Chance for youngsters to get hooked on angling

Young anglers are being given the chance by Hardy and Greys to both improve and display their skills at this year’s CLA show at Romsey.

The Northumberland-based company is taking a team of experts down to Hampshire to give advice and tips to fishing enthusiasts of all ages but its staff are particularly keen to encourage youngsters to seek them out.

“Fishing is a fantastic past time for children. Unlike most sports, you can continue participating and improving throughout your life,” said Hardy and Greys Commercial Director Ian McCormack.

“Our staff really enjoy helping to either stimulate initial interest in young people or inspiring them to retain it by sharing their own experiences.”

A fly casting area dedicated to youngsters will be set up close to the Hardy and Greys stand, enabling visitors to try any rod from the company’s range and with a guiding hand from one of the company’s experts.
Hardy and Greys is supporting young visitors to Broadlands even further by sponsoring two distance competitions. Greys UK Youth Open Trout Distance Championship and Hardys UK Youth Open Salmon Distance Championship will both take place on the first day of the show, Friday July 28th.
The final will take place in front of the Grandstand on Friday afternoon with a prize of a £100 tackle voucher to be presented to the winner of each competition. Runners up will get a £50 voucher, with £25 going to the third place.

Hardy and Greys are also making sure that the needs of older anglers are met too by having Andy Murray, Howard Croston, John Bailey, Chris Ogborne and Richard Taylor on hand to give informal advice, while members of the company’s Academy of instructors will be based at the Salmon and Trout Association stand.
The Hardy and Greys stand is the place to head if you generally find yourself in a tangle over your knots and leaders. Chris Ogborne will be holding informal Knots and Leaders Clinics, focusing on special dry fly and salt water leaders but also demonstrating complicated leader construction and the use of new leader material.
Said Chris: “The clinic itself will be at specific times but I will be around throughout the three days and am happy to talk about and demonstrate knots and leaders at any time – please don’t think that you will miss out just because your timetable doesn’t fit in with ours!”