On the eve of the FIPSed Fédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive en Eau Douce Youth World Championships, excitement builds as teams prepare for competition at Serbia’s DTD Canal. With the event set to commence tomorrow, the three England teams (Tackle Guru U15s, Beechfield Headwear U20s and Sensas UK Under 25s) are eager yet uncertain about the conditions they will face.
According to the Angling Trust Facebook page, weed has posed significant challenges, hindering practice sessions for many competitors. Despite the organisers’ efforts to clear much of it, the exact state of the pegs remains unknown as the anglers gear up for the tournament. To combat the weed issue, booms have been placed at both ends of the match length, and boats are actively working to break up any remaining vegetation. However, fishing close to the banks may still prove difficult in many areas.
Matt Godfrey, Manager of the Tackle Guru Under 15s team, provided insight into the current situation.
Godfrey expressed pride in the young anglers, who have shown resilience amidst the challenging conditions of weed, high temperatures, and unfamiliar fish species. “The boys have been phenomenal, working really hard. I believe they have a great chance of winning a medal,” he concluded.
The England squads competing in the Youth World Championships are as follows:
Tackle Guru/Angling Trust England Under 15s Youth World Championships squad:
- Barnaby Newman
- Charlie Drinkwater
- Alfie Swieton
- Tommy Higginbottom
- Charlie Isaacs
Beechfield Headwear/Angling Trust England U20’s Coarse Fishing Team:
- Joshua Duffy
- Billy Kirk
- George McHugh
- Alfie Nicholls
- Harry Franklin
- Jacob Lees
- James Geddes
Sensas UK/Angling Trust England Under 25s Youth World Championships squad:
- Josh Derry
- Josh Newman
- Will McCranor
- Lewis Bray
- Yestyn Sephton
- Brandon George
As the teams prepare for the challenges ahead, all eyes will be on the DTD Canal, where tomorrow’s competition promises to be exciting and unpredictable.
Good luck to all three England squads!