The management is to blame,” says Grant as he opts out of the Preston Innovations England World Feeder Championship setup.
After being selected to represent England at full international level in the 2013 World Feeder Championship in South Africa, the Halesowen-based angling star, who is sponsored by Matrix, Bait-Tech and car giant BMW, has opted out of any further involvement, along with Garbolino star Darren Cox.
Speaking exclusively to Match Fishing magazine, Grant said: “Team manager Tommy Pickering phoned me to announce that I’d not made the cut for this year’s event, which is to be held in Ireland.”
“However, my decision to opt out isn’t a case of sour grapes; my mind was all but made up about detaching myself from it after the disgraceful way I felt I was treated by the England management out in South Africa. I have dedicated my life to angling since the age of eight, but I felt like giving up fishing altogether after the 2013 Feeder World Championship.”
Grant is one of the country’s elite match anglers and has more medals and accolades to his name than most could ever dream of. Yet he didn't get the opportunity to show what he was capable of at World level on South Africa’s Bloemhof Dam because the five-man side stayed the same for both days, consisting of Tommy Pickering, Steve Ringer, Phil Ringer, Micky Vials and Adam Wakelin.
“I worked hard in South Africa during practice to help the team formulate a plan for the two match days. The fishing was tricky but it was even clear at that point the management had forged ‘favourites’ and spent much of the practice time nursing their egos.
“Representing my country should have been the highlight of my angling career, yet it’s something that I want to erase from my memory forever,” Grant continued.
“England management’s decisions in South Africa were shrouded in dubious light the entire time. In fact, given the choice, I would have come home just four days into the 17-day trip!
“We secured team bronze and each of us received medals as a memento of our achievement. I thrust mine into a drawer on my return and I doubt it’ll ever see the light of day again!”
So with Grant’s decision, what is it he felt was, or still is, wrong about the setup, having been intimately involved?
“I’ve been a member of the all-conquering Daiwa Dorking squad for 15 years now,” Grant said. “We are the most successful domestic team bar none. Yes, the squad consists of arguably the finest collection of anglers on English soil, but the reason we are so dominant is pure and simple – exemplary management by Steve Sanders – it’s a ‘proper’ team.
“By that I mean that so far England’s team results have been disappointing at full world level, yet English feeder anglers are considered the finest in the world. Our ability and understanding of the tactic surpasses that of many other nations but we’re not winning team golds year in, year out! The best results so far are 2013 in South Africa and Belgium, 2012, both resulting in team-bronze finishes.
“The reason we’re not winning is simple; you cannot manage and fish successfully, yet Tommy Pickering is intent on doing both and costing the team glory in the process.
“There are anglers in the setup who fish to win individual medals, none more so than the leader of the pack himself. And, while that remains the case, it’s highly unlikely the team will win gold.
“Of course you have to do well yourself to do well for the team, but the aim of team fishing is simple; you fish to win your section, not the match – the team always comes first.”
Moving on to this year’s event, Grant wasn’t in any mood to hold back his feelings.
“All I have done since returning from South Africa is fish matches in readiness for Ireland. Almost every weekend I’ve been on the bank fishing feeder venues that match what Ireland has to offer as closely as possible,” he said.
“I went to Ireland to familiarise myself, but it was all completely in vain. I never have a problem with being beaten fair and square or being left out of a team for plausible reasons, but when Tommy phoned me to break the news he said that he couldn't pick me because I’d not fished at Inniscarra – the venue for this year’s World Championship (but I had finished 20th out of 180 on the Classic festival and fished the World Pairs event, both held in Ireland). I wouldn't have minded, but there’s more than one member of the named team who hasn’t fished at Inniscarra either. Tommy also told me that he didn't see me as a ‘roach tip angler’, but I would say there’s more than one other who wouldn’t be considered a ‘roach tip angler’, and, one individual in particular from the team has spent his fishing time almost exclusively on F1 pole venues, yet has made the cut. Work that out!
“There are a myriad of other reasons and supporting events, including being duped by my England travelling partner who seemed intent on stitching me up from the beginning.
“The Men’s England float setup is so successful and one of the reasons is due to the team rarely changing. I have nothing but admiration for all but a couple of the members involved in the Preston Innovations England World Feeder Championship setup, but Tommy’s decision to change the team each year means there’s no cohesion or solidarity between the members. Too many anglers are being sold a dream they’ll never realise and it has to change if we’re to return with the gold medals we’re so capable of winning.” Grant concluded.
Pole Fishing columnist, and Garbolino top rod Darren Cox has decided to drop out of the Preston Innovations World Feeder Championship setup, after failing to make the team for this years World Championship in Ireland.
Darren, who is widely regarded as one of the UK’s top allround anglers, boasts ten England caps at Six Nations and European Championship level, as well as being a former winner of prestigious domestic events including the Shakespeare Championship, Parkdean Masters Final, Kamasan British Open and Fish O Mania Final. He fished the first ever World Feeder Championship back in 2012, and has been a part of the set up since its inception.
He told Pole Fishing: “My face doesn’t fit anymore. I just don’t know what I would have needed to do to get in the team this year to be honest. If this is the way that teams are selected, then there is a call in my eyes for a return to a good old fashioned trial system.”
Manager, Tom Pickering has named his team as: himself, Steve Ringer, Mick Vials, Phil Ringer, Adam Wakelin and Dean Barlow.
Darren added: “I have put a hell of a lot of focus into getting picked for this team over recent years, and even took the decision to drop out of the float fishing European Championship team to focus on it. I have done well in Ireland in the past, and just have to be realistic and admit that my face doesn’t really fit with the management.
I am looking forward now to continuing to enjoy my fishing and trying to win major events, whether it be on the float or feeder.
MANY THANKS TO MATCH FISHING MAGAZINE
