BRONZE FOR ENGLAND VETERANS AS MASTERS AND DISABLED GO CLOSE AT WORLD CHAMPS

There was a real mixed bag of results for the three Angling Trust England teams competing in this year’s FIPSed Masters, Veterans, and Disabled World Championships in Portugal, with medals for the Vets, but close calls for the Masters and Disabled sides.

Fished on the River Sorraia in Coruche and Raia in Cabecao, all three events in searing heat, the Veterans turned in a brilliant day two performance to take team bronze.

For the Masters, it was too close to call, ending the weekend in fourth just a point off bronze and three away from silver. It was a similar story for the Disabled lads too, fifth spot seeing them eight points off a medal and only one away from moving up a place.

With matches being moved back to a 9am start to beat the worst of the 45-degree temperatures, the Veterans finished day one at Cabecao in fourth spot.

Day two section seconds for Tommy Pickering and Harry Billing, a third for Mark Downes and sixth for Steve Sanders added up to 13 points, which moved them up into third overall on 34.

Italy proved too strong for everyone, winning with 20 points from home nation Portugal in second on 22. Top performer for England was Tommy with five points for seventh spot overall.

It didn’t quite go as well for the Masters at Coruche, as lying second overnight after a 17-point haul, the four-man team totalled 22 on match day two to see them slip down two places.

Their 39 points being only one away from France in third and three from Hungary in second, Italy again winning with 32 points.

England’s Darran Bickerton and John Weeden led England home with fifth and sixth spots overall on four and five points while Graham Smith returned 14 points and Billy Reynolds 16 to complete the scoring.

The news was similar for Paul Etherington’s new-look Disabled team who were also at Coruche and finished fourth overnight with 18 points – just one off a medal.

A tough day two saw the side unable to improve on their score and they finished with 19 points, dropping the team a place as Hungary won, Italy secured second, and Croatia took third.

England’s Ethan Etherington came close in the individual race too, finishing fourth overall on four section points from the two matches – one fewer would have guaranteed him the bronze.

Next best was Lee Gregory with 10 points, followed by new caps Andrew Saunders on 11 and Phil Spry with 12.

* A huge thanks to all the anglers and companies who supported the Veterans, Masters, and Disabled World Championship teams in 2025 – we’ll be back stronger in 2026!