John Horsey takes Individual Silver in the recent European Fly Fishing Championships

Hot on the heels of England’s Gold Medal win in the 2009 World Championship, England Team member and Hardy & Greys Consultant, John Horsey took Individual Silver in the recent European Championships.

The 15th FIPS Mouche European Championships were contested by 13 Countries and were held on Lough Leane, Lough Caragh and the River Blackwater near Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland.

Team England was represented by World Gold Medallists John Horsey and Simon Robinson, plus John Tyzack, Mick Tinnion and Phil Dixon, ably assisted by reserve Andrew Gooding and Team Manager Paul Page.

WHEN YOU CLICK ON LINKS TO VARIOUS MERCHANTS ON THIS SITE AND MAKE A PURCHASE, THIS CAN RESULT IN THIS SITE EARNING A COMMISSION. AFFILIATE PROGRAMS AND AFFILIATIONS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE EBAY PARTNER NETWORK AND AMAZON
European Killarney 2009 MedalistsEngland’s highest capped International angler of all time, John Horsey said:
“Winning Team Gold in the World Championships was the highlight of my Fly Fishing career. However, the European Championships are so close in stature to the World’s, which meant we were desperate to get another team medal to add to our Gold.

“Both Simon Robinson and I had fished Lough Lein in the past, so we knew we should expect lots of lightening quick, small wild brownies.  The Blackwater had been in flood for weeks, so we knew this would be challenging.   Lough Caragh was also full of wild brownies, but being a bit bigger average size than Lein, we hoped we could get good results here.”

Although the England Team hooked and played hundreds of fish during the 5 three hour sessions, keeping them on the hook and getting them into the landing net proved the biggest problem.

Keswick’s Mick Tinnion hooked an estimated 20 fish during his session on Lough Lein West, but only managed to net 2 sizable fish.

For the duration of the match, only fish in excess of 20 cm’s would count, with a score of 500 points per fish, plus 20 points per cm over the 20 cm minimum size.

John Horsey was fishing his 32nd match for England and finished just 1 place point off Individual European Champion.  This follows his 10th place in the 2009 World Championships and 4th place overall in the 2008 New Zealand World Championships.For the first time ever in a single year, England can boast the highest ever Individual standings of Iain Barr as World Champion and John Horsey as European Silver Medal Winner.

Czech Team Member Pavel Chyba took Individual Gold, with Horsey in Silver and Ireland’s Dave O’Donovan winning Ireland’s first ever medal in Bronze position.

The ever consistent French Team won Team Gold, with Czech Republic in Silver and Poland taking the Bronze medal.  Italy and England tied on points for 4th place, with Spain in 6th spot and hosts Ireland in 7th place overall.

John Horsey
John Horsey

About the author

Anglers' Net

Pin It on Pinterest