# World Freshwater Angling Championships

The World Freshwater Angling Championships is a freshwater angling competition. Participating countries fish in teams of five with titles awarded to the team with the fewest points, the competition area is split into sections and the winner with the most weight will be awarded one point, two for second, three for third, at the end of the two days the team with the least points is the top team. Since its inception in 1954, the competition has been staged on rivers, canals and still waters from a selected host nation. Currently (to 2021), the world championships have not been held outside of Europe.
The 68th event was held in September 2022 at Bilje, in Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. Held at Lake Biljsko Jezero which holds prussian carp, dwarf catfish, grass carp, catfish, asp, bighead, red perch, silver bream, ide and carassius. First-time world champions were Serbia, with Italy in second place and Czech Republic in third. and the individual new world champion was Mihael Pongrac of Croatia.
The 69th World Freshwater Coarse Angling Championships was held in Mequinenza-Fayón, at the Ribarroja Dam, on the river Ebro, Spain on 9-10th September 2023. and the team event won by Serbia, for a second consecutive year, with England in second place, and France in third. The individual world championship winner was Esteve Martinez , with James Dent and Sean Ashby of England in second and third place.
The 70th World Championships was held at Béthune, Pas-de-Calais, France on 21 – 22 September 2024. First-time world champions were Croatia, with Italy in second place and France in third. The individual world championship winner was László Csillag .

## Brief history

The inaugural world championship was held in West Germany in 1954 and won by team England, with the first individual title going to Gino Vigarani of Italy. In 1992, Dave Wesson, an Australian, became the only non-European to win the title. The 2020 World Freshwater Angling Championships was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in 2021. The host nation have been team champions on 15 occasions, with the strongest nation at home being Italy who have won on their own waters 6 times, the others were Belgium 2, France, Luxembourg, Romania, East Germany, West Germany, England, Spain. The host nation has produced a home grown individual world champion from just 9 events of the 67 fished (one in seven).
For a video history of this major angling event, see External links at the bottom of this page.

## World Championship Nations Team Results

| Year | Venue and Host Country | World Champions | P/Pts | Runners-up | P/Pts | 3rd Place Team | P/Pts |
| 1954 | Düsseldorf, West Germany | England | 50 | Belgium | 70 | Italy | 71 |
| 1955 | Reading, England | Luxembourg | 69 | Belgium | 71 | France | 74 |
| 1956 | Paris, France | France | 39 | Belgium | 64 | Luxembourg | 71 |
| 1957 | Belgrade, Yugoslavia | Italy | 23 | Luxembourg | 52 | France | 54 |
| 1958 | Huy, Belgium | Belgium | 29 | France | 32 | Luxembourg | 86 |
| 1959 | Neuchatel, Switzerland | France | 71 | Italy | 103 | Switzerland | 104 |
| 1960 | Gdańsk, Poland | Belgium | 36 | France | 61 | West Germany | 87 |
| 1961 | Merseburg, East Germany | East Germany | 44 | Belgium | 66 | England | 70 |
| 1962 | Lac de Garde, Italy | Italy | 21 | France | 27 | Belgium | 95 |
| 1963 | Wormeldange, Luxembourg | France | 57 | Italy | 77 | England | 80 |
| 1964 | Isola dei Pescatori, Italy | France | 6 | Italy | 9 | Austria | 20 |
| 1965 | Galati, Romania | Romania | 22 | Poland | 27 | France | 32 |
| 1966 | River Thurne, Martham Ferry, England | France | 8 | Belgium | 15 | Italy | 24 |
| 1967 | Dunaújváros, Hungary | Belgium | 12 | France | 17 | England | 25 |
| 1968 | Fermoy, Ireland | France | 18 | West Germany | 24 | Romania | 25 |
| 1969 | Bad Oldesloe, West Germany | Netherlands | 17 | Belgium | 19 | France | 21 |
| 1970 | Berg, Netherlands | Belgium | 8 | Netherlands | 14 | France | 16 |
| 1971 | Peschiera del Garda, Italy | Italy | 6 | Belgium | 21 | France | 25 |
| 1972 | Prague, Czechoslovakia | France | 12 | England | 24 | Italy | 25 |
| 1973 | Chalon-sur-Saône, France | Belgium | 10 | France | 16 | England | 26 |
| 1974 | Ghent, Belgium | France | 18 | Italy | 18 | Netherlands | 23 |
| 1975 | Bydgoszcz, Poland | France | 23 | England | 26 | Belgium | 26 |
| 1976 | Varna, Bulgaria | Italy | 7 | Bulgaria | 20 | Austria | 27 |
| 1977 | Ehnen, Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 16 | Belgium | 18 | France | 19 |
| 1978 | Vienna, Austria | France | 14 | Italy | 19 | Czechoslovakia | 24 |
| 1979 | Saragossa, Spain | France | 14 | Netherlands | 16 | Portugal | 25 |
| 1980 | Mannheim, West Germany | West Germany | 7 | England | 23 | Belgium | 24 |
| 1981 | Luddington, England | France | 25 | England | 31 | Wales | 37 |
| 1982 | Newry, Northern Ireland | Netherlands | 20 | France | 25 | England | 26 |
| 1983 | Amersfoort, Netherlands | Belgium | 9 | England | 14 | Netherlands | 24 |
| 1984 | Yverdon, Switzerland | Luxembourg | 28 | England | 28 | Belgium | 40 |
| 1985 | Florence, Italy | England | 16 | Italy | 17 | Belgium | 25 |
| 1986 | Strasbourg, France | Italy | 27 | West Germany | 35 | Austria | 40 |
| 1987 | Coimbra, Portugal | England | 9 | Italy | 18 | Austria | 40 |
| 1988 | Damme, Belgium | England | 50 | Italy | 50 | France | 58 |
| 1989 | Plovdiv, Bulgaria | Wales | 48 | Italy | 68 | England | 83 |
| 1990 | Maribor, Yugoslavia | France | 60 | England | 89 | Italy | 89 |
| 1991 | Szeged, Hungary | England | 44 | France | 48 | Italy | 51 |
| 1992 | Enniskillen, Northern Ireland | Italy | 94 | France | 87 | Channel islands | 120 |
| 1993 | Coruche, Portugal | Italy | 49 | France | 68 | Austria | 76 |
| 1994 | Nottingham, England | England | 92 | France | 96 | Italy | 117 |
| 1995 | Lappeenranta, Finland | France | 23 | Belgium | 45 | Italy | 59 |
| 1996 | Peschiera del Garda, Italy | Italy | 36 | England | 63 | Austria | 72 |
| 1997 | Velence, Hungary | Italy | 56.5 | England | 70 | France | 72 |
| 1998 | Zagreb, Croatia | England | 61 | France | 84 | Italy | 89 |
| 1999 | Toledo, Spain | Spain | 34 | Italy | 40 | England | 52 |
| 2000 | Firenze, Italy | Italy | 37 | England | 59.5 | Hungary | 89.5 |
| 2001 | Paris, France | England | 68 | France | 72 | Italy | 87 |
| 2002 | Coimbra, Portugal | Spain | 52.5 | Portugal | 55.5 | Belgium | 74 |
| 2003 | Madunice, Slovakia | Hungary | 55 | Poland | 93.5 | France | 102.5 |
| 2004 | Willebroek, Belgium | France | 70 | England | 71 | Hungary | 79 |
| 2005 | Lappeenranta, Finland | England | 64 | Belgium | 76 | Hungary | 77 |
| 2006 | Rio Mondego, Portugal | England | 61 | Italy | 85 | Hungary | 101 |
| 2007 | Lake Velence, Hungary | Italy | 57 | Belgium | 78 | Hungary | 86.5 |
| 2008 | Spinadesco Canal, Italy | England | 74 | San Marino | 104 | Italy | 109 |
| 2009 | Lage Vaart Canal, Netherlands | Slovakia | 39 | France | 40 | Belgium | 41 |
| 2010 | Ciudad Real, Spain? | England | 40 | Italy | 42.5 | Netherlands | 51 |
| 2011 | Ostellato Ferrara, Italy | Italy | 21 | Hungary | 27 | Belgium | 33 |
| 2012 | Morava River, Czech Republic | Poland | 32 | Czech Republic | 44 | France | 47 |
| 2013 | Żerański Canal, Warsaw, Poland | England | 22 | France | 33 | Poland | 39 |
| 2014 | Dubrava Canal, Croatia | Netherlands | 38 | Hungary | 40.5 | Serbia | 45 |
| 2015 | Sava River, Slovenia | Italy | 37 | Czech Republic | 42 | England | 46.5 |
| 2016 | Rowing Course, Plovdiv, Bulgaria | Hungary | 34 | Czech Republic | 42 | England | 46 |
| 2017 | Ronquières, Belgium | Belgium | 18 | England | 21 | France | 24.5 |
| 2018 | Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal | Germany | 46 | Hungary | 52 | Belgium | 61 |
| 2019 | Novi Sad, Serbia | France | 20 | Italy | 26 | Hungary | 32 |
| 2020 | cancelled – COVID-19 pandemic | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2021 | Peschiera del Garda, Italy | Italy | 75 | Czech Republic | 86.5 | England | 89 |
| 2022 | Bilje, Croatia | Serbia | 31.5 | Italy | 42 | Czech Republic | 47 |
| 2023 | Mequinenza-Fayón, Spain | Serbia | 45 | England | 54 | France | 70 |
| 2024 | Béthune, Pas-de-Calais, France | Croatia | 31 | Italy | 40 | France | 43 |

## World Championship Individual results

| Year | Venue and Host Country | Individual World Champion | Individual Runner-Up | Individual 3rd Place |
| 1954 | Düsseldorf, West Germany | Gino Vigarani | F Fugazza | H Andef |
| 1955 | Reading, England | M Mailly | Dufeys | Ducret |
| 1956 | Paris, France | F Cerfontaine | G Dubuc | Robert Tesse |
| 1957 | Belgrade, Yugoslavia | Giulio Mandelli | G De Angellis | F Fugazza |
| 1958 | Huy, Belgium | J Garroit | F Cerfontaine | A Negrignat |
| 1959 | Neuchatel, Switzerland | Robert Tesse | G De Angelli | S Knapen |
| 1960 | Gdańsk, Poland | Robert Tesse | F Cerfontaine | F Swinnen |
| 1961 | Merseburg, East Germany | R Le Gouge | F Schmidt | Robert Tesse |
| 1962 | Lac de Garde, Italy | R Tedesco | J Fontanet | M Vanelli |
| 1963 | Wormeldange, Luxembourg | Billy Lane | Robert Tesse | M Vanelli |
| 1964 | Isola dei Pescatori, Italy | J Fontanet | P Despres | Robert Tesse |
| 1965 | Galati, Romania | Robert Tesse | L Seppi | C Burch |
| 1966 | River Thurne, Martham Ferry, Norfolk | Henri Guiheneuf | P Baudot | C Roelandt |
| 1967 | Dunaújváros, Hungary | J Isenbaert | K Handt | G Detry |
| 1968 | Fermoy, Ireland | G Grebenstein | I Pana | V Sherwood |
| 1969 | Bad Oldesloe, West Germany | Robin Harris | J Leyrer | J Vermeulen |
| 1970 | Berg, Netherlands | M Van Den Eynde | P Michiels | P Paquet |
| 1971 | Peschiera del Garda, Italy | Dino Bassi | A Alfieri | E Zimmer |
| 1972 | Prague, Czechoslovakia | RJE Levels | A Thommas | Jacques Tesse |
| 1973 | Chalon-sur-Saône, France | P Michiels | M Van Den Eynde | G Herbert |
| 1974 | Ghent, Belgium | A Richter | Mendez Gomez | Jean Pierre Fougeat |
| 1975 | Bydgoszcz, Poland | Ian Heaps | Jacques Tesse | G De Bagi |
| 1976 | Varna, Bulgaria | Dino Bassi | Ivan Marks | F Pasinetti |
| 1977 | Ehnen, Luxembourg | J Mainil | Poth | J Quinet |
| 1978 | Vienna, Austria | Jean Pierre Fougeat | Roberto Trabucco | N Birnbaum |
| 1979 | Saragossa, Spain | G Heulard | T Eikhout | H Durozier |
| 1980 | Mannheim, West Germany | Rudgher Kremkus | O Wessel | Roberto Trabucco |
| 1981 | Luddington, England | David Thomas | V Santos | S Lecocq |
| 1982 | Newry, Northern Ireland | Kevin Ashurst | M Thill | F Bartolas |
| 1983 | Amersfoort, Netherlands | Rudgher Kremkus | J Kohn | P Van Gool |
| 1984 | Yverdon, Switzerland | Bobby Smithers | R Stevens | BJ Brouwer |
| 1985 | Florence, Italy | David Roper | Roberto Trabucco | P David |
| 1986 | Strasbourg, France | L Wever | Clive Branson | R Van Neer |
| 1987 | Coimbra, Portugal | Clive Branson | Kevin Ashurst | D White |
| 1988 | Damme, Belgium | Jean Pierre Fougeat | S Gardner | E Colombo |
| 1989 | Plovdiv, Bulgaria | Tom Pickering | F Casini | R Benton |
| 1990 | Maribor, Yugoslavia | Bob Nudd | Kevin Ashurst | R Koenig |
| 1991 | Szeged, Hungary | Bob Nudd | Kevin Ashurst | J Van Schendel |
| 1992 | Enniskillen, Northern Ireland | Dave Wesson | C Guicciardi | M Thill |
| 1993 | Coruche, Portugal | M Barros | J Savelhoul | B Bodineau |
| 1994 | Nottingham, England | Bob Nudd | R Stronck | JJ Chaumet |
| 1995 | Lappeenranta, Finland | P Jean | J Wilmart | J Desque |
| 1996 | Peschiera del Garda, Italy | Alan Scotthorne | C Guicciardi | E Colombo |
| 1997 | Velence, Hungary | Alan Scotthorne | Gianluigi Sorti | K Milson |
| 1998 | Zagreb, Croatia | Alan Scotthorne | P Carroyer | M Barros |
| 1999 | Toledo, Spain | Bob Nudd | J Rodriguez Blasco | R Xarez |
| 2000 | Firenze, Italy | Jacopo Falsini | Will Raison | Jean Pierre Fougeat |
| 2001 | Paris, France | Umberto Ballabeni | P Lorenc | D Da Silva |
| 2002 | Coimbra, Portugal | J Rodriguez Blasco | J Duran | S Conroy |
| 2003 | Madunice, Slovakia | Alan Scotthorne | K Schater | R Bednarski |
| 2004 | Willebroek, Belgium | Tamás Walter | E van der Hoogan | T Ambrus |
| 2005 | Finland | Guido Nullens | Stephane Pottelet | Will Raison |
| 2006 | Rio Mondego, Portugal | Tamás Walter | Ivan Biordi | Sean Ashby |
| 2007 | Lake Velence, Hungary | Alan Scotthorne | N. Gavrobiks | Lee Edwards |
| 2008 | Spinadesco Canal, Italy | Will Raison | W Wheeler | Steve Gardner |
| 2009 | Lage Vaart Canal, Netherlands | Igor Potapov | Will Raison | Simon Jensen |
| 2010 | Ciudad Real, Spain | Frank Meis | Cathal Hughes | Rumen Vitkov |
| 2011 | Ostellato Ferrara, Italy | Andrea Fini | Peter Milkovics | Ferruccio Gabba |
| 2012 | Morava River, Czech Republic | Sean Ashby | Sergey Fedorov | Stephane Pottelet |
| 2013 | Żerański Canal, Warsaw, Poland | Didier Delannoy | Steve Hemmingway | Alan Scotthorne |
| 2014 | Dubrava Canal, Croatia | Goran Radovic | Stefan Altena | Arjan Klop |
| 2015 | Sava River, Slovenia | Yuri Siptsov | Tamás Walter | Alan Scotthorne |
| 2016 | Rowing Course, Plovdiv, Bulgaria | Jernej Ambrozic | Josef Konopasek | Rastislav Dudr |
| 2017 | Ronquières, Belgium | Luc Thijs | Stephane Linder | Geoffrey Duquensne |
| 2018 | Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal | Johannes Böhm | Eric Di Venti | Ralf Herdlitschke |
| 2019 | Novi Sad, Serbia | Alan Perko | Alexandre Caudin | Maxime Duchesne |
| 2020 | cancelled COVID-19 pandemic | – | – | – |
| 2021 | Peschiera del Garda, Italy | Goran Radovic | Imre Szákovics | Petr Klásek |
| 2022 | Bilje, Croatia | Mihael Pongrac | Mitja Kmetec | Balázs Csöregl |
| 2023 | Mequinenza-Fayón, Spain | Esteve Martinez | James Dent | Sean Ashby |
| 2024 | Béthune, Pas-de-Calais, France | László Csillag | Wiktor Walczak | Matija Krajevać |

### Roll of Honour

* Team competition : France 16, Italy 14, England 13, Belgium 7, Netherlands 3, Luxemburg 3, Germany 3, Spain 2, Hungary 2, Serbia 2, Wales 1, Poland 1, Romania 1, Slovakia 1, Croatia 1
* Individual multiple Champions : Alan Scotthorne 5, Bob Nudd 4, Robert Tesse 3, Jean Pierre Fougeat 2, Rudgher Kremkus 2, Dino Bassi 2, Tamás Walter 2, Goran Radovic 2

### Team medal table

| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Medals |
| France | 016 | 014 | 014 | 044 |
| Italy | 014 | 015 | 010 | 039 |
| England | 013 | 013 | 010 | 036 |
| Belgium | 07 | 012 | 09 | 028 |
| Netherlands | 03 | 02 | 03 | 08 |
| Luxembourg | 03 | 01 | 02 | 06 |
| Hungary | 02 | 02 | 06 | 10 |
| Germany | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Serbia | 02 | 00 | 01 | 03 |
| Spain | 02 | 00 | 00 | 02 |
| Poland | 01 | 02 | 01 | 04 |
| Wales | 01 | 00 | 01 | 02 |
| Romania | 01 | 00 | 01 | 02 |
| East Germany | 01 | 00 | 00 | 01 |
| Slovakia | 01 | 00 | 00 | 01 |
| Croatia | 01 | 00 | 00 | 1 |
| Czech Republic | 00 | 04 | 2 | 6 |
| Portugal | 00 | 01 | 01 | 02 |
| Bulgaria | 00 | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| San Marino | 00 | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| Austria | 00 | 00 | 06 | 06 |
| Switzerland | 00 | 00 | 01 | 01 |
| Channel Islands | 00 | 00 | 01 | 01 |
| Total | 70 | 70 | 70 | 210 |