Members of the England ladies’ angling team have refused to compete in the world championships after a trans woman was allowed to join. The Mail has the story.
Members of the six-strong squad did not volunteer to participate in Italy at the Shore Angling World Championships in November because Becky Lee Birtwhistle Hodges, who was born male, was also allowed to apply.
It comes three months after the Mail on Sunday revealed the team had pulled out of the home nations competition because former rugby player [Mr.] Hodges – who can cast his line at least twice as far as many women – had been selected.
The team’s captain said they were “humiliated” when they won bronze with her at the 2018 world championships.
Heather, 66, who asked that her surname was not published, said: “It wasn’t a nice situation, mainly because all the other countries wouldn’t speak to us.
“The managers wouldn’t speak to our manager. They were all against us. When we went up to collect our medal, nobody clapped and people walked out.
“Although Becky Lee would be an asset to my team, it’s unfair on everyone else. And if you win in a situation like that, you can’t enjoy the victory, because it feels like you’ve cheated.
“It’s a shame because the other girls would have applied for the World Championships if Becky Lee hadn’t been involved.”
The sport’s governing body, the Angling Trust, has denied that trans women have a significant advantage. Its board has refused to stop [Mr.] Hodges from applying to join the England team.
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