Angling to be national water champions

04/05/2005

Anglers from throughout England and Wales will compete for prestigious trophies and titles at a national competition staged in the North East this weekend.

About 120 fly fishers will cast lines for rainbow and blue trout at Northumbrian Water’s Derwent Reservoir in County Durham in the Water Industry Game Fishing Championships (WIGFiC).

Derwent reservoir will be closed to the public for angling and walking on the competition day, which is Saturday 7 May. It will reopen as normal on Sunday 8 May.

Teams of six anglers from all of the countries big ten water and sewerage companies and also representing all the Environment Agency regions and head office together with British Waterways are invited to take part. Northumbrian Water and EA North East region are both represented.

This year Hardy & Greys Ltd – Northumberland’s own world-famous tackle company, have joined regular sponsor Saint-Gobain Pipelines to supply a host of prizes and gifts for all taking part.

More than 20 individual, team and section winner prizes and trophies will be awarded at a VIP ceremony after the match at the Derwent Manor Hotel, near Consett close to the reservoir.

Don Coe, Northumbrian Water’s Fisheries and Parks Manager, said: “It is an honour to stage this major competition which is the equivalent in the industry of the champions league finals. We are delighted to be able to nationally showcase our premier Derwent reservoir trout fishery which is already the best attended fishing reservoir in the country.”

Reporters and photographers are invited to cover the competition. Team registration starts from 8.15am, fishing is from 10am – 4pm, weigh in 5pm, meal and presentation 6pm-8pm.

For further information contact Don Coe at Derwent Reservoir on 01207 255 250 or mobile 07802 663 497 or Alistair Baker, Comnmunications and PR manager on 0191 301 6851.