Sport England did a dramatic about-turn yesterday after Minister for Sport Richard Caborn intervened over its refusal to find funding for the tenth Ladies' World Angling Championships scheduled for August 23-24, 2003 at Furzton Lake, Buckinghamshire.

The National Federation Of Anglers (NFA) had two appeals for Sport England funding for the showpiece event rejected on the grounds that angling is not included in Sport England's top 20 'elite' medal-winning sports.

After their second appeal was turned down, the NFA contacted the Minister for Sport's office and asked for his support to secure funding to enable the prestigious event to take place in England. And they were rewarded as Sport England came back with £15,000.

When the NFA England Ladies' Team landed the world crown and team member Sandra Scotthorne netted individual gold, the NFA wrote to Martin Salter MP, the Minister for Sport's angling and shooting trouble-shooter to seek his backing over funding.

"Martin was brilliant; he wrote a lengthy letter to Richard Caborn demanding action over funding," said NFA vice-president David Kent, the tournament director for the world championship event.

NFA International Events Director Dick Clegg OBE, who is a board member of the Confederation Internationale de la Peche Sportive (CIPS), the world governing body for angling, said: "The position was looking grim and exceedingly embarrassing for England.

"If we had turned down the opportunity to host this event it is unlikely that CIPS would have entrusted England with another international event."

NFA President Ken Ball added: "Quite often our sport has to fight its corner. On this occasion we did so very well and went to the very top to get the problem sorted.

"Our own sponsorship consultant, Rodney Coldron, managed the situation perfectly and we have ended up with £15,000 from Sport England and saved them from further criticism and got the lifeline we needed."

NFA membership services manager Bob Clark said: "Commonsense has prevailed. No-one can hold a candle to the fine achievements of our international teams under Dick Clegg.

"Sport England claim they want to provide funding to medal-winners; they should look at our record on the international stage. We still have some way to go with funding the Ladies' world championships, but I have every confidence we will stage a Ladies' world champion-ships to be remembered."

Simon Cramner-Gordon, of Paradise Fishery at Melbourne, this week advised there is an algal bloom on Pond One at the moment - but don't let this put you off.

The fish are still ravenous and you can expect to catch 20-50lb without too much difficulty. Maggot produces a fish a chuck with meat sorting out the better fish.

On Pond Two, floating bread is still accounting for some fine catches of carp.

Plenty of high single and low doubles are still being caught. Cat meat and pellet are also proving useful baits when fished at five metres and in the margins.

Weekend Bookings

Saturday

Beningbrough Park - Local

Skipbridge - Transco

Howsham Hall - York RI

Sunday

Beningbrough Village - Seahorse

Fulford and Palace Ings - Acomb WMC

Acaster - White Rose

Kirkham - Burton Stone

Howsham Hall - Ben Johnson

Paradise Farm - Bishopthorpe

Updated: 10:59 Friday, September 27, 2002