By Press Release
IW High Sheriff, Dawn Haig-Thomas, presented three Island anglers with their England fishing tops, ahead of them representing the country in the 2023 Home Internationals, which take place in Cork, Ireland, during June.
Shanklin’s Kevin Sampson, Newport’s Gareth Croft and Wootton’s Richard Russell have, after tough competition, been selected for the team. Richard, part of the support set-up, has fished at national and international level around the world, with specific experience of the waters in Cork and around Ireland.
The High Sheriff said: “It is really good to see Islanders represent their country in a sport that doesn’t receive the coverage that it should, given its popularity, and I hope they have a successful competition in Cork.”
Kevin Sampson added: “It’s a privilege to represent your country, and, along with Gareth and Richard, we have self-funded our trip, and we know that it’s going to be a tough competition against the other home countries.”
The Islanders regularly fish off the Island’s coast, as well as growing up angling from the Island’s shoreline as well as off the piers at Sandown and Shanklin.