Bristol-based John Horsey missed out on a European gold medal by the weight of just one fish in the 2009 European Fly Fishing Championships, on Ireland's Lough Leane, Lough Caragh and Blackwater river.

Horsey picked up an individual silver to go with the team gold he won in the World Championships, fished earlier this year in Scotland.

A total of 13 countries fished this year's championships. France were the overall team champions, while the Czech Republic finished second and Poland third. England finished in equal fourth place with Italy.

Horsey said: "Fishing for wild brown trout on both loughs and the river was always going to be a challenge, but to miss out on being European champion by the weight of a single fish is a bit galling.

"However, if someone had offered me a silver medal before I travelled to Ireland, I'd have bitten their hand off."

Individual results: 1, Pavel Chyba (Cze); 2, John Horsey (Eng-1); 3, Dave O'Donovan (Ire-2); 4, Yan Calen (Fra) 5, Andrea Adreveno (Ita); 6, Marek Walczyk (Cze).

Team result: 1, France; 2, Czech Republic; 3, Poland 1; 4= Italy and England; 6, Spain; 7, Ireland 2.