England international match angler Des Shipp has been crowned the 2014 Wychavon Champion, after a close fought battle on Evesham’s River Avon. The Preston Innovations-backed ace, and England international, picked up the £2,000 winners cheque, after weighing in 8-1-0 from end peg one on the Crown Meadow.

A delighted Des explained: “I am over the moon to have won what I regard as one of the most prestigious river fishing titles out there. I was pleased with my draw this morning, not least because my good friend and England teammate, Will Raison fished the peg yesterday – and his information was a massive help, given the fact that I don’t know the water very well.

My main plan of attack was to fish bloodworm and joker on the long pole, and after a good start catching dumpy fish my peg slowed up, so I had to top up fairly regularly to keep the odd fish coming. Pike were a real problem – I had at least 15 fish taken by them today, and ended up swinging most of the fish I hooked just to get them out of the way of the snappers!

Luckily for me, I had a bonus tench about 2 1/2 lb half way through, which I managed to land on bloodworm gear, and boosted my weight nicely.

Runner up was England ace Sean Ashby, who managed a fine net of bloodworm and joker caught roach from peg 44. Sean caught all his fish on the long pole.

Taking third place was Pole Fishing Magazine’s Matt Godfrey. After drawing fancied peg six on the Crown Meadow, Matt also went with a bloodworm attack as his ‘Plan A’, though he did add a few waggler caught chublets in the middle part of the day, which boosted his weight and helped him secure the £900 third place cheque.

Result:1 Des Shipp (Preston Innovations/ Sonubaits) 8-1-0 (peg 1)2 Sean Ashby (Sensas) 7-1-0 (peg 44)3 Matt Godfrey (Pole Fishing Magazine) 6-4-0 (peg 6)4 Scott Geens (Preston Innovations/ Sonubaits) 5-13-0 (peg 305 Lee Kerry (Preston Innovations/ Sonubaits) 5-5-0 (peg 9)