2002 Event

Anglers travelled from throughout the UK and headed for Rutland Water to raise money in the Anglian WaterAid Fly Fishing Challenge 2002 on 26th June.

This was the inaugural event for the organisers from Anglian Water - Chris Evans, Paul Dimbleby and John Skirrow. Over a third of the 58 anglers were beginners to fly fishing and thanks to Jon Marshall and his AW fishery staff, who gave them expert tuition, there were some excellent catches in spite of bright and windy conditions.

The event sponsors, participating companies and the Rutland Water Fishery (who donated a £500 cheque from money raised from the 25th anniversary tackle auction held at Rutland on the 4th May) helped to raise an impressive sum of around £6,500 for the WaterAid charity. The money will be used to provide safe water supplies, sanitation and hygiene education for around 400 people in developing countries around the world.

David Moore, Anglian Waters Recreation Manager, presented the prizewinners as follows;

· Winning Team (sponsor May Gurney) 18 lb 8 oz (11 fish) - ABB/ AW/Air Pollution Products and Systems

· Team Runner-up (sponsor Thyssen) 13 lb 15 oz (8 fish) - Anglian Water Technology Group

· Best Individual Weight (sponsor ABIC) with 10 lb 5oz (6 fish) - Richard Slaughter (Anglian Water)

· Runner-up Individual Weight (sponsor Laing) with 9 lb 7.5 oz (6 fish) - Paul Frapwell (Anglian Water)

· Best Beginner Weight (sponsor WS Atkins) with 6 lb 13 oz (4 fish) - Alan Ryder (Morrison Construction)

· Runner-up Beginner Weight (sponsor AMEC) with 4 lb 13oz (3 fish) - Phil Hutchins (Air Pollution Products and Systems)

· Largest Fish (sponsor LES) 2 lb 5.5 oz - J Harrison (Jefco Services)

· Largest Fish Runner-up (sponsor Wrekin) 2 lb 5 oz - Joe Burrows (Biwater)

The total number of fish caught was 42 with a rod average of 0.75.

The Event Sponsors were; AMEC construction, Atkins Water, Laing, ABIC Engineering, Wrekin Construction, LES, Thyssen Engineering, May Gurney, Biwater, Claret Civil Engineering, AirFlo, SNF, Andritz, Skanska, Huber technology, BXT, Insituform, Morgan Water and Jefco services.