Picture: Will MacCranor with his excellent 32kg section winning bag from Day One.

The 2019 FIPSed 33rd U20s World Youth Coarse Angling Championship was held on the Reservoir El Vicario, Spain from 6th – 11th August.

Sensas Team England U20s consisted of; Jordan Holloway, Jack Damant, Rob Swan, Will McCranor, Josh Newman, Steve Sanders (Manager), Cameron Hughes (2nd captain) and Nathan Hughes (delegate).

After a week of disrupted practice with one England team member spending four days in hospital with heat exhaustion and another team member spending two days in the hotel with a sickness bug, the young Sensas Team England U20s performed brilliantly on the first day to take equal 2nd position and to tie with Hungary on 18 points, with Poland in the lead on 10 points.

Will McCranor went on to win his section on day 1 with 31kg of carrassio. Rob Swan was 3rd with 22kg of catfish (430 fish). The other two anglers drew very difficult pegs and produced two 8th positions.

On day 2, a shocking draw in D section cost England any real chance of a medal.

Day 2 scores;
Josh Newman 22kg 786grms – 4th
Rob Swan 23kg 278grms – 4th
Jack Damant 15kg 583grms – 9th
Will McCranor 13kg 341grms – 11th

Sensas Team England U20s just missed out on a podium place to finish in 6th place overall at the end of the Championship, with Poland taking the World Championship title with 30 penalties. In runner up position was France with 33 penalties and the Netherlands in 3rd place with 37 penalties.

Steve Sanders, Sensas Team England U20s Manager stated “The competition was dominated by small catfish in almost every section and as none of the England lads had ever caught one before this was a brilliant performance. Rob Swan needs a special mention for catching 850 catfish over the two days for over 45kgs (over 100lb) and did fantastic especially in the 35-degree heat.”

Results;
Top 4 teams
1st Poland 30 penalties
2nd France 33 penalties
3rd Netherlands 37 penalties
4th Hungary 43 penalties

Top 4 individual results
1st Bartosz Krzyzak, Poland
2nd Peter Bako, Hungary
3rd Bartlomiej Okon, Poland
4th Nick Eestermans, Netherlands
The Angling Trust and the U20s England team (pictured below) would like to offer their appreciation to their sponsors Sensas for all their continued support.