FOR veteran angler Danny Sixsmith it was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream to represent his country.

And it was certainly worth the wait as he enjoyed a dream debut helping the England veterans team to gold medal glory in the world championships.

Sixsmith, 62, was part of a five-man team which travelled out to Portugal 10 days ahead of the two-day contest on the River Raia.

In the sizzling heat the English team scored 12 points on both days to finish two ahead of Hungary to take gold, while favourites Italy came in third.

Sixsmith and teammates – experienced internationals Steve Sanders, Mark Downes and Roger Marlow – executed a tactical plan to target bleak before moving on to bigger fish later on both days.

Sixsmith won his section catching 3.203 kilograms of bleak on day two, vindicating the decision of reserve Joe Roberts to give up his place.

“It was a dream come true, I have always wanted to play for England,” said Sixsmith, from Parr, who was part of the regular England team’s coaching staff when they won silver in the world championships in Rome last year.

“I have fished all of my life. I got a call in the 80s for a trial with England but I injured my back and was lying in Whiston Hospital instead. I was absolutely gutted and that was the only chance I had for getting in the England team.

“So when I got the call up for the veterans I was absolutely delighted.

“The first day I didn’t do particularly well but on the second I won my section which added a bit of prestige too,” added Sixsmith, a former Saints angling team captain and stalwart of the local fishing scene.

“They had a presentation afterwards, like the Olympics with a stand. It was very emotional with the national anthem playing and I think everybody’s chin was going. It was surprising how emotional it was.”

Sixsmith will head out to Serbia to help coach the England under 23s in their world championship starting on August 1.