The 28th FIPS-Mouche European Fly Fishing Championships was held in Lesko-Krosno, Poland, from the 27th August to the 2nd September 2024.

AT TEFF was represented by: Bernie Maher (Captain/Manager), Simon Clarke, Brian Lillie, Gilliaum Vermeulen & Mark Withyman.

TEAM SPONSORSHIP

The AT TEFF European team was sponsored with corporate clothing by Envirofil Ltd, as part of their ongoing sponsorship commitment to Team England Fly Fishing.

Envirofil Directors: “We need to bring Fly Fishing to the surface, and we need to be focused on Team England’s image, and bring together Youth, Ladies, and all nationalities, to learn the sport, and fish for England, and their associated countries”

OPENING CEREMONY

RESULTS

SESSION 1

England’s top performer on their first day of competition was Gilliaum Vermeulen, who caught seven fish on the River San, Hoczew, the dry fly only sector, to finish 7th. Elsewhere, Simon Clarke came 10th on the River San, Lesko, Bernie Maher 13th on the River San, Zwierzyn, and Mark Withyman 14th on the River San, Sanok. On the boat fishing sector, Myczkowce Reservoir, Brian Lillie was one of four competitors to blank. Out of 14 teams in the championship, England were lying in 13th place. Poland took an early lead, with 9 placing points, ahead of France 2nd with 20 pts, and the Czech Republic 3rd with 27 pts. Ireland were in 9th place with 40 pts.

SESSION 2

Gilliaum Vermeulen was again England’s top scorer on the second day, landing six fish for 3rd place on the River San, Lesko. On Myczkowce Reservoir, the boat sector, where nearly half the field failed to catch, Mark Withyman had a brace to finish in 7th place. On the other river sectors, Bernie Maher was 12th on the River San, Hoczew, the dry fly only sector, Brian Lillie was 13th on the River San, Zwierzyn, while Simon Clarke failed to catch on the River San, Sanok. England moved up one place to 12th, while Ireland remained in 9th place. Poland hung onto their 1st place with 37 placing points, with the Czech Republic overtaking France to move into 2nd with 46 pts, with France 3rd with 51 pts. Individually, two Poles, Szymon Konieczny and Michal Fejkiel were 1st and 3rd with 4 pts and 5 pts, with Lukas Horsky (Slovakia) 2nd with 4 pts.

SESSION 3

The third session saw Mark Withyman landing seven fish on the River San, Zwierzyn, to come 7th, with Gilliaum Vermeulen also coming 7th on the River San, Sanok, and Brian Lillie 8th on the River San, Hoczew, the dry fly only sector. Simon Clarke managed to avoid a blank on Myczkowce Reservoir, the boat sector, to come 12th, while Bernie Maher failed to score on the River San, Lesko. England dropped a place back to 13th, while Ireland moved up a place to 8th. Poland remained in 1st place on 67 placing points, with Spain moving into 2nd place on 76 pts, ahead of the Czech Repuboic 3rd with 83 pts. Individually, a 3rd in his sesson saw Szymon Konieczny (Poland) hang onto 1st place with 7 placing points, with Michal Fejkiel (Poland) moving into 2nd with 9 pts, with Lukas Horsky (Slovakia) also in 9 pts in 3rd place.

SESSION 4

In the penultimate session Mark Withyman landed six fish on the River San, Hoczew, the dry fly only sector, to come 3rd, while Bernie Maher finished 5th, with nine fish, on the River San, Sanok, and Simon Clarke was 11th on the River San, Zwierzyn. Like Simon had done in the previous session, Gilliaum Vermeulen also managed to avoid a blank on Myczkowce Reservoir, the boat sector, to come 12th, while Brian Lillie was 13th on the River San, Lesko. England moved up one place to 12th, while Ireland dropped a place to 9th. Poland remained in 1st place with 84 placing points, with the French moving into 2nd with 106 pts, ahead of the Czech Republic in 3rd with 110 pts. Three Poles now held the top individual places, led by Szymon Konieczny with 8 placing points, with Michal Fejkiel 2nd on 11 pts, and Adam Wnekowicz 3rd with 16 pts.

SESSION 5

The final session saw Simon Clarke get a 3rd place on the River San, Hoczew, the dry fly only sector, with eleven fish, and Mark Withyman finish 4th on the River San, Lesko, with four fish. Elsewhere, Brian Lillie came 9th on the River San, Sanok, while Gilliaum Vermeulen was 13th on the River San, Zwierzyn, and Bernie Maher was one of four competitors who were unable to avoid a blank on Myczkowce Reservoir, the boat sector. England finished the competition in 12th place, with Ireland in 9th. Poland were European Team Champions with 98 placing points, well ahead of France in 2nd on 135 pts, and the Czech Republic 3rd with 139 pts. Poland also had the top three Individuals, with Szymon Konieczny European Champion with 9 placing points, Michal Fejkiel 2nd on 16 pts, and Adam Wnekowicz 3rd with 17 pts.