Versus

While all eyes were focused on the neck and neck battle between old adversaries, France and England, there was another battle, albeit on a lesser scale, being fought out in the shadows. Two of the mightiest nations on earth were squaring up to each other. China, until recently an observer to these angling championships, were competing in only their second championships and had come more to learn and listen rather than effectively take part in the serious business of match angling. USA on the other hand were seasoned campaigners, but unlike their sporting brothers back home, these championships were increasingly becoming an exercise in 'how far can you climb off the bottom rung'... not which medals they'd be taking away!
However, there was no denying that in political terms these two teams were the undoubted giants at Willebroek... so the scene was set for a confrontation where national pride and stature would be the prize.
It's slightly bemusing to try to understand why a nation of over a billion people would want to compete at something so different from their normal run of events... China, after all, does not exactly fish for sport, more for food!
USA on the other have a competitive streak running back over 200 years, if it runs, swims or fly's, its fair game to the sporting American!
It's fair to say that since last year's event in Slovakia the Chinese had made some giant strides by way of closing the gap between them and the USA as in Slovakia they finished 9 places and 92 points behind the Americans. This year that gap was down to just 1 place and 3 points... now that's some improvement in anybody's language. Although they still finished in last place, I would not bet against them moving up the leader board in 2005. Judging by the amount of video footage shot by those Chinese camera's you can safely assume that China will come back next year much wiser... Confucius say!
Within this tussle of global giants there was another sub-tussle, more private and personal, being acted out. Team USA captain and (American) angling icon, Micky Thill, was gasping to survive against a Chinese onslaught which, in the twilight of his career, was threatening to severely tarnish it. Mick had drawn C section on day one and found himself up against China's top rod Guo Xiong who didn't take any prisoners and he finished down the pack, some 9 places below Guo. It didn't end there. Day two fared no better for the luckless American which saw him draw the same section, but fortunately not the same Chinese angler. This time he was drawn against Gau Yunlong...
surely history would not repeat itself...

Above & right: Gau and Micky's board at the end of first hour and its level pegging with no fish each!

Left & above: The boards after the two hour mark and things are starting to warm up with a fish a piece and everything to play for.

Above left & right: Well it had been a hectic final hour with Gau netting a 'goer' roach to rapturous applaus from the assembled gallery. Unfortunately Mick hadn't caught another fish so it was 2 to 1 in Chinaman's favour. The scales tipped 200 grams for Gau and 55 grams for Micky which put him in 34th position to Gau's 31st. It has to be said that Micky tried every trick he knew to coax another fish but it was obviously not his weekend.

This personal dogfight threw up a couple of interesting techniques as Gau demonstrates here (far left) by placing his pole, pointing upright, in the pole roller which he used for a rest and then following thru with an under-arm 'ball-in' throw. Mick on the other hand felt he needed to gain more distance with his slider so he mounted his box (left) and used the extra momentum to gain valuable distance. Unfortunately by the time he'd done this the fish had dispersed to the swims either side of him!