TAREE angler Kris Hickson was a member of an Australian team beaten by just one point in the world black bass championship in South Africa.
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This was held in conjunction with the fourth Sporting Fishing World Championships.
A total of 42 teams from 14 countries took part in the three day event. Hickson fished with Tom Slater. Each country fielded three two-man teams.
Before going to South Africa Hickson told the Times he wasn’t expecting the Australians to finish among the major placings. He rated the South Africans as the favourites along with the USA. As it was the host nation took out the gold medal.
Australians struggled in the practice fish and this didn’t do much for their confidence.
“We were terrible,’’ Hickson said.
However things turned around when the serious stuff started.
“We were second after the first day and managed to hold on from there,’’ Hickson said.
Competition was held near Johannesburg and steady rain in the area just before the championship started proved as a game changer. Hickson and Slater found and area that proved to be productive for the three days.
The country with the lowest score won the event.
“One of the South African teams struggled and that dragged them down,’’ Hickson said.
The final result saw South Africa won with 99 points, with Australia second on 100.
Hickson described the event as ‘an unreal experience.’
“The country, the people and the fishing, it was brilliant,’’ he said.
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While pleased with the silver medal, Hickson admits it is a bit frustrating to go so close to securing the gold.
“We can’t beat South Africa at cricket or rugby, it would have been nice to get one up on them in fishing,’’ he smiled.
This was the first world event of its kind held in eight years. However, Hickson said there are now plans to hold it every four years and the 32-year-old hopes to be involved in the next one.
The South African safari is the start of what will be a busy year for Hickson.
He gets a new boat next week and will use this in competition for the first time at Grafton next month. Then he’s off to Victoria for national championships.
In May Hickson heads to South Korea for the Korean Sportfishing Association (KSA) Mercury Cup.
July will see Hickson contesting the Hobie Kayak World Championship (he’s the current Australian champion) on the Gold Coast while there’s further international competition planned for Malaysia in November.
