Source: Angling Trust
The team comprised: Toby Oldfield, Callum Graham, Ben Harrison, Charlie Tudball, Michael Brookes, Keelan Owen (reserve), and Malcolm Stote (Manager) and they went out a week early, hoping to gather more information for the 
championship, which was scheduled to be fished on two venues: the open beach, L’Espanole, and an inner estuary beach, L’Embellie. In the end the practice session was fished on the inner beach with the actual event fished on the open beach.
The overall results saw Team England finish in fourth place, but the drama built as the team waited for the announcement of the individual results as team member Ben Harrison had scored well and thought he could be in with the chance of a medal. It was a close finish but the announcement finally came that Ben had taken the gold medal by a single point margin to be crowned World Youth Shore Champion 2014.
Malcolm Stote, England Team Manager said:
“Special thanks to all the team members as I know it was a tough championship and everyone worked especially hard. Congratulations must go to Ben for winning the individual title – a job well done.
I would like to thank some of the people that helped us with this trip: Paul Hardy at Moonfleet Angling who supplied the team with clothing and tackle as the official tackle supplier to the England’s shore teams, Tom Bagnal for supplying the team with lead weights and other tackle items, Richard Yates of ASSO fishing line for his support and Stuart Withyman and Eric Light for their contributions and support.
A big thank you also to Joanne Tudball for all her help with all the team and to Keelan Owen who ran his legs off during the championships.”
Ben Harrison, Team England commented:
“Winning the world championship was a dream come true, the feeling of excitement, pride and nerves was absolutely overwhelming and something I will never forget.
When the lads drenched me with Champagne and told me I had won I was buzzing and the first thing I did was go and tell my dad and gave him a hug but I was gutted to find out we did not get a team medal, as Portugal and France did really well.
It still hasn’t really sunk in yet! All the travelling, practices, early morning starts and bait digging in the middle of the night proved worthwhile; the preparation started as soon as I found out I had been selected and I did as much research as I could on the venues, and soon had a picture of the species I would be targeting, and the rough techniques and tactics that would be required and I fished places like Abererch, Pwllheli, Borth and Holyhead, with my dad to prepare.
The French hosts couldn’t have been friendlier, they made us all very welcome and my appreciation and thanks go to everyone who provided support and advice in the build up to the championship, and also to the England selectors for having faith in me, particularly Chris Clark.”
Top 4 team results
• 1st Netherlands – 9 points
• 2nd Portugal – 12 points
• 3rd France – 13 points
• 4th England – 15 points
Top 4 individual results
• 1st Ben Harrison – England
• 2nd Jose Dinis – Portugal
• 3rd Kristiaan Minderhoud – Netherlands
• 4th Callum Graham – England
