Preston Innovations have signed a 4 year, £50,000 deal with the Angling Trust to sponsor a new coarse angling match – Preston Innovations World Club Classic – for teams finishing in the top ten of the Division 1 National Championships.
Ten teams of six anglers will compete on 25th and 26th of September 2010 for the chance to represent England in the FIPSed World Club Championships in Serbia in 2011. The winning team will receive £7,000 to help them represent their country and the winning individual a cheque for £1,000.
Although England is widely recognised as the leading coarse angling nation in the world, our team has never won the FIPSed World Club Championships and the generous support of Preston Innovations will give the teams a financial boost to help them fish more competitively. The competition is intended to give a new focus for the elite end of the sport and will also attract the interest of the Team England selectors.
The venue and rules will be circulated by the Angling Trust Competition and Events Manager to all the teams who will fish in this year’s Nationals and will be posted on the web site.
Ricky Teale, Director of Preston Innovations said: “We are very pleased to be involved with this style of event would like to thank the Angling Trust for allowing Preston Innovations to be part of what could be one of the biggest weekends in the angling calendar. Match angling is going through a change in the UK and events like this should help increase interest both with anglers and the angling press.”
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust said: “we are very grateful to Preston Innovations for their generous support of this new competition which we hope will attract even more teams to compete in the Divisions in future. It is every match angler’s dream to have a chance of representing England. We hope that the event will help drive membership and increase the profile of the Angling Trust.”
Dick Clegg, International Events Manager of the Angling Trust said: “This event is just what we have been waiting for. The match format and sponsorship money will help us to send a team to the FIPSed World Club Championships both financially and technically better equipped than ever before. England have not won the event since Essex County in the early 80s when it was then the Browning World Cup. To fish a competition weekend to World Championship rules will give the successful team an insight into the way our continental rivals fish every week. The prize money of course is essential to reduce the costs of competing abroad and thanks to Preston Innovations this problem has been resolved.”
Mark Downes, England Team Manager said: “This will be a fantastic event, just what we needed. The more international style events we get here in the UK improves our chances of remaining at the top of the international standings. It will also encourage national teams to go that extra mile to achieve top ten status to gain qualification.”
