The 30th FIPS-Mouche European Fly Fishing Championships took place in the Mostar and Livno region, Boznia & Herzegovina, from the 22nd-28th June 2026.

AT TEFF was represented by: Del Spry (Captain), Simon Clarke, Cameron Craigs, Brian Lillie, Stan Moore, Gavin Walsh & Mark Withyman (Manager).

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

Bulgaria – Bosnia & Herzegovina – Croatia – Czech Republic – England – Finland – France – Hungary – Ireland – Italy – Luxembourg – Montenegro – Netherlands – Poland – Portugal – Serbia – Slovakia – Slovenia – Spain – Sweden

RESULTS

Session 1
England got off to a promising start in the first session, with Simon Clarke coming 5th on the Lower Sturba River with 14 fish, Brian Lillie 7th on the Upper Buna River with 25 fish, Stan Moore 7th on the Lower Buna River, and Cameron Craigs 12th on the Upper Sturba River. On Lake Mostar, the stillwater sector, Del Spry came 6th with 4 fish. The team were lying in 5th place with 37 placing points, behind Portugal 4th with 36pts, Hungary 3rd on 35pts, Bosnia & Herzegovina 2nd on 30pts and Montenegro 1st on 29pts. Ireland were in 17th position with 77 placing points.

Update from Manager Mark Withyman:

England off to steady start in European Championship after Session 1 in Bosnia & Herzegovina
‘England made a composed and competitive opening statement in Session 1 of the 30th FIPS-Mouche European Fly Fishing Championships in Bosnia & Herzegovina, as action got underway across the Buna River, Sturba River, and Mostar Lake venues.
In challenging but familiar early-summer Balkan conditions, the England team adapted well to the technical demands of the venues, with clear water, variable flows, and highly pressured fish proving decisive factors throughout the opening day.
Team Captain Del Spry praised the squad’s discipline and preparation following the first session:
“It was a solid start in difficult, highly technical water. The lads stuck to the plan, made good decisions, and stayed patient throughout the session. There’s a long way to go in this championship, but Session 1 gives us a platform to build on.”
Across the five sectors, England anglers demonstrated strong watercraft, particularly on the slower, clearer stretches of the Buna River, where precision presentation was key. The Sturba River tested tactical adaptability, while Mostar lake we performed really well.
The team management highlighted that consistency across all beats will be critical as the championship progresses, with small margins expected to separate the leading nations after the opening round. After the first session we are lying in a good position in 5th overall with almost top ten results from every team member. Del Spry got A 6th on the lake, on the sturba Simon Clark and Cameron Craig got a 5th and 12th, on the Buna river Stan Moore and Brian Lillie both finished in 7th position.
England now turn their attention to Session 2, where conditions are expected to remain stable, though pressure on fish stocks is likely to increase as competition intensity builds.
Further updates will follow as the championship continues through the week.’

Session 2
The second session saw Del Spry finish 8th with 5 fish on the Lower Buna River, while Stan Moore came 14th on the the Lower Sturba River, with Brian Lillie 15th on the Upper Sturba River, and Simon Clarke also 15th on the Upper Buna River. On Mostar Lake Cameron Craigs saved a blank to finish in 6th place, in a session that saw 11 anglers fail to catch. England slipped to 8th place with 95 placing points, with Ireland 19th on 153pts. Portugal moved from 4th place into the top spot with 63pts, with Bosnia & Herzegovina remaining in 2nd with 66pts, and Hungary 3rd with 76pts. Individually, Aleksandar Dukic (Bosnia & Herzegovina) was lying in 1st place, with Kristian Sveda (Slovakia), both with two 1st places, two placing points ahead of Zan Valentincic (Slovenia) on 4pts.

Update from Manager Mark Withyman:

England Team Proud to Represent at the 30th FIPS-Mouche European Fly Fishing Championships 2026
‘The England European Team is proud to be part of the 30th FIPS-Mouche European Fly Fishing Championships, taking place from 22–28 June 2026 in the spectacular waters of Mostar and Livno, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Competing alongside Europe’s finest fly anglers on the renowned Buna River, Sturba River and Mostar Lake, the championship provides a true test of technical ability, adaptability and teamwork. The event also marks a historic milestone as Bosnia & Herzegovina hosts the European Championship for the first time. (FIPS-Mouche website)
Representing England is always an honour, and every member of the England Team has worked tirelessly throughout the season to earn the opportunity to compete on the international stage. Months of preparation, practice and dedication have led to this moment, and the team is determined to give its very best against some of the strongest fly-fishing nations in Europe.
Session 2 brought another high performance with England earning 58 points with top performance from Cameron Craigs 8th on Mostar lake with I fish, Stan Moore 14th on the Lower Sturba with 14th fish, Captain Del Spry had 5 on the Lower Buna for 9th place, Brian Lillie 4 fish for 15th on the Upper Sturba, and finally Simon Clarke 15th on the Upper Buna with 6. Some tough beats were encountered on this session.
The England Team would like to thank the organisers, volunteers, officials and local angling clubs in Bosnia & Herzegovina for their outstanding hospitality in hosting this prestigious championship. We also extend our gratitude to our families, supporters, sponsors and everyone who has helped make our journey possible.
Regardless of the final standings, wearing the England colours is a privilege that every angler values deeply. The team will continue to compete with professionalism, determination and sportsmanship throughout the championship, striving to make England proud.
We wish all competing nations the very best for a successful and memorable 30th FIPS-Mouche European Fly Fishing Championships.’

Session 3
Although the third session again saw half the field fail to catch on Mostar Lake, Brian Lillie managed 2 fish to finish 3rd. On the river sectors, Cameron Craigs caught 4 fish to come 7th on the Lower Buna River, while Del Spry was 9th on the Lower Sturba River, Stan Moore 11th on the Upper Buna River, and Simon Clarke 18th on the Upper Sturba River. England dropped a place to 9th with 144 placing points, while Ireland moved up to 17th with 220pts. Bosnia & Herzegovina overtook Portugal to take the top spot with 104pts, with Portugal 2nd on 105pts and the Czech Republic 3rd with 114pts. Aleksandar Dukic (Bosnia & Herzegovina) remained top Individual with 8 placing points, with Dimitar Petrov (Bulgaria) 2nd, also on 8pts, and Kristian Sveda (Slovakia) in 3rd place with 9pts.

Update from Manager Mark Withyman:

England remain in contention after challenging Session 3 at European Championships
‘Team England faced another demanding session at the 30th FIPS-Mouche European Fly Fishing Championships in Bosnia & Herzegovina, with technical rivers and a difficult lake sector continuing to test every nation in the field.
Despite another challenging round, England produced several encouraging individual performances. Brian Lillie delivered the standout result of the session, landing two fish to secure an excellent 3rd place on the notoriously difficult Mostar Lake sector, where around half of the competitors failed to register a catch.
On the river venues, Cameron Craigs continued his consistent form with 7th place on the Lower Buna River after catching four fish. Team Captain Del Spry added another solid performance with 9th place on the Lower Sturba River, while Stan Moore finished 11th on the Upper Buna River. Simon Clarke endured a tougher draw on the Upper Sturba River, finishing 18th.
Following three sessions, England now sit 9th overall on 144 placing points. While the team slipped one place in the standings, they remain well within striking distance as the championship heads into its final two sessions.
Team Captain Del Spry said: “These championships are proving exactly as tough as we expected. Every fish counts, and Brian’s performance on the lake shows the quality within this squad. We’ve stayed competitive across the sectors, and with two sessions remaining there’s still plenty to fight for. We’ll regroup, stay focused and look to finish strongly.”
With two sessions left to fish, consistency will be crucial as England look to climb the leaderboard and challenge the leading nations.

Session 3 England Results
Brian Lillie – 3rd (Mostar Lake)
Cameron Craigs – 7th (Lower Buna River)
Del Spry – 9th (Lower Sturba River)
Stan Moore – 11th (Upper Buna River)
Simon Clarke – 18th (Upper Sturba River)

Overall after Session 3
England: 9th place – 144 placing points

England return to action tomorrow for the penultimate session of the championship, determined to make ground on the teams ahead.’

Session 4
In the fourth session Brian Lillie followed his 3rd place the day before with a 4th place and 9 fish on the Lower Buna River. Stan Moore also scored a 4th place on the Upper Sturba River, while Del Spry was 14th on the Upper Buna River and Cameron Craigs 15th on the Lower Sturba River. Again, half the field on Mostar Lake failed to catch, which this time included Simon Clarke. England remained in 9th place with 201 placing points, while Ireland dropped to 19th with 294pts. The Czech Republic overtook Portugal to move into 1st place with 143pts, with Portugal 2nd on 148pts, and Bosnia & Herzegovina dropping to 3rd with 170pts. A 1st place in his session saw Aleksandar Dukic (Bosnia & Herzegovina) hold onto the top Individual spot with 9 placing points, with Dimitar Petrov (Bulgaria) also winning his session to stay in 2nd place with 9pts, ahead of Antonio Jose Sousa Araujo Rodrigues (Portugal) 3rd with 15pts.

Press Release:
Team England Maintains Fighting Spirit After Session Four at European Fly Fishing Championships
Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina – 27 June 2026
Team England remains fully focused heading into the final session of the 30th FIPS-Mouche European Fly Fishing Championships after another demanding day on the challenging waters of Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Session Four tested every competitor across the championship venues, with technical rivers and the notoriously difficult Mostar Lake continuing to reward consistency and tactical decision-making. Despite the demanding conditions, England produced several encouraging individual performances.
Brian Lillie led the way with an outstanding 4th-place finish on the Lower Buna River after landing nine fish, building on his impressive third-place result from the previous session. Stan Moore also delivered an excellent performance, securing 4th place on the Upper Sturba River and demonstrating the consistency needed at the highest level of international competition.
Elsewhere, Team Captain Del Spry finished 14th on the Upper Buna River, while Cameron Craigs placed 15th on the Lower Sturba River. Mostar Lake once again proved exceptionally challenging, with around half of the field failing to register a fish, including England’s Simon Clarke.
Following four sessions, England remains 9th overall on 201 placing points, maintaining contact with the teams ahead as the championship prepares for its decisive final session. At the top of the standings, the Czech Republic has moved into first place ahead of Portugal and host nation Bosnia & Herzegovina.
“These championships have been incredibly competitive from the opening session, with every point hard earned. Brian and Stan produced excellent performances today, showing the quality within this team. While we’re not where we ultimately want to be in the standings, the attitude, commitment and professionalism from every angler has been first class. We’ll approach the final session determined to finish strongly and give everything for England.”
The championship has highlighted the technical nature of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s renowned fly-fishing venues, where changing conditions and highly pressured fish have left little room for error. Every nation has faced difficult draws and challenging beats, making consistency the defining factor throughout the week.
With one session remaining, Team England is determined to finish the championship on a positive note and continue showcasing the skill, resilience and sportsmanship that have long been associated with England on the international fly-fishing stage.
Everyone connected with Team England Fly Fishing thanks its supporters, sponsors, volunteers for their continued encouragement throughout the championship.

Session 5
The fifth and final session saw Cameron Craigs come 13th with 11 fish on the Upper Buna River, with Del Spry also finishing 13th on the Upper Sturba River, Simon Clarke 14th on the Lower Buna River, and Brian Lillie 15th on the Lower Sturba River. Only 6 anglers caught on Lake Mostar, with Stan Moore one of the 14 who failed to catch. England finished the competition in 12th place on 276 placing points, with Ireland 18th with 368pts. Having started the competition in 12th place after Day 1, the Czech Republic ended up European Champions with 173 placing points, some distance ahead of Portugal 2nd with 203pts, and Spain 3rd with 220pts. Another 1st place in his session saw Aleksandar Dukic (Bosnia & Herzegovina) become the Individual European Champion with 10 placing points (4 1st places and a 6th), with Samuel Piekar (Czech Republic) 2nd with 18pts, and Kristian Sveda (Slovakia) 3rd with 20pts.

Press Release:
England Show Determination at 30th FIPS-Mouche European Fly Fishing Championships in Bosnia & Herzegovina
Team England completed a demanding week of competition at the 30th FIPS-Mouche European Fly Fishing Championships, held across the spectacular rivers and lakes of Mostar and the Livno region in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Competing against Europe’s finest fly anglers on the challenging Buna and Sturba rivers together with Mostar Lake, England produced a series of strong individual performances throughout the five-session championship, demonstrating resilience, adaptability and teamwork in difficult technical conditions.
After an encouraging opening session that saw England lie fifth overall, the team battled fluctuating fortunes as changing beats and exceptionally demanding fishing tested every nation in the field. Highlights included Brian Lillie’s great finish on Mostar Lake in Session Three, backed up by a fourth-place finish in Session Four, while Cameron Craigs, Simon Clarke, Stan Moore and captain Del Spry all produced consistent sector performances during the week.
England finished the championship in twelve place overall, a creditable performance in one of the strongest European Championships ever staged and the first to be hosted in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
The championship was won by the amazing Czech Republic, with Portugal taking the silver medal and Spain claiming bronze after an outstanding week on home waters. The Individual European Champion title went to Aleksandar Dukic (Bosnia & Herzegovina) following a consistently exceptional five-session performance, ahead of Samuel Piekar (Czech Republic) in second and Kristian Sveda (Slovakia) all amazing performances and congratulations to all the medalists from the English team.

Team England Fly Fishing – European Team
We would like to thank all our sponsors and supporters for all that you’ve contributed to lighten the burden of our journey to this year’s Championships. Thank you.
Albury Estate Fisheries – Loop Tackle – Hanák Competition – YETI
Charles Cooper Conservation & Restoration – Outside Living – Lower Itchen Fishery – Adrastos – The Peacock at Rowsley – The Bull at Fairford – edenMADE – Airflo Fishing – Gilly Bate – Peter Cockwill