The Angling Trust’s Team England Veterans just missed out on the sliver medal in 11thFIPSed World Championships on Lake, Selnica, Croatia from 16th– 17th June 2018.

In temperatures never less than sizzling 30 degrees centigrade, the team practised hard before the event which proved vital. Carrassio were the main target species for the vets, with fish between 6oz and 1lb dominating the catches. This meant the veterans were looking for a much larger weight than normal on internationals and baits were matched to these larger fish; maggot, worm, and small quantities of bloodworm.

The team fished really well on day one with two section wins and two section thirds, this left them just one point behind a strong Hungarian side and a full six points clear of the chasing pack.

Day two however, brought with it a tough draw, and it was only Stan Binge who managed to match his first day section win, posting a perfect two pointer! A further two thirds and a seventh meant that the team drew on points with the Italians, who’d made a storming comeback. Unfortunately for the Brits, they were edged out of silver on weight countback, but the team were still very proud of their bronze medals in a very strong European field.

Joe Roberts England Manager commented

“We were led to believe that the two venues for the veterans and masters were next to each other, but because there was a four-mile gap, I made the decision to appoint Dicky Carr as the co-manager for the Veterans team. It was Dicky’s first time and he did a really cracking job. Dicky wants to thank all the help on the bank, as it was invaluable, from Mick Wilkinson and Ricki Martinelli.”

“We were incredibly unlucky to come away with the bronze, but the boys still did us proud.

Stan Binge fished brilliantly getting two section wins on both days and only lost out on weight countback to finish with silver.”

Unfortunately, due to ill health Roger Marlow was unable to participate this year, Colin Perry was called up to the squad and put in a great performance.

Team England Veterans squad were; Billy Hughes, Colin Perry, Kevin Folwell, Pete Hawley, Stan Binge, Joe Roberts (manager) and Dicky Carr (co-manager). Helpers; Mick Wilkinson and Ricki Martinelli.

Top 5 Team Results;

1st Hungary 18 penalties

2nd Italy 22 penalties

3rd England 22 penalties

4th France 33 penalties

5th Slovenia 45 penalties

Top 5 individual results;

1st Roberto Torri, Italy

2nd Stan Binge, England

3rd Janos Czako, Hungary

4th Jozsef Varga, Hungary

5th Kevin Folwell, England