Angling Trust Team England U20 manager Jason Kirk has named his squad for this year’s World Youth Championships following an action-packed assessment day at Barston Lakes on Sunday May 7, 2023.

Fourteen anglers between the age of 15 and 20 were selected to attend the session on the main lake at the Midlands’ complex and they all got to show off their skills with two hours of big waggler fishing ahead of a two-hour stint on the pole.

All those who attended gave a good account of themselves, making the choice for the final six a difficult one for the management team with just the finest of margins separating the lads.

Travelling to tackle the River Sorraia near Corruche in Portugal in early August will be Joshua Duffy, Callum Jennings, Billy Kirk, George McHugh, Louis Morris, and Alfie Nicholls.

“The standard of anglers was incredibly high,” admitted Jason, who led the U20s to a team silver medal in Slovakia last summer. “In fact, I could have picked two teams from the lads who fished today.

“It was the hardest of decisions, but the squad selected has a wealth of experience with an eye on the future too. Congratulations to the six who have been selected to travel and thank you to all the lads who took part this year.”

The U20s will be joined in Portugal by the Guru-backed U15 squad and Sensas-sponsored U25s with each side vying for gold medals on the venue which regularly hosts World events but is notoriously difficult to crack under the extreme temperatures.

* The Angling Trust and U20 management team would like to thank Barston Lakes for hosting the event and all the parents and coaches who supported the day.

This year’s triallists were Adam Bayliss, Joshua Duffy, Harry Franklin, James Geddes, Austin Jennings, Callum Jennings, Billy Kirk, Connor Lamb, Jacob Lees, George McHugh, Matthew Mollart, Louis Morris, Alfie Nicholls, and Max Owen – and we’re proud of them all!