The Angling Trust Guru England U15 squad received a warm welcome at Guru’s Essex headquarters this week, in anticipation of the World Youth Championship in August. The team, chosen after a rigorous Talent Pathway series by managers Matt Godfrey and James Dent, consists of five young anglers who will represent England in Serbia. They will compete against the best young anglers from around the globe.
Returning to the team for 2024 are Alfie Swieton and Barnaby Newman, while new team members Charlie Drinkwater, Charlie Isaacs, and Tommy Higginbottom have earned their first caps this year.
During their VIP visit to the Guru HQ, the talented five were presented with their official Guru England tackle for the upcoming championship. This included exclusive Guru Team England poles, seatboxes, luggage, clothing, and essential accessories.
The event also saw support from England Masters international Billy Reynolds and England Coach Danny Williamson. It provided an invaluable opportunity for managers Matt and James to ensure that the anglers, along with their parents, were focused on the necessary preparations for the diverse fishing conditions expected on the DTD Canal. Based on past experiences, tactics such as whip, short and long pole, and possibly slider fishing will be essential to secure a place on the podium.
Matt Godfrey had this to say about the team.
This is one of the strongest U15 squads we’ve assembled. They have already demonstrated their skills on the Talent Pathway to reach this stage, and I know they have been diligently preparing for the practice week and the two matches. A gold medal in Serbia is the dream, but just making it onto the podium is an incredible achievement these days, and I believe this squad is more than capable of doing that.
The England U15 squad will be fishing alongside the U20 and U25 squads at this year’s World Youth Championship. The event will take place on the 9th and 10th of August on the DTD Canal in Serbia.
