The hunt is on to find the country’s best young anglers to represent England at the U15 World Championships – and YOU could be part of it!
Applications for a place on the 2023 Angling Trust Tackle Guru Team England Talent Pathway are now open for talented boys and girls between 10 and 15 years of age.
This year the development pathway will step up a gear with three intense coaching sessions leading to a final assessment day and squad selection process where the five best will earn Team England caps and head to the River Sorraia in Portugal to represent the nation.
“We’re mixing up the format this year and having one pathway centrally located in the Midlands for everyone to fish together under the eyes of the whole coaching team,” revealed England international and lead coach Matt Godfrey. “It’s not going to be easy, but we want the best anglers to represent England at the World Championships.”
Matt is a prime example of how nurturing young talent can deliver big rewards, himself winning three World Championships in three different youth age categories and now a mainstay in Mark Downes’ European and World squads.
He’ll be joined by fellow internationals James Dent and Franke Gianoncelli, plus a host of top-level coaches and managers from the England set ups at each session.
TALENT PATHWAY 2023 DATES
Sunday March 5 – Coaching session 1 – Makins Fishery
Sunday March 19 – Coaching session 2 – Barston Lakes
Saturday April 15 – Coaching session 3 – Makins Fishery
Saturday April 22 – Final assessment – Makins Fishery
WORLD CHAMPS 2023
Matt and James know the host venue in Portugal well having won team gold with England at the European Champs in June.
“Tactics-wise, there will be a wide range to learn,” admitted James. “When we were there in the summer there was a mix of long-range waggler fishing firing in balls of stickymag and groundbait for catfish plus pole fishing with maggots and catching barbel and borga – exciting stuff!
“This pathway gives young anglers the opportunity to learn these international skills.”
Along with being able to learn from some of the best anglers in the business, for many this will be their first step in their England career and with sheer hard work and determination could see them become a true great in World match fishing.
Angling Trust Head of Competitions, Steve Fitzpatrick, said: “The Talent Pathway just keeps getting stronger. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Tackle Guru for their continued support, hard work, and passion – with their commitment we have already unearthed and coached some amazing young talent and will continue to do so, ensuring the future of our England teams is in the best place possible.”
HOW TO APPLY
The Talent Pathway is open to all anglers over 10 years old and under the age of 15 on December 31, 2022.
Fill in your application online here: https://anglingtrust.net/our-competitions/team-england/england-talent-pathway/coarse-talent-pathway/
Deadline for entries is January 31, 2023.
