By Carl Field
Wales has a new world champion and a first in the sport of boat sea angling in Pembrokeshire’s Gareth Protheroe – but only after an anxious wait.
The 41-year-old from the village of Cold Inn was part of the Welsh team that competed at the 59th edition of the World Senior Boat Angling Championships staged last month in Crosshaven, County Cork, Ireland.
After three days of tough competition against the world’s best, Protheroe had finished top of the individual standings and was therefore the new world champion – or so it seemed.
That would normally spark wild celebrations, but the champagne had to be put on ice after a results appeal went in.
That meant the individual medal ceremony at the post-event presentation evening did not take place, leaving the outcome up in the air.
Wales has a new WORLD CHAMPION.. and a first in the sport of Boat Sea Angling…
Llongyfarchiadau GARETH PROTHEROE! An incredible achievement!
Read all about it…
https://t.co/mK9rbsm6LM@sportwales @WelshSportAssoc pic.twitter.com/kppGj171JH
— Angling Cymru (@AnglingCymru) November 18, 2024
The dispute centred around Irish angler Liam O’Callaghan, who the hosts felt had won as the highest scoring angler across the three competition days.
However, the key issue came with the fact that O’Callaghan did not fish the official practice day prior to the competition starting for real – and was therefore put down as a reserve.
The rules state that a reserve angler cannot win the championship as an individual.
It had to go to the world governing body’s (FIPS/Mer) Committee and Technical Commission for a final decision, which arrived just under a fortnight later with the complaint not upheld.
They finally declared Welshman Protheroe as the new individual boat angling world champion.
Although Wales has had multiple past world champions in shore sea angling, Protheroe is the first Welsh boat sea angler to win the individual world title.
“Truthfully, it’s still sinking in,” said Protheroe, who also fishes for Saundersfoot Sea Angling Club.
“It’s fantastic and means more than you could ever imagine. It’s just incredible – absolutely mind-blowing – and I really can’t put it into words to be honest with you.”
Pob lwc to our Men’s and Women’s Shore Angling teams with the serious business getting under way tomorrow morning at the 2024 World Shore Championships in Peñíscola, Spain.
@AllWalesSport @Dai_Sport_ pic.twitter.com/nP6HgLtdX6
— Angling Cymru (@AnglingCymru) November 18, 2024
Protheroe admitted the dispute ‘killed’ the presentation evening that would have normally been an occasion to treasure – and is still unsure when he will be officially presented with his medal.
He continued: “It’s crazy and, with what’s gone on, it’s obviously taken a while to really sink in.
“It was a hard couple of weeks coming back to be honest, and through no fault of our own – that was the worst thing. We’d conducted ourselves and done everything right, but it was out of our hands.
“It’s just unfortunate that things they happened the way they have and for it to be sort of tarnished with that has gone on.
“But obviously we got there in the end!
“In terms of the presentation, we’ll probably do something in Milford Haven once the medals have been sent out and go from there.”
Protheroe will eventually receive his gold medal for finishing first in the individual standings, with Italian Andrea Costa now confirmed in second and Croatia’s Ivan Galzina in third.
In addition, the team of Protheroe, Ray Eyers, Dewi Roberts, Phil Clarke, Stuart Jones and Mark East secured a more than respectable fifth place finish for Wales in the team event – which was won by Croatia ahead of hosts Ireland and Italy.
Protheroe added: “I’m just over the moon. I’ve fished for Wales for the past seven years; we won gold in the Home Internationals at Milford Haven in 2022 and that was massive for us, just magic.
“But to then get fifth at the Worlds last month was just fantastic; you’re fishing against the best in the world so to come away with fifth and an individual gold was even better.
“All the hard work we’d put in prior to that event paid off and everything just sort of fell into place.”
Meanwhile John O’Connor, who is Chair of the Angling Cymru Sea Anglers, added: “It’s great for Welsh angling to have another world champion – and the first in boat sea angling.
“Hopefully, the first of many under the Angling Cymru umbrella in the years to come.
“Well done Gareth Protheroe – Welsh angling and Pembrokeshire are very proud of you. Llongyfarchiadau!”