Angling Trust has announced the Drennan Team England squad that will head to Belgium in September to compete in the 64th FIPS-ed World Championships for Nations.

Mark Downes and Steve Sanders have named a familiar line-up with no changes to the team that won team bronze in Bulgaria in 2016.

The team will be led by a strong management team consisting of Mark Downes, Steve Sanders and Darran Bickerton while the team will consist of:

Alan Scotthorne
Will Raison
Des Shipp
Sean Ashby
Steve Hemingray
Callum Dicks

Mark Downes commented: “There are no changes from last year, this team has a wealth of experience and has secured bronze medals in the last two Championships in ever increasing difficult conditions.

“Belgium will also prove to be difficult although with big bream and roach the main species we feel we will have a great chance of securing a good medal. There are no mullet, catfish, carrassio, sillurra and other exotic species to cloud the issue!”

Steve Sanders added: ”I have just had my first Championships as co-manager with Mark in Italy and indeed the teams from the East are getting massively stronger each year. You need experience and this team has it in tons.”

Mark will also be taking Darran Bickerton, his assistant for the U25 team. “Darran is a great tactician and he is meticulous with bait and preparation. Having him with the squad will be hugely beneficial over the course of the championships.”

With a nod to the future, Drennan Team England will also be joined in the latter stages of practice by the European and Four Nations squad members Lee Kerry, Cameron Hughes, Matt Derry, Matt Godfrey and James Dent.

Mark added: “These lads are the future and they need to get as much experience as possible in the short term as we have very few international-style events in this country. This will provide invaluable experience for them and strengthen Drennan Team England squads in the future.”