No flies on Diane

25/05/2005

Female fly fisher Diane Yorke beat more than 40 male anglers when she picked up a winners trophy at a competition which raised more than £1,000 for charity.

Diane, aged 28, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, caught five trout weighing 10lb 10oz to win third place at Northumbrian Water’s WaterAid match held at Hury reservoir in Teesdale.

Ray Hill from Gateshead was first with seven trout weighing 13lb 2oz, Terry Sharp from Normanby, Middlesbrough, was second with six trout weighing 12lb 8oz and Ernie Craster of Norton, Stockton caught the biggest fish weighing 3lb 6oz.

Forty-six anglers caught seventy-seven trout and together raised £1170 for the independent charity WaterAid that provides clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene education for people in Africa and Asia.

A child dies every fifteen seconds in the developing world because of disease caused by dirty water and poor sanitation. Just £15 provides safe drinking water, clean sanitation and health education for someone for their entire life.

Northumbrian Water has committed all of its company competitions this year to its adopted charity WaterAid and has entered into a prize sponsorship partnership with Hardy & Greys Ltd from Alnwick.

Next is a coarse fishing competition to be held at Whittle Dene, in the Tyne Valley, on Sunday 5 June. Permits for the 50-peg match at £16 (which includes £10 for the pools) are available from local tackle shops.

Entries are now also being taken for a unique midsummer boat fly fishing competition at Kielder Water, Northumberland, on Sunday 19 June, when anglers will have the first ever chance to fish at first light.

Registration will be at 3am with the boats going out as soon as safety clearance is given. A hearty breakfast will be provided for all taking part at the end of the six-hour fishing session.
Entry is just £60 per pair and anglers should ring 01434 611 806 to reserve their places as soon as possible.

The final WaterAid event is a multi-bait competition at Derwent reservoir, County Durham, on Sunday 14 August, with entry being taken on the day at £25 for adults and £10 for juniors with a Northumbrian Water season ticket as the star prize.

Note: Contact details of WaterAid winners at Hury: Diane Yorke, Ray Hill, Terry Sharp and Ernie Craster are available on request from Communications and PR Manager Alistair Baker on 0191 301 6851.