Silver hat-trick for Wales at SALC Home Nations Shore Championships

Wales Seniors, Ladies, and U16s teams picked up a hat-trick of silver medals at the 2026 SALC Home Nations Shore Championships in Kent.

The championships were contested over three days on the beaches around Folkestone, two at Samphire Hoe on the first and third day and one on the beaches at Hythe on day two.

There was some outstanding fishing across the three matches from Team Wales, with a number of section wins throughout to boot.

The points system in this event saw section winners scoring four points, with three points for second, and so on, with the five-strong teams able to drop their worst score each day. The team with the highest score were victorious.

Species caught included wrasse, pouting, bass, rays, conger, sole and smoothhounds.

Manager Ivor Smith’s Welsh Seniors put in an excellent performance to run hosts England close across the match, which went to the wire, as their bid to retain the title they won in 2025 fell just short.

At the end of the day one, the team of Shaun Moore, Phillip Jehu, Rob Collins, Lloyd Summers and Wayne Phillips had put 13 points on the board, two behind England (15). Ireland ended on 10pts and Scotland on 7.

There were section wins on the opening day for Rob and Shaun.

Shaun won his section again on day two, with Lloyd also netting four points, with Wales and England finishing level on 13 points. That meant the latter maintained their two-point lead, 28pts to 26, heading into the third and final day, with Ireland third on 23, and Scotland fourth with 13.

Rob bagged his second section win on day three as Wales scored 11 points but, ultimately, England would go on to cement their victory with 15 points on the day and 43 overall.

That was six too good for an outstanding Welsh team who pushed hard over the three matches to finish on 37.

Ireland finished the event third with a 31-point total and Scotland in fourth with 23.

“The team gave it their all against the other three nations throughout the three comp days to achieve silver medal,” said Rob.

“Congratulations to England on the gold medal."

The Welsh Ladies team of Tina Lustig, Donna Payne, Theresa Rimmer, Beverly Brown and Laura Webb also picked up another piece of silver to add to the mantelpiece as they bagged second on countback from Ireland.

Wales were second after day one after scoring 11 points, four of those secured by Beverley Brown who won her section. England led on 15 heading into day two, with Scotland 10 and Ireland 8.

The hosts stretched their advantage to eight points on the second day with another 15 points to move on to 30. There was a section win for captain Donna Payne in another 11-point day for Wales to take them on to 22, with Scotland on 19 and Ireland with 18.

With England taking a stranglehold on proceedings after an almost perfect two days, the battle was for silver.

Theresa Rimmer, winning her first cap, secured a zone win as Wales scored another 10 points on day three but, with Ireland top scoring with 14 on the final day to also move them into 32, it put them back in contention for silver.

In the end, Wales took the silver medal on countback on 36 points to Ireland’s 32, with all five angler’s scores counting across the three sessions in the event of a tie.

“Well done ladies, your hard work and determination paid off,” said team manager Tony Lewis.

“As the stand-in manager, I have to say I was proud of what you achieved as a team. A well-deserved silver medal coming home to Wales.”

And hats off to Ben Worsey’s fantastic U16s who only agonisingly missed out on gold to England on countback after a hard-fought affair across the three matches.

The team was made up of Max Worsey, Jamie Thomas, Harvey Ogston-Price, Jasper Lewis and Harri Rice. Max, Jasper and Jamie had all competed in at least one previous Home Internationals. Harri and Harvey were new caps.

Assisting manager Ben Worsey was Stephen Hoskins.

There was nothing separating England and Wales after the first day, with Jasper Lewis winning his section, as the lead with shared on 13 points. Ireland scored 11 and Scotland 7.

England then notched 15pts on day two to open up a four-point advantage over Wales.

There was another section win for Jasper, with 11 points moving the Welsh team on to 24.

The final day was a real nail-biter as the fish proved elusive for some in the middle of the breakwater and it was Wales and Ireland who ran out the joint daily winners with 14 points. Jasper made it a hat-trick of section wins, while Harry Rice also had a section win on day three.

England’s score of 10 on the day was enough to earn them the gold medals on countback over Wales with both on 38. England moved on to 44 points after countback, Wales on 43.

Ireland bagged bronze on 36, with Scotland on 20.

Wales U16s team manager Ben Worsey was bursting with pride.

“The boys were amazing during the matches and as a team, they came joint first on days one and three and joint second on day two,” he said.

“Each and every one of their results were crucial during the matches and their consistency was key, but I must say a special mention to Jasper Lewis who secured three zone wins.

“As a manager and parent, I couldn’t be prouder. “Representing your country is special and for such young men, they conducted themselves impeccably.

"Well done all; let’s get that gold next year!”