ANGLING: PAT ARMSTRONG COLUMN: A Raison to be cheerful; Will shines as England are eclipsed by the Italians.

Byline: Pat ARMSTRONG

DRENNAN Team England surrendered their European Championship crown to a squad in sizzing form - but were unanimous and magnaminous in their praise for the team man who managed to live with the super-slick Italians.

Will Raison was denied a medal on weight difference for a second time when he finished in fourth individual place on the Plovdiv rowing course in Bulgaria.

But the performance of the youngest member of the international side - Raison was the only outsider to challenge Italian supremacy over two days - wasn't lost on his colleagues or selectors.

Team England coach Mark Downes predicted that nothing can stop Raison matching the achievements of former champions like Bob Nudd and Alan Scotthorne, both outshone in Bulgaria by the young superstar.

A brilliant attacking show from the Italians saw them grab four of the top five individual places in the Euro showdown. They outpaced England on both days to claim the gold medal.

England collected 24 section points on day one to finish second with 40.015kg, leaving them 12 points adrift of leaders Italy who hammered out 48.170 of carp and carasio in the three-hour clash.

Reigning world champion Jacopo Falsini spearheaded the effort by winning his section. He was destined to do it again next day, adding the Euro crown as the only contender with a perfect two-point score.

Bruised by the Italian advantage, England reshaped on day two, replacing four-times world champion Bob Nudd, who had finished in a disappointing 11th place, with Tom Pickering.

Pickering got his chance on the water where he'd earned his own world championship crown in 1989 and let no-one down, blasting the opposition with a decisive section victory.

Neither did Raison. Second in his section on day one, he joined the charge by winning it on day two for a three-point contribution. The pair's spirited challenge helped England claw back the Italian's impressive lead but 19 points wasn't enough, still two short of the magnificent Italians on 17.

It left the Italians convincing winners with a two-day total of 107.250kg for 29 points, England finishing in silver medal position with 85.670kg and 43 points. Third-placed Hungary were well behind on 65 points, with Belgium (71) and France (75) following up.

Behind undisputed champion Falsini, Raison battled it out with two other Italians on three points, but missed out in the weight countback to Simone Carraro (silver medal) and Umberto Ballabeni (bronze).

Gianpiero Barbetta completed the Italian clean-up with a five-point total for fifth spot.

England coaches Downes and Mark Addy were in total inquest agreement. "We got off to a slow start and left ourselves too much to do on the second leg," said Downes.

"The Italians were in great form. But we finished 22 points ahead of the third team."

Terry's golden touch

THE LOCAL SCENE

THE Lindley bank of Coventry's Coombe Abbey Lake produced the three leading scores in the Billy Lane Championship contest - though the winning swim wasn't a fancied one.

It was, however, occupied by, the right angler. Experienced Coombe campaigner and bream specialist Terry Bintliffe promptly transformed peg 33 into the right place to be and took the title by hauling 22.600kg to the scales.

In hot and humid conditions Bintliffe (Garbolino) flung a groundbait feeder 65 yards out into the pool and fished worm on the hook to seek out a patrolling bream shoal. Nine slabs to 5lb took the bait and stayed on to give Bintliffe a comfortable winning margin.

Lindley peg 40, often a winner in both the Billy Lane memorial and other major Coombe matches, provided the next best weight, Andy Burt (Shimano Portway) taking runner-up spot with 18.300kg.

Third-placed Mick Bull (Lane's Bait) was happy to land a near double- figure zander but less pleased about the bream he lost on a pole rig. He got the net under four bream but lost another seven fish after drawing the shoal close in to Lindley peg 28. He recorded 12.450kg.

Weights from adjoining pegs on the public bank completed the frame, Brian Edge finishing fourth with 10.250kg from 23 and Alan Powell taking 10.150kg on peg 24.

KEEPING it simple paid off for winner and runner-up in a Warwick open fished on a trim looking Avon at Saxon Mill.

Both employed the pole and fished maggots on the hook to take small roach and perch.

Dave Partridge (Warwick Select) found the better catch rate at peg 34, leading the scoring with 6-12-0 from George Avery (WB Clarke) who was at 22 and weighed 5-13-0.

Nigel Davies (Shakespeare) was third on 4-3-0, ahead of Alan Stevens (W.B. Clarke) with 3-12-0 and Dave Teece (Shimano Portway) 3-10-0.