The Home International Shore Championships 2009 were hosted by Wales in Aberystwyth this year. Each of the four home nations take it in turns to host this team event which includes junior and youth teams, fished over two days. England was represented at Senior level by; David Chidzoy, David Lane, Bill Lindfield, Rob Marshall, Julian Shambrook, Paul Molyneux, and Norman Berry (Manager).
Wales as this year’s host their team was well fancied to win this event, although the England team were determined to make life difficult for them as they were in with a chance of a hat trick, having won in Ireland and England the two previous years.
Day one saw England pegged on a flat, shallow, sandy, featureless beach, the home of small flatfish, not really their ideal type of fishing but they knew what was required. With half an hour to go before the end of the match England were ahead by one point. At the final whistle the other teams all pulled in sizeable fish which this dropped England behind Wales and Scotland. Day two dawned dull and damp, not ideal weather to lift team spirits.
The day started with team member Bill Lindfield pulling in a double shot of dogfish on his first cast and the team were doing well in three zones. With an hour to go the England team were ahead by seven points on the day and ahead overall by four points. At the final whistle England were the winners by 3 points, making it a hat-trick of wins.
After the event there was a presentation for the retirement of Joe Crowley, the Juniors manager, and a presentation for all of the managers. Many thanks to Mike Flynn and Helen Pearce for the organisation of the event, flawless. Nice hotel, fine food, presentation and dinner super, and all the teams are looking forward to Scotland in 2010.
