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Essex angler grabs street fishing victory

Ben Sharp A group of men throw their hands into the air in celebration. The one in the middle is holding up silver trophy. They are all wearing baseball caps.Ben Sharp
The England street fishing team comprises of Adam Seeley, Nick Wilson, Lee Saville, Ben Sharp, Tom Andrews and Roly Mceneaney

Essex angler Ben Sharp has picked up a gold medal at an international street fishing competition.

He won the prize alongside his competition partner Nick Wilson, with the pair scoring more points than any other duo.

Sharp and Wilson also joined four other anglers representing England at the third Street Fishing World Championships in Peschiera del Garda, northern Italy, and the team came second.

Street fishing is a fast-paced, urban alternative to regular angling, in which competitors carry all of their equipment and race to secure good spots on canals, rivers and lakes.

"To get a gold has still not quite sunk in. When you make a plan and it comes together... there's something very special about it. You can't explain it," said Sharp, who is from Stock near Chelmsford, while Wilson hails from Woking in Surrey.

There were two prizes up for grabs at the town on the southern shore of Lake Garda: one for the pair of anglers that scored the most points and another for the national team that collectively scored the highest.

Despite scoring 149 points, more than any other pair, the pair's teammates could not quite manage to earn England a victory, with the French team claiming the top spot.

Ben Sharp Three main hold each other and smile at the camera. They are wearing baseball caps. The man on the right is holding his thumb up. They are on an urban street.Ben Sharp
Team manager Stephen Collett (left), team captain Paul Danby (right) and Ben Sharp (right)

The competition ran from the 23 October to 27 October.

Competition rules state that fishing occurs from 10:00 until 15:00, with various species to target.

There is fierce competition securing lucrative fishing spots, with anglers scouting out prime locations beforehand.

Ben Sharp Two men hold up medals and trophies. They are sitting down and smiling at the camera.Ben Sharp
Ben Sharp (left) and Nick Wilson (right) competed together for the first time

'You can't explain it'

Sharp and Wilson are used to competing against each other. This competition was the first time they had fished side-by-side.

"Nick and I fish very differently, which for a team can be a massive benefit. There are going to be some areas where I can provide a bit more use than Nick [and vice versa]," Sharp said.

They competed against anglers from numerous countries, including Ukraine, France and The Netherlands.

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