THE SPORTS STARS FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP STARTED LIFE IN 2013 AT A SMALL FISHERY IN BROOKMANS PARK CALLED SHEPHERDS WAY. THERE WERE AROUND 10 COMPETITORS INVOLVED AND IT WAS VERY MUCH A LOW KEY DAY, JUST A GROUP OF DARTS, SNOOKER PLAYERS AND BOXERS HAVING A FEW HOURS FISHING, THE ONLY COMMON DENOMINATOR BEING IF YOU GET SPORTS PERSONALITIES TOGETHER THEY ALL WANT TO WIN. NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN THAT RESPECT, EVERYBODY WHO COMPETES STILL WANTS TO GO HOME WITH THE TROPHY.

OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS THE EVENT HAS GROWN IN BOTH STATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE. IT HAS BEEN BROADCAST ON ITV4 FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS AND ALONG WITH OUR SPONSORS AND COMPETITORS WE CANNOT THANK THEM ENOUGH FOR THE SUPPORT.

ALL THE COMPETITORS WHO FISH ON THE DAY GIVE THEIR TIME UP FOR NOTHING, WHICH ALLOWS US TO RAISE VALUABLE FUNDING FOR OUR CHOSEN CHARITIES. IT DIDN’T START OUT AS A CHARITY BASED DAY BUT OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS WE HAVE RAISED OVER £100,000, A FIGURE THAT WILL KEEP RISING AS THE YEARS GO BY. IT’S A PRIVILEGE TO HOST AN EVENT LIKE THIS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED IN MAKING THE TARGET SPORTS STARS FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP WHAT IT IS TODAY.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE FISHED PREVIOUSLY INCLUDE:

PDC WORLD CHAMPIONS: PHIL TAYLOR, LUKE LITTLER, GARY ANDERSON, ROB CROSS MICHAEL SMITH & ADRIAN LEWIS

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALLERS: DAVID SEAMAN MBE, TERRY BUTCHER & JIMMY BULLARD

BOXING WORLD CHAMPIONS: TONY BELLEW, NATASHA JONAS, GEORGE GROVES, ANTHONY CROLLA, GLENN MCCRORY, KELL BROOK, DARREN BARKER, GEORGE GROVES, JOSH WARRINGTON, ROBIN REID, TERRI HARPER, EBANIE BRIDGES & NICKY COOK

SNOOKER WORLD CHAMPIONS: STEVE DAVIS OBE & MARK WILLIAMS MBE

MATCHROOM CHAIRMEN: BARRY HEARN OBE & EDDIE HEARN

OLYMPIANS: DEAN MACEY, DEREK REDMOND & GAIL EMMS MBE

ENGLAND RUGBY INTERNATIONALS: STEPHEN THOMPSON MBE & ELLIS GENGE

MATCHPLAY CHAMPION: ROD HARRINGTON

WORLD RANKED HEAVYWEIGHTS: DILLIAN WHYTE, DERECK CHISORA
& JOHNNY FISHER

9 TIME PDC MAJOR CHAMPION: JAMES WADE 

ACTOR: JAKE WOOD

RUGBY LEAGUE STARS JAMIE JONES BUCHANAN, JOSH CHARNLEY, DOM CROSBY & TOM BRISCOE

FISHING PRESENTERS: ALI HAMIDI, STEVE COLLETT

SPORTS & TV PRESENTERS: JACQUI OATLEY MBE & GARY NEWBON MBE

FORMER DARTS STAR AND TV PERSONALITY: BOBBY GEORGE

EUROPEAN SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION: SPENCER OLIVER

WBO INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION: MARK PRINCE OBE

WORLD RANKED BOXERS: DALTON SMITH, SAM EGGINGTON & PAUL SMITH

BDO WORLD CHAMPIONS: TRINA GULLIVER MBE & SCOTT MITCHELL

NETBALL INTERNATIONAL: PAMELA COOKEY

PDC PROS: DARREN WEBSTER, IAN WHITE, STEVE BROWN,
RICHIE HOWSON, RONNIE BAXTER & CHRIS MASON

JOCKEY: HAYLEY TURNER OBE

INTERNATIONAL SHOW JUMPER: JODIE-HALL MCATEER

SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS: BIG JOHN & KUGAN CASSIUS