Team England Lure Fishing Triumph at the 2024 Street Fishing World Championships

When we set out for the Street Fishing World Championships in Peschiera Del Garda, Italy, our team knew it would be a challenging journey. Years of dedication, training, and support from our manager, Steve Collett, had brought us to this point. And it paid off—we’re coming home with silver, and I’m proud to say two of our teammates, Ben Sharp and Nick Wilson, clinched individual gold medals. It’s an incredible feeling.

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Our journey hasn’t been easy. The pandemic cancelled the 2021 inaugural event in Utrecht, and our first competition in Zwolle, Netherlands, in 2022 ended just shy of the podium, with a fourth-place finish. The following year in Mantua, Italy, we struggled with a tough venue and came seventh. But every year, we learned something valuable, adjusting our strategies and pushing harder. This year, all that preparation finally paid off.

The Grind Begins for Team England Lure

We arrived in Italy two weeks before the competition, determined to leave nothing to chance. Those early days were crucial. Captain Paul Danby led our team through intense, focused practice sessions, giving us exclusive time on the water before the other teams arrived. We scouted out prime fishing zones and noted every little detail about how the fish responded. By the time the competition kicked off, we had a solid game plan and a deep understanding of our surroundings.

Competition Days

Saturday, October 26—the opening day—put us to the test. Paul and Adam ended up in a zone where fish worthy of the scoreboard were practically non-existent. They managed to catch fish but these were undersized and unfortunately didn’t count. Meanwhile, Nick and Ben were facing their own challenges in a different zone but managed to secure eight-counting bass with a level of finesse and skill that lifted our entire team to a leading position. Seeing them pull that off was a huge morale boost.

The next day, Sunday, October 27, came with more pressure as we switched zones. It was tough, but Ben and Nick managed to land a crucial 34cm bass, pushing us into second place as a team. The difference between first and second was razor-thin—a single centimetre stood between Paul and Adam’s catch and a potential gold. Knowing how close we were was bittersweet, but the team’s hard work and resilience had finally earned us a spot on the podium.

Final Standings

Here’s how the results turned out:

Team Rankings:

🥇 France – Gold
🥈 England – Silver
🥉 Netherlands – Bronze

Individual Rankings:

🥇 England – Gold (Ben Sharp and Nick Wilson)
🥈 Netherlands – Silver (Johannes Elzinga and Bart Van De Walle)
🥉 France – Bronze (Martin Jeanson and Baptiste Verger)

Reflecting on it all, I can’t express enough gratitude for every member of Team England Lure squad. Steve Collett (Manager) and Dale Hunter (Assistant Manager) supported us every step of the way. Captain Paul Danby and the entire angler crew—Adam Seeley, Nick Wilson, Ben Sharp, Lee Saville, Roly Mceneaney and Tom Andrews—each had a vital role in this achievement. Together, we faced challenging conditions; with only 28 fish caught by 52 anglers, it’s fair to say every single catch was earned through hard work and focus.

Looking Ahead

This silver medal is just the beginning. We’re more motivated than ever for next year’s competition in the USA, where we’ll bring all the lessons from this year and aim even higher.

To all the fans who cheered us on, your messages and support kept us going through tough moments. And to anyone looking to help us continue this journey, we’re always grateful for sponsorship support. This team is self-funded, and every bit counts.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We’re proud to represent England, and we’ll keep pushing for the top.