Team Scotland - Celtic Cup 2023 - Newry Canal

Team Scotland at the 2023 Celtic Cup on the Newry Canal

[@TommyL0999]

Great video Gus which will inspire anyone who thinks that they have the ability to represent Scotland to identify themselves to the Scottish Federation. They then can be included in training sessions at venues likely to be used in Scotland (If selected as venue) or with similar conditions to a venue liable to be used by Wales. Development is a brilliant concept from a very young age. Such training will accelerate young anglers development in the sport. Was great to see the names of anglers fishing at the weekend that came through the Junior Celtic Cup ranks from Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Friendships in sport rekindled. If I could grant you a wish Gus as you are 100% into your angling and have been great for leading Scottish Angling for many years it would be as follows. I would wish you to have the same backing as Ireland have to the sport of fishing. Fishing over there is supported and funded well at all levels whereby their teams are represented and funded right up to World levels. We can but dream as fishing in Scotland is a minority sport. In England it is probably the sport that most people participate in. This was brought home to me whilst heading down to fish in England with the Scottish Police. We headed down on the Sunday at silly O'clock to get some extra practice in on the venue prior to coaching days Monday and Tuesday. We wandered in expecting to get on the venue. Nope, fully booked as there was 20+ matches on the venue. Most of the matches were Pub teams fishing their Local Hostelry League. We were informed that we could fish from 4pm till 6pm for free on some pegs that were not being used in the match at the end of one of the lakes. We wandered about and watched some weigh ins. The weights were not great as the level of the anglers was pub teams just like in football. As I have always advocated fishing is fun at all levels and the anglers were enjoying what they did. Add to that they all paid rod licences to support funding fishing in England. The anglers have been used to that concept from their start in the sport and it is the norm for them. Try to introduce that in Scotland you would get plenty objections. It is hard enough to get people to pay £8 to fund the Feds work representing fishing in Scotland. Power to your elbow Gus.