Lion tames the bear

The NFA Carp Team England travelled to Russia from 20^th to 26^th June, 2006 to take on the might of the Russian international Carp Team in the first of a series of friendly style international matches between the two countries.

In a 72 hour, 4 rod enduro, 5 pair match, the English squad strived forward to secure a historic win over the Russian team. The team showed superb team spirit and determination in overcoming several daunting and emotionally fraught days of angling due to intense media interest from the Russians.

The England squad claimed a hard fought victory over the Russians with 29 points and a weight of 155.300 kg with 35 fish caught. The Russians were never far away with 26 points, weighing in with 139.600 kg and 33 fish in total. The win gives the NFA Carp Team England confidence for the World Angling Games in Portugal in their attempt to improve on their silver medal from last year and secure the individual title within the squad for a second time.

Team manager, Mitch Smith stated, “the media interest at the event was unprecedented, we made the front pages of the state newspaper and there was live broadcasting as well. The team did brilliantly under such conditions and it shows the immense popularity of the NFA Carp Team England in countries around the World.”

The overall results were determined on the F.I.P.P.S points system, 10 points for top weighed in pair and 9 points for second leading weighed pair and so on to last place with 1 point. The event was a team scoring event with no individual 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd place trophies, although recognition was made to the leading pair and a trophy for the largest individual carp was presented.

The England Squad:

Chris Rose / Steve Spurgeon

Ian Huntington (match captain) / Pete Holehouse

Brian Jarrett / David Gawthorn

Lee Collings / Tom Maker (14)

John Dean / Mitch Smith (manager)

Jason Wood (Admin)

Andy Maker (Admin)

Lee Bell (Admin)

The results

Pair Position	Peg Number	Weight	Number of fish	Country	Points
1^st	Peg 7	51.400 kg	10	Russia	10
2^nd	Peg 8	20.700 kg	9	England (Dean & Smith)	9
3^rd	Peg 6	46.900 kg	11	England (Holehouse & Huntington)	8
4^th	Peg 5	45.100 kg	13	Russia	7
5^th	Peg 3	29.800 kg	6	Russia	6
6^th	Peg 4	28.00 kg	7	England (Gawthorn & Jarrett)	5
7^th	Peg 10	17.700 kg	5	England (Collings & Maker)	4
8^th	Peg 2	12.00 kg	3	England (Rose & Spurgeon)	3
9^th	Peg 1	10.700 kg	3	Russia	2
10^th	Peg 9	2.600 kg	1	Russia	1

Some facts you may not know about the NFA Team Carp England

The above England squad represents the finest of UK carp fishing match pairs, it has a collective winning portfolio that includes:-

Current Official World Carp Championship team silver medallists. (F.I.P.P.S organised)
Current Official individual pairs World Champions (F.I.P.P.S organised)
Double consecutive British Carp Angling Champions.
European challenge Cup champion (F.I.P.P.S Ratified)
48 hr 4 rod enduro F.I.P.P.S World Record Holder.
72 hr 4 rod enduro F.I.P.P.S World Record Holder
England vs Russia international Carp Cup winners.