SAVOF REPORT ON THE LADIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The South African Freshwater Bank Angling Federation very successfully hosted the 17th Ladies World Match Angling Championships which took place at Bloemhof from 29-31October 2010.

Twelve countries Spain, Czech Republic, Poland, Finland, Netherlands,France, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, England, Russia, and South Africa participate in the event. The President of the International Freshwater Sport Angling Federation (FIPS-ed).

The activities kick off on Friday 29 Nov.2010 with a Flag Parade through the main street of Bloemhof followed by the official opening at which the Deputy-Minister of Sport and Recreation Mr. Gert Oosthuizen was the keynote speaker. The opening was followed by the playing of the national anthems, the introduction of the teams and a welcoming dinner. The championship took place on Saturday and Sunday 30-31 Oct 2010, followed by the price giving. A closing down celebration dinner was held for the Teams, dignitaries and organisers in the Bloemhof Town Hall. The Closing Down Dinner was attended by Mr. John Pledger President of the SA Sport Anglers and Casting Confederation (SASACC) and Mr. Alan Losaba, CEO of the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB). The North West Parks and Tourism Boards was the main stakeholder and the naming rights was allotted to them.

The team results in the first 5 positions were as follows (detail results attached):


POS. TEAM TOTAL POINTS TOTAL WEIGHT COMP POINTS DAY1 COMP. POINTS DAY2

1 Spain
2 England
3 Italy
4 Hungary
5 South Africa

The Italian Team achieved the almost impossible by winning the bronze medal after the first of a four busses convey in which they were travelling from OR Tambo to Bloemhof overturned near Wolmaranstad. Five members of the team were originally admitted to hospital. The Team decided to notwithstanding their misfortune to continue participating with their reserves and the anglers that was released earlier this week. The President of the South African Freshwater Federation Mr. Des van Jaarsveld mention in his opening address that the teams decision to still participates speaks of courage and determination.


In his welcoming speech Mr. Des van Jaarsveld convey his appreciation towards the Deputy Minister Mr. Gert Oosthuizen who have nevertheless the fact that he have only arrived from France at 10h30 the same day, travelled almost 500 kilometre to attend the opening ceremony. Mr. van Jaarsveld mentioned that the Minister once again live up to his good reputation of being a man that could be depended on and who always have the interest of sport at hart, nevertheless the inconvenience bestowed on him.


the Hosting Federation were overwhelmed with the support, involvement and commitment that they received from the North West Parks and Tourism Board, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, the Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality, the Community and our schools form Bloemhof and Christiana. These stakeholders together with the private sponsors were in every respect the true co-hosts of this event. Your financial contributions and input in the management structures of the event was crucial and absolute essential.

In addition to this present schools program, the hosting Federation has decided to introduce a Bloemhof World Championships Legacy Program. The objectives of the program are to get the youth from Bloemhof and surrounding involved in sport and recreational angling not only learning them the skills of angling, but also to become involved and educated in environmental and nature conservation issues and to introduce them to the outdoors. The youth will be provided with a solid foundation in the freshwater aquatic ecosystems and their management as it applies to angling. The program will involves day clinics, special event clinics held on weekends, mass participation programs, school classroom programs, the creation of an effective and integrated talent identification and development program in alignment with the SAFBAF High Performance Program. To put this into operation and as a monitoring instrument, a Service Level Agreement was signed between the Host Federation and the North West Parts and Tourism Board for a period of three (3) years.

The management of the 17th Ladies Match Angling World Championships took place under the supervision of Mr. Werner Lubbe as Project Manager of the Local Organising Committee. The Host Federation invited stakeholders from the NWPTB, Lekwa-Teemane and Dr Ruth S Mompati District municipality to appoint representatives to serve on a Task Group who has in conjunction with the LOC govern and oversee the project to its successful conclusion.

Compare to our National Protea Team expectancy the results was disappointing although have achieved their best team position ever. Over the last three years our National Protea Team finished in the 14th position. In the individual classification South Africa have two representatives namely with Adele Liebenberg in the 8th and Rita Gronum in the 10th Position.

Well done