Dutch Saltwaterteam becomes World Champion Boatfishing 2008, Arjan Rijnberg wins individual silver!

‘Winning in front of your own audience’...., a think that happens regularly with soccerteams. In some other sports this is rare that an important international match takes place so close to your home. In the past years the saltwater championships have been fished in Brazil, France and Belgium. Organised by Sportvisserij Nederland and sponsored by SPRO, the World Championship Boatfishing 2008 was organised in the Dutch Colijnsplaat. With about 4,500 visitors to the openingceremony, training days and Zeehengelsport Totaal tradeshow, the event was proven to become a success. Pressure was on the Dutch team!

SPRO teammembers Eric Goossens and Arjan Rijnberg were part of the Dutch Saltwaterteam, together with Geerd de Bruijn, Piet de Kramer, Marcel Waldschmitt and coach Wil Franken. There was sufficient experience in the team: Eric Goossens and Arjan Rijnberg are part of the SPRO Saltwaterteam, a team with a ‘neverending’ list of (inter)national results and titles such as WC Boat, WC Coast, Dutch Champion Boat and Dutch Champion Coast. Eric Goossens currently has the title Individual World Champion Boat Angling as well.

After a succesfull training where the last fine-tuning was done, the first competition day was on monday. This day turned out to be the best start to could have ever been hoped for, from the 5 team members 4 became boat winner. Only Geert de Bruijn ended second on the ‘De Leyra’ boat, just after Belgium competitor Geordes Vermeiren. In the results this meant a difference of 46 points with the number 2, Belgium. An excellent prospect for day 2! The second day has been perfect for the team as well, 3x second place and 2x sixth place on the boats. This result was sufficient to finish third as a team on the second day. With the last fishing day ahead, the team title and also individual titles for Eric Goossens and Arjan Rijnberg were still possible!

On the last day, the Dutch anglers were again fishing excellent; Arjan Rijnberg caught 36 fish on the ‘Lisa’ boat and this made him the winner of the boat. Also Eric Goossens and Piet de Kramer did an excellent job with their second place on the boat, Marcel Waldschmitt and Geert de Bruijn both ended third. This was sufficient for a second place for the team on the third day and an overall FIRST POSITION! The Dutch team had beaten competitors France and Belgium!

In the teamresults the differences between The Netherlands and the number 2 France were rather large, but in the individual ranking the Italian Paolo Volpini ended just before SPRO teammember Arjan Rijnberg as a winner. Also former World Champion Eric Goossens performed very well, ending fourth with the identical number of points as the French third place winner Marc Lefrere. A suberb result for both SPRO teammembers Eric Goossens and Arjan Rijnberg!

The whole Dutch Saltwaterteam fished this World Championship with a full SPRO and Gamakatsu set-up. In close conjunction with the SPRO Saltwaterteam a special Multi-tip boat rod was developed, specifically tailored to this fishing style and conditions. The SPRO FastForward B/10, as this ‘Rod of the Champions’ is called, will be available from early 2009 at your local tackleshop. We are convinced that you will be impressed by the action and performance of this rod, just as the World Champions!

As a main sponsor of this event, SPRO would like to thank Sportvisserij Nederland, all anglers, skippers, marschalls and ofcourse all the visitors that have helped to make this World Championship such a success. One thing is for sure: the succes of the SPRO Saltwaterteam and her individual member continues with this ‘ won Championship in front of own audience’!