A teenage angler from Deal has said it is a dream to have won a gold medal for his country.

Joseph Smith, 16, of Church Meadows, Deal, competed in the Home Nations Shore Championship in Wexford, Ireland, for Team England Juniors at the beginning of the month.

He won silver in the same competition last year.

Joseph said: “It was a great honour to represent my country for the second year running and to go from winning silver last year to winning gold this year.

“It was my dream to win gold this year. It was very close after the first day as we were joint first with Scotland but we managed to fish hard and beat the teams by five points.”

The Castle Community College student started fishing with his grandad Peter Smith when he was 10.

He joined Deal 1919 Angling Club and Dover SAA Junior Angling Club and started competing.

His parents, Julie and Dave, have fully supported him and often travel with him to competitions.

Mrs Smith said: “Yet again we are extremely proud of Joseph’s achievements. Being able to travel to Ireland to watch the teams compete and seeing Team England being presented with their gold medals was truly amazing.”

Joseph has received a letter of congratulations from the Angling Trust.

He said: “Now I am looking forward to representing England again in the World Championships in Holland in October this year and starting the selection process for next year.”