World Carp Classic - Official Global Website
Lake Bolsena 2nd - 8th September 2012

My name is Fergus Kelley and I am 18 years old. I am a student at Sparsholt college and currently in my first year of Bsc in Sport Fisheries and Aquaculture.

I am very passionate about the sport fishing industry and am very focused to find a career in this industry. I have fished all over the world including the U.S, France, Thailand, Caribbean and many lakes and rivers across the UK.

I am an avid angler and enjoy fishing a variety of species including game and course fish.

I am a very hard working individual and am always very punctual and enthusiastic. I am willing to explore new opportunities and aim to get experience in a wide range of areas within the sport fishing community.

The W.C.C. will be a great opportunity to carp fishing at a high level. I am  excited about travelling to Italy and meeting new people.

Hello World Carp Classic Community

My names Sam Marshall, I’m a 20 year old and I’m a fanatical angler, it’s been my main passion for the last 15 years and I’d like to share a bit of that with you.

Like most Anglers I got hooked on fishing from a young age.  Weekends fishing in Sussex on small lakes and rivers is where my passion for the sport grew. Ever since that first fish the list of fish I’ve landed has grown and grown and my views of the environment changed. Being on the bank made me appreciate the simple things in life, and from this interest I decided that I wanted to dedicate my life to wetland and river conservation. So in 2009 I started studying my ND in Fisheries management at Sparsholt College. Being at Sparsholt opened my eyes to a whole new world of angling and introduced me to different disciplines of the sport.

My angling goals are to try and catch see and admire as many species as I possibly can. As one species is never enough! I try to fish every style there is in our sport from being sat behind the rods waiting for a carp in France,  Casting the fly on the River Halladale in Scotland trying for a Salmon to even trying for Sailfish in the Maldives.

Now studying my Foundation degree (FDSC) in Sport Fisheries and Aquaculture my time at Sparsholt has let me learn lots of different fishery management techniques and put them into practice.

Sparsholt has offered me so much in my studies. They have best aided my chances of getting a job in the fisheries sector. Netting and electrofishing being my favourite skills that I have learnt, as seeing and holding the fish is the best part of the job, and on one occasion being honoured with an article in Carp and Coarse Angler.

For me Angling isn’t about the fish you catch it’s being there which is important zoning out for a few hours and just talking in the world around you.

When the opportunity to become a marshal at WCC came up I knew that I wanted to go for it. WCC is hopefully a stepping stone to

help me see where I want to be after I finish my studies. To get my name out in the world of angling and to hopefully be seen for what I can bring, which will be shown in this renowned competition.

Marshalling such a great event gave me so much pride and honour, with me being both chosen and to represent the sport on such a high level. From being in the competition I have made a vast array of contacts from both big named tackle manufacturers to famous European and also English anglers, one in which has lead to a full time job as a tour guide working for this year’s winner on the Catfish Classic Ron Beugelink. My time during the competition was a once in a lifetime opportunity with me being part of Friends of the Ebro clean up allowing me to give something back into the sport that will be making a huge difference to both businesses that use the river for income, but also the habitat and the environment that surrounds Caspe and Chiprana. The way the event was also scheduled allowed a great social environment once the competition finished in which everyone seemed to enjoy the atmosphere.

I have now currently been working in Spain for the last 3 months and have enjoyed myself incredibly being paid for a sport and hobby you enjoy so much is a great advantage. Work is seasonal however in the mean time I’m looking to expand on my Spanish in order to further my knowledge to allow work within the business to become smoother.  My roles were to assure the customers have the best possible trip and to hopefully land a few life changing fish on the way.

I would recommend to anyone marshalling to make a name for yourself effort = rewards so really show your a keen and enthusiastic person who’s not scared of grafting, it’s certainly paid off for me.

With that I would just like the say a big thanks to all of the marshals and organisers of the event for making it a great success.  And a big thanks to both Ross and Marianne for the opportunity to be part of something that I had truly great experience.