Kayleigh Dowd has announced she is leaving Preston Innovations, Sonubaits and Avid Carp after nine years. The decision ends a long association with three of the sport’s most recognised brands. She shared the news in a personal statement on social media. In her post, Kayleigh thanked all three companies for their support and the opportunities they provided.
International Career and FishOMania Success
Kayleigh, who previously competed as Kayleigh Smith before her marriage, has been a consistent presence on the UK match circuit for several years. She represents the England Ladies’ Team in international coarse competition. She also earned selection for the 2024 Carp Team England Ladies World Championships squad, highlighting her ability across both disciplines.
A key moment in her career came in 2018 when she won the Ladies FishOMania title. The event was one of the final editions before the Ladies’ competition ended, which makes the achievement even more significant.
Nine Years Across a Major Brand Group
During her time with Preston Innovations and Sonubaits, Kayleigh became a familiar face at festivals, qualifiers and open matches. She also worked on product promotion and media content. Her involvement with Avid Carp showed her ability to compete and contribute across both match and carp fishing.
All three brands sit under Rather Outdoors. As a result, this move marks a complete step away from the wider group she has represented for nearly a decade.
What Comes Next
In her statement, Dowd reflected on the memories and opportunities from her time with the brands. She also confirmed that she now plans to pursue new opportunities within the sport.
No new sponsorship has been announced at this stage. However, given the length of her association, this change stands out ahead of the 2026 season. Long term partnerships of this kind remain relatively rare.
With international experience in both coarse and carp disciplines, along with major domestic success, Kayleigh Dowd remains a respected figure within the sport. Attention will now turn to the next stage of her angling career.