England Youth Flyfishing Association

Seventeen-year-old England Youth International flyfisherman Matthew Johnson from Matlock, Derbyshire, made the journey to Northamptonshire to join his team mates in the England Youth Flyfishing Team for 2007 as they met for their welcome day on Sunday 25 March. Hosted by Anglian Water, the event was staged at Northamptonshire’s Pitsford Water.

The youngsters aged between twelve and sixteen qualified for this years National Team at Grafham Water last year.

They were greeted at Pitsford by National Team Manager Stuart Young and coach - England International Team Captain - Iain Barr who presented them with their uniforms and prized England caps. The boys and one girl then took to the water for a gruelling six-hour training session under the critical gaze of coach Iain Barr.

This year the Youth National Final - an eliminator for the 2008 International Team - will be held on Cambridgeshire’s Grafham Water on Sunday 8 July and the International Final at Scotland’s Lake of Menteith between 22-25 July 2007.

The Thames Water Shield Individual Open Bank Fly Fishing Competition and Tackle Auction sponsored by Thames Water Utilities Ltd. and Masterline International will take place at Farmoor II Reservoir, Oxfordshire on Saturday 28 April 2007, with all proceeds from the
competition and auction will be donated to the England Youth Flyfishing Association.

The actor and comedian Bernard Cribbins – a long-time supporter of the England Youth Flyfishing Association – will be the celebrity Auctioneer for the day.
The England Youth Flyfishing Association rely on days like these to raise vital funds to compete at flyfishing’s top competition level, so a healthy turnout will go a long way to encourage more youngsters – the lifeblood of the sport - into flyfishing.