Five members of the Maver WMP team recently returned from competing in the European Police Angling Championships which this year was held in the UK.
The very experienced Dick Tranter, Mark Blackburn, Phil Croxford, Andy Cleaver and Bill Rutherford returned once again from a very successful trip with more than one trophy in the bag.
The competition, held over two days, saw both Regional and National teams from across Europe compete in two disciplines, rod & line and pole.
Fished to European rules, the venues at Coleman’s Cottage, Lakelands and The Fennes proved a little difficult with both Lakelands and The Fennes not commonly used to host big matches.
“After almost a week of practice, the team went into day one of the competition with caution as weights at some of the venues were very poor indeed and the luck of the draw certainly had a big say on the outcome of the match“.
“As day one ended, the team returned with section points of one (1), one (1), two (2), seven (7) and a massive nineteen (19). However, the thirty (30) point total was still just enough to lead day one by a single point over all of the other teams“.
“Day two needed everyone to be on their game to be in with a chance of any silverware. With everything to play for, the team, fishing to their own strengths returned to the match HQ with section points of one (1), two (2), two (2), three (3) and nine (9) giving a day’s total of seventeen (17) points“.
“When the results were announced, the Maver WMP team (who fished as a Regional team) were outright winners with a total of forty seven (47) points. This was twenty one (21) points better off than their closest Regional rivals and fifteen (15) points better off than the winning National team, Eire. A huge margin indeed“!
“To endorse the success of the team, Mark Blackburn was the individual Pole Champion with a weight of 64.800 kilos caught doing what he does best – fishing shallow“.
“Individually, Phil Croxford was 3rd with four (4) points (48.710 kilos) and Andy Cleaver was 4th also with four (4) points (44.220 kilos)“.
“Thanks to Maver for their continued support“.