Charity catches summer madness

20/06/2005

Dozens of anglers set out at dawn for a unique boat fishing competition on Kielder Water in Northumberland, which proved a big winner for charity (on Sunday 19 June).
 
Nearly £1,500 was raised by more than 40 fly fishers who took part in the competition for pairs of anglers for the international charity, WaterAid.

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

The latest event takes the total raised through fishing so far this season to almost £3,000 with several more future events lined up.
 
Peter Appleby from Newton Aycliffe and partner John Sutton from Huddersfield won the Kielder competition with eight trout weighing 15lb 14oz, second were Tom Nelson from Shotley Bridge and Colin Bradley from Consett with nine trout weighing 15lb 6oz.

Third placed pair was Phil Wagget from Blaydon and Alistair Baker from Stanley with six trout for 13lb 5oz. David Carrick from Ryton caught the biggest fish – a rainbow trout weighing 4lb 3oz.

Seventy-eight trout weighing a total of 140lb 4oz were caught for an average weight of 1lb 8oz.

Independent charity WaterAid 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 so far staged two charity-fishing competitions this season - one bank fly-fishing for trout and a coarse match.

The next WaterAid fishing event open to the general public 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.

Northumbrian Water is also staging a pairs boat fishing competition at its Essex & Suffolk Water fishery at Hanningfield reservoir near Chelmsford on Sunday 25 September. Further information on that event is available from Julian Plummer on 01245 212 034.

For further information contact Communications and PR Manager Alistair Baker 0191 301 6851.