|
|
       |
Place cursor on images to watch |
      |
The slight advantage that the local team had at the start, being the only ones who knew the venue, was been lost, because all the nations have proved that they knew the water as well as the tackle to use.
The practice week allowed the 14 participant nations to find out the great amount of carp and their size, since catfish did not show in big numbers.
Toledo welcomed the participants with a summer temperature, but quite bearable, bearing in mind that in spite of the heat, many nations including Spain practiced on some days, morning and afternoon sessions.
Since the first practice session on Monday, we witnessed an experienced Team England, coached by Tom Pickering and Alan Scotthorne, employing a slightly different technique to the one used by other teams and that was being very successful: they were using floats from 1,5 to 2 grams, always a bit lighter than the weight the canal demanded, and they were maintaining a feeding rhythm throwing two groundbait balls and five pieces of corn, using either their hands or the catapult and from time to time a stickymag ball, and then it was just a matter of waiting for a bite. Once the bite materialised, they waited for the fish to pull the elastic before striking. How patient from them to be able to wait and not striking straight away!
The Italians, as opposed to the English, were trying to catch carp in midwater, throwing loose maggots and every single practice day they have come with good results.
Our participants worked hard all along the week, returning with some good weights that forecasted good results, but the fishing conditions in the canal were not easy at all.
One team that weren’t catching the eye but who were having good weights were our Portuguese neighbours; they were a good team but they were not supposed to represent any real danger come match day.
The competition was to be fished in two matches, each lasting three hours on Saturday and Sunday.
As usual, England, Italy and France, and Spain as the hostess nation were the favourite sides.
The structure of some of these times is simply astonishing, a group of some of the best anglers around, such as Alan Scotthorne, Didier Guessard, Gerard Trinquier, Roberto Barbeta… and a group of bank runners to control every section in order to take decisions and help the angler the very moment she needs that help, in short, it is noticeable the experience their national federations have at this level and that is then translated to results, good results.
The first match of the competition brought disillusion for us, as all the will and work put by our anglers fell to pieces, since they could only manage eight place, and with them our options to a medal which almost vanished completely. Only Julia with her first place in her section had any possibility to get a medal.
The Italians, with 18 points secured the effort they had made during the week days and came first, followed by France and England, both with 22 points.
Individually, Portuguese angler Virginia Ferreira made an impressive catch with 34.940 Kg. That gave her first place on the provisional table.
The second round confirmed the medals, and from the first moments the Italians took over their respective sections to finish this second round with three section winners and fifteen points.
When everybody expected the silver and bronze medals to be taken by France and England, as it had happened on day one, there came the big surprise given by our Portuguese neighbours, who after an awesome performance on day two manager to reach silver, leaving the bronze for the French, who were tied with the English on points, leaving the English out of the podium because of weight.
As for individuals, twice-champion Virginia Ferreira, finally broke the spell and got a gold medal, and the current champion Simona Pollastri, had to make do with a silver this time. These two champions were accompanied on the podium by the German Stephanie Bloch.
We want to congratulate our home team for the illusion, willingness and hard work they have carried in this competition, and to encourage them to sep on working, as good results are sure to come and we hope that the structures of our national teams develop into well managed teams, the kind of which we have seen in the top nations of this championship: this is the best way to make our sportwomen to count on the help they really deserve.
On the other hand, we want to point out the organizers of this match, who have lived to our expectations and we hope that in a very near future we can enjoy another top flight match at this beautiful venue.