Bob Nudd back on the World Champs stage

Bob Nudd is back in the England fold! The four-times world champion has been selected for the 2019 England Veterans team following a trial at Leicestershire’s The Glebe before Christmas.

He’ll now be part of the five-man team for June’s Veterans World Champs on the Scolmatore Channel in Italy – a tidal offshoot of the River Arno near Pisa… and he’s delighted.

“I thought my World Champs days were over, but after talking to vets manager Joe Roberts I decided to give it a go,” he said. “The trial at The Glebe was tough, but I drew at the right end of the lake and caught some decent perch. Now I can’t wait until June!

“I always said I wouldn’t try for the vets team, but I’ve got so much admiration for Joe Roberts and his helpers that I’d decided I’d apply. Fortunately I’ve been lucky enough to make the team, but I do feel a bit guilty about taking someone’s place.”

Now the Browning man – one of world matchfishing’s most famous faces – is looking forward to joining up with former Essex County colleague Billy Hughes, who also made the cut.

“Me and Billy go back a long way and we have fished together a lot over the years,” said Bob. “I still see him a bit on places like the Broads and the Fen drains and it’ll be great to travel together again.”

Currently enjoying another brilliant winter on the drains with a recent winter league win to his name, Bob said he’ll be taking the Vets World Champs as seriously as all of the others he fished as part of the main England team.

“The venue is a tidal, shallow offshoot of the River Arno and it will be tricky, but I’ll be giving it my best shot,” he said.

Joining Bob and Billy in the team are Steve Sanders, Danny Sixsmith and Roger Marlow.

England Vets team manager Joe Roberts said: “It is an honour to welcome and include Bob Nudd and I am confident we will all work very hard at trying to secure a podium place finish.”