World Carp Classic - Offical Global Website
Lake Bolsena 3rd - 9th September 2012

Sam Cooper

When I first heard  about Sparsholt College I couldn’t believe my luck, I was amazed and excited to find out that there was a chance that I would be able to study my lifelong passion and be able to come away with qualifications that would be recognized worldwide within the fishery management and aquaculture industry.

I was at the carp society junior carp camp when I was first enlightened about Sparsholt as one of the sessions was a talk held by Simon and Sue Scott, who both lecture at the college. They gave me and the other lads a brief talk about the college, what it does, what it can offer potential students such as myself and also what we would eventually be able to offer the industry, on a commercial or business

Michael Woolsey

I am 24 years old and have been a keen fisherman since I was a young lad. I am a member of a local fishing club where I do a lot of fishing for large Wels catfish.

I went to Sparsholt College to study about fishery management, which I found really interesting, and while at Sparsholt I managed to obtain my level 2 angling coaching licence which I really want to develop, as I find coaching people to be one of the most rewarding jobs. Now that I have my coaching licence I have broadened my fishing and have started to target more than just one species of fish, this is to enable me to offer a much better coaching service.

Angling has played a significant role in the majority of my life, dating back to the early memories when a perch weighing a few ounces filled my face with joy for weeks to come yet the cuts on my fingers reminded me of their spines. Many afternoons spent travelling through farmland with my dad carrying a telescopic rod whilst I rummaged through manure to uncover the perfect lob worm. The days where other aspects of life were unknown to me, only the next venture through field and fences played on my mind. The jaw dropping sight of a pristine pond covered in lilies, surrounded by bull rushes will never elude me.  The sense of an unscathed landscape, far too mature in vegetation to have received much angling attention compelled me to return. Looking back I question whether I was one of many people to have felt the same way about the pond, convinced it was at their disposal. Over the years the annual routine of maintaining such ponds became intensive and the impeding hours of school increased. Many of them no longer remain and it was sad to see them go but they would never leave me forever, firmly imprinted upon my mind. The basis for obsession had been established, fishing allowed me to conform to nature and appreciate what it offered in return, regardless of its size.

Everything comes (To he who waits!)

Stewart Downing Team JRC UK

Isn’t that how the saying goes?Well, it looks like after many years; my turn has finally arrived to partner up with JRC Consultant Rob Nunn, and make the long awaited journey over to fish the 2011 World Carp Classic.It was 5 years ago that I first met with Ross Honey at our offices in Redditch, and agreed the main sponsorship for this, the most prestigious event in the world carp calendar. I was, of course, longing to actually get involved in the competition from that point, having  been heavily involved in all the support work and liaison with Ross and his A Team  every year since then. However, due to work commitments, I have never had the opportunity to even attend the event until now, let alone compete in it.