Belgium’s national squad won both the team and individual titles at the 64th World Angling Championship for Nations in Ronquiers, Hainaut, at the weekend. During the two rounds of the competition, held on Saturday and Sunday in the Brussels-Charleroi canal, the five members of the team caught 1,325 fish weighing a total of 60kg. England placed second, just ahead of France.
Belgium won the team gold, while the individual gold medal went to Belgium’s Luc Thijs (17kg.). France’s Stephane Linder and Belgian Geoffrey Duquesne placed second and third respectively.
Anglers from 38 nations took part in the event, catching and releasing about 900 kg. of fish all told.
According to the organizers, some 20,000 spectators watched the competition, which was held close to the famous inclined plane. Some five tonnes of fish had been released into the canal before the event.
Belgium has so far won a total of 141 medals in various international angling competitions.
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The Brussels Times
