trust to develop stronger teams to represent England in all international competitions.
The Talent Pathway is supported by Sport England and was successfully piloted during 2011 in the North East, North West and West Midlands regions. A total of 162 anglers entered the programme of which 62 anglers were chosen to represent their respective region in a series of coaching sessions and matches. In June 2012 one coarse angler and 6 game anglers were invited into the national selection qualifiers, from which one game angler Thomas Adamson was selected to fish for England in the 2013 Home Internationals.
The success of the new programme is evident and the 2012 Talent Pathway has been expanded to run in eight regions throughout England including both the East Midlands and Eastern region in coarse, game and sea angling. The Talent Pathway events start in August 2012 and a team of 28 talented coaches has been recruited to select and develop youngsters with talent. Details of the first, Stage 1 coarse events in the Midlands are as follows;
East (Cambs, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Herts, Beds) – 4th August @ Townsend Lakes Fishery, Kingfisher Lodge, 72A Townsend Road, Upwell, Wisbech, Cambs, PE14 9HJ
West Midlands (Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffs, Warwicks, Worcs) – 11th August @ Border Fisheries, Waybutt Lane, Balterley, Crewe, Chesire, CW2 5QA
East Midlands (Northants, Lincs, Notts, Derbys, Leics & Rutland) – 18th August @ Peatling Match Lakes, Bruntingthorpe Road, Peatling Parva, Leics, LE17 5RB
Please note that participants need to be aged 17 or under on 31/12/12 to apply to enter the pathway. This will ensure participants will be the right age to enter the England trial.
More information on the Talent Pathway including details on how to apply can be found by Clicking Here. Places are limited and you are strongly advised to get applications in as soon as possible (deadline for applications – 20th July).
