A group of anglers from the Lowveld formed part of the 2024 SABAA TTT President’s Team that defeated the Masters Team in the 2025 President’s Cup.

The four anglers, Craig Stephen, Biagio Cicione, Ian van Rooyen and James Stephen, are all members of the Lowveld Bass Trail and earned their spots in the President’s Team at last year’s South African Bass Angling Association (SABAA) Team Tournament Trail (TTT) Final at Injaka Dam.

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Held at Woodstock Dam near Tugela between March 27 and 29, the 2025 President’s Cup saw the Lowvelders and their teammates tackle the 2024 SABAA Open Masters Team.

The first day served as a practice day for all, followed by two days of competition. The President’s Team dominated the competition, taking home the trophy with a points haul of 46.85, a significant lead over the Masters’ haul of 19.48. In addition to the overall team competition, pairs competed against one another during the tournament.

Two of the Lowveld anglers stood out in particular, as Cicione and Van Rooyen claimed second place overall with a bag weight of 9.66kg: 4.52kg (day 1) and 5.14kg (day 2). Cicione had a memorable second day, bagging the biggest fish of the day, a bass weighing in at 1.84kg.

The SABAA TTT President’s Cup is held annually, and pits the SABAA TTT President’s Team up against the SABAA Open Masters Team. The President’s Team is selected during the previous year’s SABAA TTT Final.