Hardy & Greys are pleased to be supporting ‘Fishing For Heroes' a charity that helps military veterans suffering from emotional or psychological problems relating to them having been involved in active service. The Fly fishing courses offered are a proven way to provide respite, relaxation and support that can help develop life skills which enable the veterans to help themselves in the future.  Fishing For Heroes intends to help show them that they are not alone and that their service for us was, and still is, appreciated.

Any veteran from any of the three armed forces, of either sex, can apply for help. Although the current campaigns are foremost in people's minds, veterans from any era or conflict are eligible.

Hardy & Greys are involved with the sponsorship of the Fishing For Heroes 2010 UK Still Water Trout Fishing Championship alongside principal sponsor Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Magazine. A series of nine regional competitions and a Grand Final, to be held at Lechlade Trout Fishery on the 21^st November 2010, are aimed at raising both awareness and funds for the charity.

For more information please visit the website http://www.fishingforheroes.net/index.php

Two days were held at Highgate Farm and items covered included safety, pond dipping, fly tying, knots and casting practice on grass. The third day was held at Tuddenham Lakes by kind permission of Norfolk and Suffolk Fly fishers Society.

Four fish were caught on the day in testing condition. In all eleven children took part with ages ranging from 7-14 years and judging by the feedback everyone had a great three days.

The participants all received a Greys GS2 rod, reel and line on completion of the course and a certificate. Hats, glasses, flies and nylon were donated from Carrilon and fishing tickets from Norfolk and Suffolk Fly fishers.

Mike's wife Lesley provided meals for the instructors and helpers over the three days.

On this Friday and Saturday, the 13 & 14 of August Clonanav Fly Fishing will be opening its new store in Ballymacarbry Co. Waterford. To celebrate the opening there will be a host of activities including casting demos, seminars, prize draw and discount deals on tackle.

Customers can try out all the new Hardy & Greys gear and there's a chance to meet and see casting demonstrations from leading anglers including Hardy & Greys Academy members, Jason O Riordan and Ian Gordon.

Mike beat 469 anglers, to take the amazing prize of a 19' lake boat, Honda 15 hp outboard, boat trailer and 10' Marksman Drifter rod.

Mike is a qualified Instructor S.T.A.N.I.C. in single-handed casting and fly dressing.

Mike's speciality is Stillwaters and fishing the Loughs of Ireland. He is renowned throughout Ireland as one of the leading Anglers in this field and is expert in all methods for catching wild Irish Brownies

In a year of drought stricken rivers, The Tees at Middleton proved to be a Fantastic Venue for the 2010 Rivers International. Compensation water kept all five beats fishable and a 9^" lift of water on the match day made things "interesting" to say the least! The four countries caught and returned a total of 310 trout over the four ninety minute sessions,

At the end of the day Hardy /Greys Team England were emphatic winners with 125 Trout, in a fantastic overall team performance every team member had at least two first places out of a possible four. And Individual winner Simon Robinson had four 1sts to win him the Moc Morgan Trophy for the 2^nd time. With a total mix of up to six different methods covering a lot of water quick was the key to success, along with, the indispensable reserve Bernie Mayer, looking for unfished water and rising fish for the bank. Against a very strong field of Anglers from the other 3 nations Hardy/Greys Team England took the 1^st 4 individual placings in what has been dubbed the ‘Friendly International'.

Results Team

(Geoff Clarkson Trophy)        England

                        2^Nd                   Wales

                        3^rd                    Ireland

                        4^th                    Scotland

Individual

(Moc Morgan Trophy)

1                    Simon Robinson (Eng)

2                    Phil Dixon             (Eng)

3                    John Tyzak            (Eng)

4                    Howard Croston   (Eng)

5                    John Maclennan    (Sco)

6                    Allen Hughes        (Wal)

7                    Brian Russel          (Ire)

8                    Philip Jehu             (Wal)

9                    Ian Greenwood     (Eng)

10                Joe Winder            (Ire)

Largest fish

Mike Childs Trophy - Philip Jehu (Wales)

Team England members placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 8th individually with Simon Robinson lifting the trophy as top individual and narrowly missing out on the largest fish award as well.

A sudden change in weather conditions saw localised rain on the fells suddenly put the river into a small summer flood from the low clear conditions the teams had practised on.

England adapted well, changing tactics rapidly as the levels rose and then stabilised and started to fall back rapidly - all in an 8 hour period.

Winning tactics included a diverse mix of dries, nymphs and even small streamers fished in the River Tees abundant pocket water.

Take a look at our Team England pages to see profiles of the guys, and come and see us at the CLA Game Fair for your chance to meet Team England Anglers

Celebrities from the world of TV, business and sport came out in force on Wednesday 23^rd June at Sweethope Lough, Northumberland, supporting a unique charity event in aid of Grace House Children's Hospice North East.  Fishing with the stars now in its second year is the idea of Game Fishing Supplies of Morpeth and Hardy & Greys Ltd.

After a hearty breakfast provided by Rob Tait of Sweethope Fishery the draw for boat partner was announced and anglers commenced the mornings fishing. Sunny conditions ensured that the fishing was challenging for all anglers, hampering the choice of fly lines and fly.

Most anglers opted for floating lines, but the majority returned with no fish caught. During a BBQ lunch anglers had the opportunity to talk fishing tackle, flies and tactics with the stars and representatives from Hardy & Greys.

Boat partners changed for the afternoon session. Conditions had improved significantly with the weather perfect for success and rods were soon bending with fish caught close to the surface taken on dries and lures. A selection of wild brown trout and hard fighting rainbow trout were caught by all.

The day finished with prizes donated by Game Fishing Supplies and Hardy & Greys Ltd for the most fish caught, and the most donations collected.

Matthew Peckford from Cumbria came 1^st winning £1,000 of Hardy & Grey vouchers. Matthew has been fly fishing for only a short time, this is the first competition he has entered and won. Matthew also collected the most donations.

Richard Wood from Northumberland came 2^nd winning £700 of Hardy & Grey vouchers. Richard has fished since he was 3, and at the age of 18 is currently the youngest qualified coach in the UK.

John Morton came 3^rd winning £300 of Hardy & Grey vouchers. John who has fished all his life is a well known competition angler and travelled from Ayr to support the event.

A great day was enjoyed by all with over £2,000 raised for the charity. The day can be summerised by England International Scott Nellins "It's my pleasure to lend support to such a worthwhile charity. To have a children's hospice in the North East is so important for the children of the region and their families"

Vicky Bell co-organisor said "fishing with the stars really embodies the Grace House charity, although there's a serious message behind the day, everyone can take part no matter what level of fishing experience or ability and fish with a variety of celebrities from TV stars to England's World & European Fishing Team"

For further information please visit www.ian-woods.co.uk

There's something for everyone at the Game Fair, so any non-fishing friends and family won't be bored. Attractions include a 4x4 driving course, a fashion show, traditional crafts, art and artists, nature exhibits, and a family dog show ring. 

If you're attending the Game Fair then please come and see us, to see all our latest products and even have a cast with the latest rods. We'll be in the Flyfishing area, opposite the lake, stand G0470. 

More show information

Last weekend the Irish International Fly Fair was held in Killyleagh, County Down.

Held over two days the charity event saw fly tyers and the fly casting elite from around the world gather together to raise money for the Dibney River Conservation Trust.

Hardy & Greys Ltd are proud to be one of the sponsors of the event.

Hardy & Greys Ltd Marketing Manager, Steve Peterson said;

"At Hardy & Greys Ltd we are very proud to be part of this very special event. We have been coming to Killyleagh for the last three years the Fair has been running and every year we meet more of our customers and make new friends.

"This year in particular saw a terrific line up of casters and fly tyers from around the world. Special thanks must go to Stephen Kennedy from the Hardy & Greys Academy who is one of the organisers of the Fly fair which raises funds for  such a worthy  conservation cause and, which also introduces many newcomers to fishing . Stephen has some great ideas for next year's event and we are very much looking forward to returning to Killyleagh in 2011."

Angler Thayne Morgan (on left) with Captain Craig Brewer (on right), won the 2010 Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament in Islamorada, Florida on June 24. Thayne captured the title fishing prototypes of Hardy & Greys SINTRIX Proaxis one piece #11 and #12 fly rods and the Fortuna X4 Big Game fly reel.

Thayne said, "Andy Mill gave us this new tackle from Hardy & Greys to test. I have fished the SINTRIX rods exclusively for three weeks and they are the finest rods I have ever fished. There is only one problem. Now I have to buy a new set of fly rods!"

Captain Craig Brewer knew that these prototypes were really something when Andy Mill told him to "just fish them, you don't have to worry. For six months I have been abusing monster fish with these rods. Trust me. Just fish them."

Jim Murphy, President of Hardy & Greys North America said, "We knew that when we got our product development team at Hardy to work with Andy we would access the most challenging and thorough tackle testing process we could find. Andy has handed out dozens of prototypes to the most experienced and successful guides and anglers. The tackle has been deeply bent inside out, well beyond normal use. They have been proven to destroy big fish in minutes. Now they have helped to win the most coveted fly fishing tournament in the world.

Andy Mill said when he heard the news, "Our new Fortuna X reel is just as revolutionary as the SINTRIX rods and together we can say with complete conviction that The Game Has Changed."

To read more about what makes SINTRIX technology different, and to see videos of the prototypes in action, visit the official SINTRIX Facebook page.

Hardy and Greys Ltd recently announced that they have entered a partnership agreement with Tom Moran, one of the best cane rod makers in the world.

Tom became obsessed with bamboo fly rod building in the nineteen seventies and gained a reputation as a first class rod builder with his very efficient compound tapers producing a medium progressive action. His trademarks include only using the best Tonkin cane and making all components from scratch including the famous handmade Moran snake guides .Tom describes cane as "of all Mother Nature's natural materials Tonkin cane has the greatest stiffness to weight ratio, combined with great beauty and it lends itself perfectly to precision engineering."

With the general resurgence in cane rods and particularly In the USA Tom found a demand for his rods in the US and worked there for three years, since his return to the UK Tom has continued his passion of working with cane and now he is bringing his considerable skill and expertise to Hardy and Greys Ltd.

Tom will work alongside the company's' current rod builder Calum Gladstone and together they will develop and grow the Hardy cane proposition. Despite the expansion of the department, every cane rod and all its components will be individually hand made with each rod taking many man hours to build.

 Calum has been with the company for twenty two years and is currently rod shop supervisor. He is particularly well known for his cane building expertise with the famous Hardy Gladstone rods. Commenting on Tom's appointment he said "I am very excited about Tom Moran joining us, he brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from mixing with the best cane rod builders from around the world."

Joining forces from a newly extended cane department in Alnwick, Calum and Tom insist that this is not a large scale production line, every rod and all its components will be individually hand made with each rod taking many man hours to build.

On his appointment Tom said "I can remember the magic and grace of the Hardy Marvel and CC de France when I started rod building, it's a thrill for me to be part of that Hardy's tradition".

Hardy and Greys Ltd are very pleased to announce that they have entered a partnership agreement with Tom Moran one of the best cane rod makers in the world.

Tom became obsessed with bamboo fly rod building in the nineteen seventies and gained a reputation as a first class rod builder with his very efficient compound tapers producing a medium progressive action. His trademarks include only using the best Tonkin cane and making all components from scratch including the famous handmade Moran snake guides .Tom describes cane as "of all Mother Nature's natural materials Tonkin cane has the greatest stiffness to weight ratio, combined with great beauty and it lends itself perfectly to precision engineering."

With the general resurgence in cane rods and particularly In the USA Tom found a demand for his rods in the US and worked there for three years, since his return to the UK Tom has continued his passion of working with cane and now he is bringing his considerable skill and expertise to Hardy and Greys Ltd.

Tom will work alongside the company's' current rod builder Calum Gladstone and together they will develop and grow the Hardy cane proposition. Despite the expansion of the department, every cane rod and all its components will be individually hand made with each rod taking many man hours to build.

 Calum has been with the company for twenty two years and is currently rod shop supervisor. He is particularly well known for his cane building expertise with the famous Hardy Gladstone rods. Commenting on Tom's appointment he said "I am very excited about Tom Moran joining us, he brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from mixing with the best cane rod builders from around the world."

Joining forces from a newly extended cane department in Alnwick, Calum and Tom insist that this is not a large scale production line, every rod and all its components will be individually hand made with each rod taking many man hours to build.

On his appointment Tom said "I can remember the magic and grace of the Hardy Marvel and CC de France when I started rod building, it's a thrill for me to be part of that Hardy's tradition".

In conjunction with Renvyle House Hotel, Hardy and Greys Academy ran a weekend fishing course in May on the splendid grounds of this 4 star hotel which is situated on the Atlantic shores in wildest Connemara, Co. Galway on the West Coast of Ireland.

The event was designed for beginners and experienced fly-fishermen and over the course of the weekend covered a wide range of topics of interest to anglers.  Participants got a chance to try out their skills on the Hotels private 40 acre lake which held some hard fighting brownies.  The latest in Hardy & Greys fly-fishing product was there for people to try out for themselves

Attending from the Academy were Stevie Munn and Mike Keady, Jackie Coyne who is also in the Academy was present there in his role as the hotel's own resident fly-fishing instructor. Tom Doc Sullivan, Area Manager of Hardy Greys in Ireland made up the team.

The event was well attended and on the Saturday everybody got to go through a wide range of tactics from river fishing for trout and migratory fish, lough-style fishing from boat and bank-fishing.

Casting clinics were held to help those from all levels. The group was split up into groups which made for much better tuition.

John Stanley, from Gerard Stanley and Sons of Clifden, who is the Hardy& Greys dealer in nearby Clifden Town, came along in the afternoon thereby giving the opportunity for the attendees to purchase any of the outfits that were on show at the event.

The evening saw some fly-dressing demonstrations before some first class music and entertainment in the lounge that evening.

Sunday gave the chance for all those there to give the lake a go and after some demonstrations in the morning, everybody got to fish proper.  The lake came up trumps and all those present caught fish which was the icing on the cake to what proved to be an excellent weekend.

The feedback from the guests was very positive with everybody saying they had come away from the event having learnt something.

The Hotel really looked after everybody superbly and must be commended for doing and an excellent and highly professional job.

The organisers hope to repeat the event in 2011 so look out for news on that. 

News just in from Poland... 

John Horsey of Hardy & Greys Team England managed to overcome rapidly changing water conditions in the 2010 World Fly Fishing Championships, to yet again to prove his determination and versatility in challenging conditions and break into Bronze medal position within the last session of the Championships.

Following solid early performances on both a low clear River sector fishing micro nymphs and a session win on the large Reservoir sector also plagued by changing water levels, John again adapted rapidly in the final session on the river San switching to Streamers fished upstream on a DI3 to scratch out enough fish in a rapidly rising river to secure Third position and a bronze medal.

Congratulations John! 

An unfavourable river draw, and difficult conditions during practice meant Hardy & Greys Team England were unable to retain their 2009 World Championship title, placing 11th overall. 

Poor practice conditions and a lack of practice water leading up to the final proved very limiting for many of the top teams in their preparations. 

Meanwhile, the England Ladies Fly Fishing Team, captained by Hardy & Greys Academy Member Sue Sissons won Gold at the 2010 International Championships this weekend. 

In the run up to the competition, the fishing had gone hard as the fish had turned on to the pin fry and weren't really eating as the weather was hot, sunny and at times not much wind.

The England team did manage to come up with a few fly patterns and lines that seemed  to work, a Plan A and Plan B.

The match day arrived and the fishing looked as though it was going to be hard again, but after a team talk by manager Paul, the team were all very positive.

At the weigh in it was very close with England having 33 fish, Scotland 28, and Wales 27. But how much did they weigh?

Team captain Sue Sissons picks up the story:

"They announced it in reverse order, when they announced the winner was England I'm sure the whole lake shook, we were cheering, jumping up, and down, hugging one another and crying at the same time - WOW we had done it we had WON! It is very difficult to describe how we felt but it did feel pretty brilliant

Sue added that they had a great team with great team spirit and all worked together to secure the victory, and that the Welsh hosts and organisers made everyone feel very welcome.

World Cup fever is starting to grip the nation, but the footballers aren't the only ones gearing up for a big competition... Hardy & Greys Team England are currently in Poland, preparing for their upcoming match, Howard Croston sent this report...

Poland is suffering from unprecedented high water conditions following exceptional rainfall, all of the rivers are running high and coloured causing problems for the 29 countries currently engaged in practice and preparation for the match starting on the 17th of June.

Due to the large entry of teams, limited practice water is available and combined with the less than favourable water conditions practise is proving difficult.

Hopes are high for better conditions in the match, but more possible thunderstorms and heavy rainfall could dampen everyone's prospects. Luckily current day time temps are exceeding 90 degrees helping to dry up the rain soaked polish country side.

Team England have experienced good success on the 4 practice days fished so far on both the river and lake venues and are starting to formulate plans for the competition sectors .

Read more about Hardy & Greys Team England.

Hardy & Greys Academy Member Appointed England Team Captain

Susan Sissons, one of three female members of the Hardy & Greys Academy, has been chosen to captain the England Ladies Fly Fishing Team (ELFA) for the Home International in June.

The competition will be held on Llandegfed Reservoir in South Wales and will feature teams from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

This will be Sue's 16^th England cap and 11^th Home International for England ladies. Susan last captained the side back in 2005 winning the gold medal when the Home International was held on Lough Mask in Ireland.

Sue said:

"It's a great privilege to be appointed England ladies captain especially now as the captaincy is voted for by the other team members."

The event will be a family affair as Sue and the team will be assisted by Sue's husband Paul who has been appointed team manager.

Sue has been a qualified fly fishing instructor for 7 years and has been a member of the Hardy&Greys Academy for 4 years.

Only qualified instructors are appointed to the Hardy & Greys Academy which has members throughout the UK and Ireland.

The eagerly awaited new Hardy Anglers Guide is now available. In a move away from recent tradition this year’s guide combines products from both the game and coarse categories.

Available at your local Hardy dealer or as a download the 93 page consumer catalogue showcases some of the finest products we have ever produced and features breathtaking photography from around the world.

In the game category the guide features:

• Exciting new Uniqua range of fly rods and reels offering excellent performance at value for money prices
• Next generation of Demon rods, now all four piece
• New to the heritage range the Alnwick made St George trout reels which offer traditional aesthetics with modern functionality

The Anglers Guide also features the three new additions which make up the EWS MK2 waterproof clothing range.  In a two tone olive colour the range consists of a three quarter jacket, a wading jacket and a bib and brace overtrouser.

Fish With The Stars 2010

June 2010 will see the return of the highly successful Fish With The Stars event being held at Sweethope Loughs.

Run by Hardy & Greys Ltd and Game Fishing Supplies (Morpeth), the event will be held on Wednesday 23rd June. Last year's event was a great success, with almost £6000 raised for the Grace House North East Children's Hospice Appeal, and this year's event is in aid of the same charity with organisers aiming to top last years total.

The event is now fully booked with 30 anglers set to take part. Participants' names will be put into a draw at the start of the day and picked out at random to share a boat and fish with a celebrity. A draw will then take place again at lunchtime so that most of the anglers attending get the chance to fishing with a celebrity.

Anglers and celebrities will compete to catch the greatest length fish, and competitors who chose to raise sponsorship money are competing for a prize for the person who raises the most sponsorship. The prize pot is a generous split of £4000 donated by Hardy & Greys Ltd and Game Fishing Supplies.

The celebrity anglers will again include Ashes to Ashes actor and keen fisherman Dean Andrews Sean Wilson (Martin Platt in Coronation Street), Jason Oakes (former Newcastle Falcons rugby player) and Paul Little, one of the top fly tyers in the world and AAPGAI Master Instructor.

Fish and Fly Ltd have, again, lent their support to the event, hosting online auctions of fishing and sporting related products to boost the fundraising effort.  The live auctions can be found here.

If you cannot attend the event but would like to make a donation, this can be done via the Just Giving page at http://www.justgiving.com/fishwiththestars2010

Read the review of Fish With The Stars 2009

On a recent trip to Farmoor Reservoir Hardy & Greys consultant Nick Hart has caught an enormous brown Trout, using a Hardy Demon rod and reel.

Farmoor 1 in Oxford is gaining a reputation for its ability to produce grown on Trout of superior quality and Nick has been making the two and a half hour journey from his home in Devon to sample some of the fantastic sport that this catch & release venue has to offer. 

During a recent trip Nick hit the jackpot when an enormous brown Trout appeared close to the margins and showed signs of feeding.  Several attempts were made to get the massive fish to eat but staunchly ignored until Nick extracted a Mini Minky from the box of James Warbrick-Smith, a Farmoor specialist who has caught several specimens to double figures.

Nick tells the tale below:

"As James passed me the fly I just knew it was the one.  I have fished with James all over the world and he has the ability to tie meticulous flies that have "eat me" written all over them.  The fish had entered a bubble line created by a pipe running treated water back into the lake, so by using the current I was able to get a really natural presentation of the tiny baitfish as the highly mobile mink fur wafted in the current.  Farmoor is home to many species including coarse fish and we had seen several fry near the margins during the day.  The Brown could not resist my imitation and without hesitation accelerated and snaffled the fly."

"We could not control our excitement as I set the hook and the 10'0" #7 Demon, my favourite Stillwater rod of the moment, hooped over and line began pouring from the matching Hardy Demon 7000 reel.  First and foremost I was keen that we got this fish in quickly to ensure that it could be revived and returned as soon as possible.  I am lucky enough to spend a huge amount of my time guiding people and so I see my fair share of fish, but my heart was pumping hard throughout the fight and when it hit the net I could not contain my emotion.  What all the whooping and hollering from far off must have looked like I don't know!"

"Lewis Hendrie, an up and coming young guide was also with us and it was left to him to expertly net the fish.  Then using an SLR camera and our iPhones the two guys were able to rattle off some shots in a matter of seconds.  With pictures in the bag we all sat looking at the fish in astonishment as we gently revived it in the margins.  The Brown had taken less than 5 minutes to land and was in good health.  We were all elated to see it power away into the depths"

Farmoor stocks brown Trout at around 2lb so this specimen was a true grown on giant that has spent many years gaining weight in the depths of Farmoor.  However, it was not its first mistake, as the same fish had been previously captured at a weight of 17lb 7oz, and news stories of the monster Trout have recently popped up in the local press. 

Judging by the overall length and girth of this fish it weighed every bit of that 17lb 7oz.  However Nick was keen to see the fish go back alive and felt that the extra trauma of recording an exact weight was not worth the risk to the leviathan's health.

In Nicks words "it was just a privilege in its own right to see this fish and I owe a massive vote of thanks to my mates James and Lewis for all their help in ensuring we got a record of the fish.  It was truly a once in a lifetime experience made all the better as we were out on a day out together and a fishing moment that will live with me for the rest of my days.  This brown eclipsed my previous personal best reservoir Trout and I don't expect to beat it in a hurry, if ever!"

Gary arrives with a wealth of experience after ten years in the food service industry followed by thirteen highly successful years with fishing tackle manufacturer, Shimano.

Gary said of his appointment;

"It was a big step leaving Shimano, but when the opportunity arose to move to such a forward thinking, progressive company such as Hardy & Greys I found it impossible to refuse.

Since joining Hardy & Greys Ltd I have been overwhelmed with the level of customer focus and passion to succeed. I am looking forward to rekindling many old acquaintances, making some new ones and playing a full part in what looks certain to be a very bright future indeed."

Sales and Marketing Director, Ken Brewster said;

"I am delighted that Gary has joined us. He has a wealth of experience and tremendous customer relationships throughout the trade. He has fitted into the team instantly and will, I am sure, do a terrific job for us."

Gary replaces Steve Peterson who is taking up his new role as Game Marketing Manager for the Company starting at the end of April.

On Saturday 24^th April the GAIA ran an assessment weekend at Foxford on the river Moy.

The weekend was originally planned to deal with seventeen assessments but due to varying circumstances only three were eventually run.

Hardy & Greys Academy member, Mark Corps was one of the successful candidates, passing his APGAI Single Handed Fly Casting assessment. Mark is able to add this to the award he already holds from APGAI Ireland.

An angling advisor for the Central Fisheries Board (in the ROI), Mark guides and instructs all over Ireland, with Fermanagh, Donegal and Mayo being the areas he knows best of all.

For more information on Mark, visit his Academy profile, and for more on the APGAI series of qualifications, visit the APGAI website.

Hardy & Greys were among the prize sponsors for the Southside Angling Winter League Competition held in Dublin.

Anglers competed over the Winter in 4 heats in the Dublin area, to compete for places in the final, which took place at Rathcon Trout Fishery, Co. Wicklow, in February.

The top 5 rods from each heat qualified for the final.

Despite the recent cold weather, and very low water temperatures, the final turned out to be a great fishing day, and virtually all the anglers caught fish - and some cracking ones too!

The event was run on a catch and release basis, with the biggest fish caught on the day measuring 65cm. Dave Rohan's total of 6 fish caught and returned was enough to win on the day.

The event was organised and run by Karl O'Toole, Southside Angling's game angling expert who said;

"Thanks go to Rathcon for providing excellent facilities, and of course great fishing for the final."

Dave McBride, owner of Southside Angling added;

"I'm delighted with the whole event, it has proved to be very popular in its first year, and we'll be making it an annual competition."

Dave also thanked Hardy & Greys for their support.

The top 10 competitors at the final were awarded prizes, and Hardy & Greys sponsored the top 3 places:

1.       Dave Rohan won a 10' #7 Hardy Demon Rod

2.       Andre Kostechenko won a 10' #6 Hardy Uniqua Rod

3.       George Goodwin won a 10' #7 Greys Platinum XD Competitor Special Rod

Main image: Picture; left to right, Southside's Dave McBride, winner of the final Dave Rohan, Hardy & Greys' Tom Sullivan, Southside's Karl O' Toole

Image 1 - Competitors on the final day

Image 2 - Winner Dave Rohan claims his prize

Image 3- Second placed Andre Kostechenko

Image 4 - Third placed George Goodwin

The 5X60 scheme is a Welsh Assembly initiative to encourage younger people to get out and about and take part in active sports. The target is to get 90% of secondary pupils achieving 60 minutes of physical activity five times a week by 2020. Currently 99% of secondary schools are involved in the 5x60 programme.

This is the first time this group have been involved with fishing as a vehicle to get active, but angling is recognized as a great way of getting active in the outdoors, that anyone can take part in.

Providing links to clubs to allow young people to continue the activities they try through the scheme is a key aim for 5X60.

Those involved hope to further develop the angling programme, giving each school access to expert help to develop the fishing skills of the group members.

Mark said: "This is a great opportunity for young people to try fishing with some expert help, and maybe later they can venture out, fishing some of the remote lakes and Llyns , combining their new angling skills with hiking in the beautiful Welsh countryside."

For more information on 5X60 visit the Welsh Assembly page.

Total Fly Fisher Magazine review the Hardy Uniqua Rod.

Read the review

Watch the new Hardy rods and reels being put to the test

Trout & Salmon Magazine have awarded the Hardy Uniqua Reel a 'Must Buy' in their February edition.

Read the review

Both competing in June, the World Championship Team will compete in Poland and the Home International Rivers Championship Team will compete on the river Tees in the North of England. The European Championship Team will fish in Bosnia in September.

The World Team consists of Howard Croston, John Horsey, Simon Robinson, John Tyzak, Davey Parker and manager Ian Greenwood.

The Home International Rivers Team consists of Howard Croston, Simon Robinson John Tyzak, Ian Greenwood, Phil Dixon, Bernie Maher and Mike Tinnion.

The European Team consists of Scott Nellins, Mike Tinnion, Phil Dixon, Andrew Gooding, Alex Bobba, Tony Baldwin and manager Paul Page.

Dave had been working as a Consultant for the Northumberland based fishing tackle company for over three years, and has been heavily involved with rod and tackle design during this period. This includes working on the highly successful Hardy Marksman, and the new Greys Prodigy Specimen & Specialist Coarse introductions.

Dave has been a highly successful match and specialist coarse angler for many years. He has written extensively for the Angling press and currently writes weekly features for the Angler's Mail magazine. He will continue to contribute to this popular magazine from his new location and home in Alnwick, which will no doubt delight many northern anglers!

Commenting on his new position Dave said;

"I'm deeply honoured to have been offered the position of Coarse Product Manager and I relish the challenge.

"Hardy & Greys Ltd is a major, forward thinking company who are going places fast in both the Coarse and Carp markets, and I can now be even more involved with this exciting success story.

"I have made many new friends in Northumberland and I can't wait to explore the fishing up there."

Managing Director of Hardy & Greys Ltd, Richard Sanderson said;

"Hardy & Greys are pleased to announce Dave is joining our Product Development Team on a full time basis. Dave has been working with us for many years as a consultant and brings a wealth of experience with him from both the coarse market and fishing tackle industry. We are very excited to have Dave on board and look forward to launching many new products with his expert knowledge of the coarse & match market."

As well as this the entry fee has been reduced by £5 and new venues in England, Scotland and Ireland have been added.

For more information please visit www.johnhorsey.co.uk.

New and innovative products in the range include the Uniqua rods which encompass 18 single and double handed four piece rods. With their responsive middle to tip action, contemporary design and complementary construction, Hardy are excited about this launch. To complement the rods, five matching reels are also available.

The reel that needs no introduction - the Hardy Princess reel has also been re-introduced as an addition to the Classic Lightweight series. An extremely popular reel, first launched in 1958 this timeless classic will perfectly match the Classic Lightweight series, complete with ‘Hardy' click check sound, interchangeable Princess spools and dovetail and screwed reel foot.

Hardy have also introduced the ever popular Demon range in single and double handed four piece versions. Still retaining the Hardy performance, durability and build quality, these rods are perfect for the travelling angler.

In the clothing department, a complete new range of EWS2 clothing has been launched, designed using the latest laminate technology fabric. This new fabric offers improved breathability and a higher level of waterproofing than any other clothing produced before by Hardy.

The range includes a ¾ length jacket, wading jacket and bib and brace trousers. All items are fully lined with 2 way YKK® waterproof zips and come in a full range of sizes from S to XXXL.

Read the review.

"Spain, apparently, has never seen rain like it. From December right through to early March, it seemed as though the heavens simply wept and low, generally crystal clear rivers were often twenty feet up and running like gravy trains! Even in the lakes, all this rain meant very cold water and the black bass were particularly hard to lure to the surface. Nevertheless, some fish were caught - both black bass and beautiful Andalucian barbel.

"Spain really is a most under-rated angler's paradise. It's beautiful, easily accessible and, generally, with a very welcoming climate. It's an ideal venue both for the fly fisherman and the lure angler. I'll be giving a much more detailed rundown in April's edition of Fin and Fly."

Total Flyfisher magazine have featured the Hardy Uniqua 9ft 6in 7-wt Rod in their Game Gear Guide, April 2010.

Read the review

'Nothing to dislike - a very pleasant rod.' 

Trout & Salmon magazine have awarded the Hardy Uniqua Salmon rod as best rod in their £201 - £400 category in their March 2010 edition.

Read the review 

Trout Fisherman magazine review the Hardy Uniqua Rod in their February Gear Guide where they name the rods 'Tackle Tester's Choice.'

Read the review

'The Lost World of Mr Hardy' screening makes The Journal newspaper front cover.

Trout Fisherman magazine review the new Hardy Demon 4 piece rod in this month's Good Gear Guide.

Read the review

Trout Fisherman magazine review the Hardy Angel 2 Fly Fishing rods in their January edition.

Read the review

Read the review

Read the review

Hardy & Greys Category Product Manager, Howard Croston has been selected for the World Team for Poland in June 2010 as a full team member and has also been selected as Captain of England for the Home International Rivers Team for the River Tees in June 2010.

Howard said;

"It's a huge honour to represent your country and to be reselected for the world championships - following on from England's victory last year makes it all the more special."

Game Product Assistant, Scott Nellins has been selected for his first European Cap as a Full member of the European team for the event in Bosnia in September 2010.
Scott said;

"The selection came as a huge but very satisfactory surprise. I assumed my age would be against me but I believe I am fully capable of making the best of this opportunity."

Hardy & Greys Ltd would like to wish Howard and Scott luck in their competitions next year.

Complete with destination and tactical fishing articles from world famous anglers and top Hardy & Greys Consultants, Henry Gilbey, John Bailey and Nick Hart, Fin & Fly offers fishing advice for all anglers.

Click here to read the latest edition featuring articles on Henry Gilbey's trip of a lifetime to Norway and fishing for exotic species in the Seychelles.

John Bailey offers tips on pike fishing and fishing for Dace on the river Wensum in Norfolk.

Nick Hart also gives an insight into some useful tactics and tips when fishing small stillwaters, including tackle to use, and reports on essential tackle for fishing small streams.

Category Product Manager for game, Howard Croston has been selected for the World Team for Poland in June 2010 as a full team member, and has been fortunate to be selected as Captain of England for the Home International Rivers Team on the River Tees in June 2010.

Product Assistant, Scott Nellins has been selected for his first European Cap as a full member of the European team for the event in Bosnia in September 2010.

Congratulations go to both anglers and we would like to wish them both the best of luck in the competitions next year.

Founded to raise money for a fishing village devastated in the Tsunami in 2004 the annual event now raises money for similar good causes and In past years nearly £3000 has been successfully raised through the event and nearly 200 anglers have entered.

Managing Director of Game Fishing Supplies, Ian Woods said;

"We are very proud to win the ‘Business into the Community' award. On behalf of Game Fishing Supplies, I would like to thank all of our customers and supporters."

Game Fishing Supplies are based in Morpeth, Northumberland and work very closely with Hardy & Greys Ltd, organising events which include the Fish with the Stars celebrity charity fly fishing event.

Complete with destination and tactical fishing articles from world famous anglers and top Hardy & Greys Consultants, Henry Gilbey, John Bailey and Nick Hart, Fin & Fly offers fishing advice for all anglers.

Click here to read the latest edition featuring articles on Henry Gilbey's trip of a lifetime to Montana and John Bailey in India. Nick Hart also gives an insight into some useful tactics and tips when using small flies and reports on his bone fishing experiences.

Total Flyfisher magazine review the Hardy Marksman 5/6 Fly Reel.

Read more. 

Total Flyfisher magazine review the Hardy Marksman Drifter 10ft 6wt Fly Rod.

Read the review.

A cheque was presented to Karen Larkin from the charity, Grace House North East Children's Hospice Appeal by Hardy & Greys Ltd and Game Fishing Supplies.

The Fly Fishing event, which was held in at Sweethope Lough in June saw anglers from across the UK pay to fish with one of seven celebrities, including rugby players, Jamie Noon, Raphael Ibanez and Jason Oakes, and television actors, Sean Wilson and Dean Andrews.

Karen Larkin said;

"We had a brilliant day and the feedback we have received has been fantastic. I am extremely grateful to Hardy & Greys Ltd and Game Fishing Supplies for organising the event and of course to the people who attended the day and supported Grace House North East Children's Hospice Appeal."

Hardy & Greys Ltd, Managing Director, Richard Sanderson said;

"As a company we are proud to be able to help and support a charity as worthwhile as Grace House North East. Not only are they doing great things for sick children, as a local based charity, it is very satisfying for us to be able to give something back."

More information on Grace House North East Children's Hospice appeal can be found at www.gracehouse.co.uk 

Held at the White House Social Club in Ashington, Northumberland the evening was open to all members of the Club, their families and invited guests.

This year members of the Felling Fly Fishers were invited to present the trophies which were awarded to years 4, 5, 6 ,7 ,8 and 9. Trophies were awarded to High School Champion, Club Champion and Heaviest Fish Champion as well the Felling Fly Fishers Rivers Challenge. All school pupil members received certificates and medals for their efforts.

The Club Champion this year was Andrew Whitehall from Ashington and the Heaviest Fish trophy was won by Niamh Pirie with a fish of 3lb 8oz.

All young members received a certificate and medals for Fishing, Fly Tying and attending the Hirst Park Trout Tickers Introduction to Fly Fishing Days. The awards ceremony was followed by a raffle buffet and disco.

Trout Ticklers Chairman, John Whitehall said;

"The Hirst Park Trout Ticklers would like to pass on their thanks to everyone for their support over the season and to everyone who donated most generously to our raffle, including Hardy & Greys Ltd. We look forward now to a successful fly tying course held over the winter months leading into our next fishing season in 2010."

The 15th FIPS Mouche European Championships were contested by 13 Countries and were held on Lough Leane, Lough Caragh and the River Blackwater near Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland.

Team England was represented by World Gold Medallists John Horsey and Simon Robinson, plus John Tyzack, Mick Tinnion and Phil Dixon, ably assisted by reserve Andrew Gooding and Team Manager Paul Page.

England's highest capped International angler of all time, John Horsey said:

"Winning Team Gold in the World Championships was the highlight of my Fly Fishing career. However, the European Championships are so close in stature to the World's, which meant we were desperate to get another team medal to add to our Gold.

"Both Simon Robinson and I had fished Lough Lein in the past, so we knew we should expect lots of lightening quick, small wild brownies. The Blackwater had been in flood for weeks, so we knew this would be challenging. Lough Caragh was also full of wild brownies, but being a bit bigger average size than Lein, we hoped we could get good results here."

Although the England Team hooked and played hundreds of fish during the 5 three hour sessions, keeping them on the hook and getting them into the landing net proved the biggest problem.

Keswick's Mick Tinnion hooked an estimated 20 fish during his session on Lough Lein West, but only managed to net 2 sizable fish.

For the duration of the match, only fish in excess of 20 cm's would count, with a score of 500 points per fish, plus 20 points per cm over the 20 cm minimum size.

John Horsey was fishing his 32nd match for England and finished just 1 place point off Individual European Champion. This follows his 10th place in the 2009 World Championships and 4th place overall in the 2008 New Zealand World Championships.For the first time ever in a single year, England can boast the highest ever Individual standings of Iain Barr as World Champion and John Horsey as European Silver Medal Winner.

Czech Team Member Pavel Chyba took Individual Gold, with Horsey in Silver and Ireland's Dave O'Donovan winning Ireland's first ever medal in Bronze position.

The ever consistent French Team won Team Gold, with Czech Republic in Silver and Poland taking the Bronze medal. Italy and England tied on points for 4th place, with Spain in 6th spot and hosts Ireland in 7th place overall.

Complete with destination and tactical fishing articles from world famous anglers and top Hardy & Greys Consultants, Henry Gilbey, John Bailey and Nick Hart, Fin & Fly offers fishing advice for all anglers. 

Click here to read the latest edition with Henry Gilbey reporting on trips to the Seychelles and a recent Bass fishing excursion in the UK, John Bailey on his challenging visit to Slovenia, and Nick Hart providing a guide to fishing intermediate lines and outlining essential lake fishing tackle. 

Howard finished in third place out of a field of 31 top anglers in the England National Final which was held on the River Tees.

Using two new soon to be launched Greys prototype rods specifically designed for modern river fishing techniques and competition fishing, and Hardy Marksman reels, Howard claimed his third place qualification.

Howard said;

"I was very pleased to qualify against such a strong field and in extremely challenging near-flood river conditions that made fishing the productive far side of the River even more difficult than normal."

Results

1st Place - John Tyzack
2nd Place - Simon Robbinson
3rd Place - Howard Croston
4th Place - Ian Greenwood
5th Place - Phil Dixon
Reserve - Bernie Maher

The competition which was held on the Lake of Menteith in Scotland in early September saw Hardy & Greys Ltd Game Product Development Assistant, Scott Nellins help take the 14-man team to 2nd place with his catch of ten fish.

Scott said;

"It was very pleasing to be top England rod in my first Loch Style International; however the important thing is the Team performance which was an all round excellent effort. It was a shame not to collect the gold but Scotland were always favourites in the home patch."

Scott won the top England rod and collected the Grafham Trophy, one of the most prestigious trophies in English Fly Fishing.

Results

1st - Scotland
2nd - England
3rd - Wales
4th - Ireland

Based in Ireland and Wales, both Instructors offer Fly Fishing tuition to novice, intermediate and advanced anglers.

Trout & Salmon magazine review the Hardy EWS Soft Shell Jacket in their Septembrer 2009 issue.

Read the Review

Trout & Salmon magazine review the Hardy Demon Spin Rod.

Read the Review

Held on Saturday 14th August, the competition saw Tom and Mike, along with Basil Shields and Andrew Boyd representing Team Galway & Corrib be victorious against 27 other teams with a total of 5075 points and 18 trout with the competition run on a catch & release basis.

Basil Shields was also awarded Top Individual Angler, followed by Mike in 2nd and Tom in 3rd place. This follows Tom's 3rd place in the Irish National in June which has qualified him for the Irish team in next year's Spring International on Lough Conn.

Hardy & Greys Ltd would like to congratulate Tom and Mike on their success.

The team of six - Hardy & Greys Product Development Assistant, Scott Nellins, Paul Davison, Steve Cullen, Iain Earle, Ian Jones and Mark Howard competed against 22 other teams and 132 anglers to claim the victory.

Held on Rutland Water on the 22nd and 23rd August Scott Nellins said;

"We had a commanding lead after Day 1, but a disastrous 2nd day saw us almost loose the top spot. We just managed to hang on by a couple of pounds thanks to a great team effort. The Ospreys would like to dedicate their win to David Hodgson."

Chris Guthrie of the Greys G-Tec Stocks Team won Overall Best Bag in the comp over the 2 days, fishing with small dries up the north arm.

Hardy & Greys Ltd would like to congratulate The Ospreys on their win.

Results

1st. The Ospreys 51 fish for 113lb 1oz
2nd. BRFFA Team Orvis 44 fish for 111lb 10oz
3rd. Alba Orvis FF 44 fish for 107lb 3oz
4th. Kent & Sussex FF 44 fish for 106lb 4oz
5th. Team Tightlines 40 fish 40 fish for 99lb 13oz
6th. Nymph-A-Maniacs 36 fish for 98lb 10oz
7th. Greys G-Tec Stocks 40 fish for 97lb 1oz
8th. Blagdon FF Bristol Water 42 fish for 96lb 5oz
9th. The Anglos Anglers 41 fish for 90lb 9oz
10th.Meridian FF 36 fish for 84lb 7oz

Attached Image from www.fishypics.co.uk

Trout & Salmon magazine review the new Hardy Priest in their September 2009 edition.

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Trout Fisherman magazine review the Hardy Marksman 5/6 Reel in their New Tackle section, August 2009.

Read the review

Zach said;

"Truth be told, I am a huge classic Hardy fan. You wave a pre-war lead-finished Perfect with a well-loved patina in front of my face, and I'll start drooling like it was a rack of steaming rib... In recent years Hardy has had a bit of a Janus-like personality; on the one hand, they have returned many of their classic models to production, while on the other they have struck out with some truly unusual modernistic designs. Both lines are excellent, but to me the classic reels are truly exceptional."

Read the Midcurrent review

David Inglis from Nottingham entered a competition on the Hardy & Greys Ltd stand at the show to win one of either two prizes. David chose a Hardy Angel2 9" 6' #7 rod.

David said;

"What a surprise it was to win this rod! I have never won anything in my life and I am very proud. I already have lots of Hardy equipment and the Hardy Angel2 is a beautiful addition to my collection. My friends are very envious of my win."

"A very elegant and stylish priest, as you would expect from Hardy..."

Read more

The competition can be found in the fishing reports section of Trout & Salmon magazine, the most widely read game fishing magazine in the UK.

Throughout the section there is a mix of Hardy banner adverts and images of one particular River or stillwater in the UK. The aim of the competition is to guess, based on those images which water it is.

To participate in the competition all you need to do is fill the voucher at the back of the section and send it into ‘Know Your Waters Competition', Willowburn, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 2PF.

The prize for the August competition is a Hardy Perfect reel; however the location of the image will change each month as well as the prize.

Held at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, Hardy & Greys were at the very heart of Fishermans row supporting no less than eight of their top retail dealers located throughout the Fishing Village.

A full range of new products were being showcased by the Northumbrian fishing tackle company, including the new Hardy Angel2 rods and Hardy Perfect and St George Reels - all made in Alnwick, England. From Greys there was the new X-Flite and Platinum XD rod ranges as well as a full range of new waders and boots.

Top Hardy & Greys Consultants including Charles Jardine, Chris Ogborne, Ian Gordon, Henry Gilbey, Nick Hart and John Bailey were all on hand to offer help and advice at all levels and members of the Hardy & Greys Academy, Andy Smith (England), Howard Taylor (England), David Bell (Scotland), Stevie Munn and Stevie Kennedy (Ireland) were also present, giving casting tuition and sharing their top fishing tips.

The competition being held on the stand to win an Angel2 rod worth £1,000 or St George reel worth £650 was also a big success with many customers entering.

Hardy & Greys also sponsored the show casting clinic in partnership with GAIA. Instructors used Hardy & Greys equipment and sported the company clothing, whilst offering tuition which gave visitors the opportunity to improve on their casting skills throughout the show.

For the past 7 years, Hardy & Greys have sponsored the Hardy Youth Open Salmon Distance Championship and Greys Youth Open Trout Distance Championship. This year the winner of both competitions was Joseph Avery-Harris from Wiltshire.

Sales and Marketing Director, Ken Brewster said;

"We do not attend the CLA just to sell tackle, we are equally delighted when anglers come to us to discuss a problem with their casting, their techniques or simply just to talk fishing. Our experts are on hand throughout the fair to offer advice on all aspects of fishing, offering a unique opportunity for anglers to talk with the best team in the business.

"As a company we are very excited about the year ahead. We have a lot of new products being introduced including a new rod and reel from Hardy and three new ranges of Greys rods. There is also some fantastic clothing coming from both brands. We are looking forward to the year ahead and hope to see you again at the 2010 CLA."

The 2010 CLA will be held at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire on Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th July.

‘Tweedguide', run by anglers Bill Drew and Ron McCombe, who is also a Hardy & Greys Academy Member, is Scotland's leading guide service for Fly Fishing.

Established in 1999, the company offer professional guidance to anglers from all over the world on the river Tweed, including many exclusive beats for Wild Brown Trout, Sea Trout, Atlantic Salmon and Grayling and their knowledge of the River Tweed has earned them an enviable reputation.

The company offer a hassle free guiding and fly fishing tuition service with packages designed for particular personal needs and provided by a group of friendly and experienced guides. All equipment provided is exclusively the most up to date Hardy & Greys tackle.

Bill Drew said;

"Tweedguide are proud to be associated with Hardy & Greys Ltd.
Hardy & Greys have a worldwide reputation for quality that has stood the test of time. The fact that they are a local company supporting another local company is of huge benefit to us.

"Hardy & Greys has enabled us to offer our clients a high quality experience of professional river guiding and Fly Fishing tuition using the best of fishing equipment."

Daniel Hansens, Marketing Manager for Hardy & Greys Ltd said;

"With Tweedguide providing more than a thousand anglers a year from all over the world with guiding services, it makes perfect sense for us to support them. Our association allows every person using Tweedguide to be certain that they will be using the best tackle out there for the job and experience firsthand the quality and innovation we offer in all our products."

3 hour, day, salmon, fishing holidays and corporate packages are all available from Tweedguide. For more information on Tweedguide and to book visit www.tweedguide.com

"The Angle of the Cast" features the life of Gwilym, incorporating his connection with angling and his fishing experiences. In his book Gwilym offers sound advice to anglers from his vast knowledge as well as hints and tips. There is insight on every page - from the memory of his very first Trout, boyish adventures and hilarious incidents - through the stages of learning and development of skills in angling to the fulfilment and elation of reaching International status. From all this comes a good read and an angling bible.

Dedicated to his parents, wife and children, the introduction of the 250+ page book has been written by angler and Rugby Union Legend, Gareth Edwards who describes Gwilym as an "especially gifted angler showing a form of understanding and skill far beyond normal anglers."

The book will be available from the 1st August 2009 from ‘G.H. Sporting' or email Gwilym - ghughes2@btinternet.com

The competition, which took place between the 5th and 12th June at five different venues across Scotland saw the five-man team take gold with Ian Greenwood as Manager and Baz Reece as reserve for the team.

Howard joined Hardy & Greys Ltd Consultant, John Horsey and other members of the 2009 Team including Iain Barr, Simon Robinson and Davy Parker.

All anglers were using Hardy & Greys equipment and kitted out wearing Hardy EWS2 Waders and Wading Jacket, a Soft Shell Jacket and Mid Layer Fleece and Greys Platinum Wading Boots, Greys GRXi Shirts and Trousers, and GRXi Over trousers.

John Horsey fished using the Hardy Demon 10' #8 rod for Loch Leven and Loch Awe, and his Hardy Angel2 10' #7 rod for Menteith and Carron Valley. John used the Hardy Premium Floater on these venues.

On the river Tay, John used a 10' #5 Hardy Marksman outfit, plus the Greys Streamflex 10' #4 and #5 complete with Streamflex reels.

Dave Parker used the Greys G-Tec 10ft #7 and Streamflex 10ft #4 rods as well as GRXi+ Reels and Howard Croston used the G-Tec 10ft #7 rod and Streamflex 10ft #4 along with Demon reels.

England's Iain Barr won the title of World Champion.
John Horsey said;

"This gold medal has been a long time coming - we last won a Team Gold back in 1995. In the early years, the Championships were contested by only a dozen or so Countries, but this year's entry from 29 Countries made it the biggest World Championships in history and to win Gold made it even more satisfying. Congratulations also go to Scotland for their first ever Team Bronze medal."

Howard Croston said;

"I would like to thank Sweethope Lough for the use of their venue when practising in the run up to the Championships. We are very proud to have won this competition and the team all worked hard to achieve first place."

Hardy & Greys Ltd would like to congratulate Howard, John and the England Team on their success.

World Fly Fishing Championship Results Table

1- England
2- France
3- Scotland

The event, which took place at Sweethope Lough, was organised by Hardy & Greys Ltd of Alnwick and Game Fishing Supplies of Morpeth.

Anglers were set the task of catching the longest length of fish in total during the day, with all fish safely returned to the water.

Bill Riddicks, of Ayrshire landed first prize for 8 fish measuring 3580mm and received a whopping £1,000 worth of Hardy & Greys Ltd vouchers.
Gary Haggart, of Fife came second in the competition and received £700 and Marc Moss, of Aberdeenshire came in third and bagged a sizeable prize of £300.

Among the celebrities taking part in the event were former French rugby captain, Raphael Ibanez, keen angler, Sean Wilson formerly Martin Platt from Coronation Street; Dean Andrews, from Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, Jamie Noon, Richard Hill and Jason Oakes of the Newcastle Falcons.

Dean Andrews said;

"It was a fantastic day and I was surrounded by lovely people in beautiful surroundings. It was all in aid of a very worthy cause and you can book my place for next year now because I'll be back!"

Jamie Noon said;

"It was a great day and everyone had a brilliant time, even those who came away without any fish. Most importantly however, we managed to raise a large amount of money for the kids who need it most. I'm looking forward to next year's event already!"

By far, the biggest catch of the day was netted by Grace House North East Children's Hospice Appeal where nearly £6,000 was raised on the day and by an on-line auction courtesy of www.flyforums.co.uk who are part of the Fish and Fly group and many anglers who attended on the day were from the Forum. 

Participants were asked to raise as much as possible in donations and prizes were awarded to the top three fundraisers with £2,000 of Game Fishing Supplies vouchers being shared between them.

Karen Larkin, Regional Fundraiser for Grace House said;

"To be given the opportunity to meet some celebrities, enjoy a full day's fishing, including food and raise a significant amount of money in the process surely ticks every box. I am extremely grateful to everyone who took part and supported the event. What a venue and what a day - fantastic. We have started making plans for next year already so watch this space!"

Richard Sanderson, Managing Director of Hardy & Greys Ltd said;

"Hardy are proud to be supporting a local charity such as Grace House North East. Together we raised a fantastic amount of money for the charity and I would like to take the opportunity to thank both the celebrities for taking part in the event, the boat anglers and Flyforums.co.uk - it is a very worthy cause."

Ian Woods, Managing Director of Game Fishing Supplies said;

"The day was even more of a success than we could ever have imagined.

"Although the weather wasn't great, nobody's spirits were dampened and all the anglers, celebrities and organisers had a fantastic day. I have been an angler for over 31 years and have never had a day as memorable as this. The real icing on the cake was the substantial amount that was raised for Grace House North East and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the day. Roll on next year's event!"

The Fish With the Stars Celebrity Charity Event will be held on Wednesday 23rd June 2010.

To book your place contact Vicky Bell, Vicky@ian-woods.co.uk

More information on Grace House North East. 

England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales took part in the competition with five anglers per team plus one reserve.

Wales took first place in the competition with 92 fish, followed by England in second with 63 fish, Ireland in third with 60 fish and Scotland taking fourth place with 33 fish.

Hardy & Greys, Product Manager Assistant, Scott Nellins, who was Reserve for the English team took part in the afternoon session's after Simon Robinson couldn't continue due to injury.

Scott said;

"Beating Wales on their own patch was always going to be hard. They had a team full of local anglers who knew the water well. In third place after the morning sessions we dug in deeply to grab the silver during the afternoon."

Scott managed to win both of his sessions in the afternoon, fishing with a 10' #3 Greys Streamflex Rod, Hardy Demon 3000 Reel and Greys Platinum WF3 Line.

"A Game Fishers Diary" is presented by Rae Borras from "The Compleat Angler" who stars alongside Geoffrey Palmer.

The first episode of the series sees Rae at Rutland Water on opening day of the season with 20,000 newly stocked Trout to go at and an eye on learning how to get the best for large reservoirs.

Rae takes advice from Robbie Winrun on the tackle required to take on big waters and Robbie picks out the Demon reel as being perfect for reservoir fishing with touch button spool release and high level manufacture and versatility - and the fact that a spare spool costs under £10.

Rae is joined by fly fishing icon, Bob Church for a boat fishing session before taking an interview with England International Team Captain, Craig Barr.

The show is 33 minutes long with a further 37 Fly Fishing shows available to view online at www.onlinefishing.tv for just £1.

The show, held in Budapest, Hungary on the 12th - 14th June saw Hardy & Greys Ltd take away three Eftta New Product Awards including Best New Fly Rod for the Hardy Classic Lightweight, Best New Fly Line for the Hardy Mach 55 and Best New Carp Bivvy / Shelter for the Greys Torsion.

Hardy & Greys Ltd Managing Director, Richard Sanderson said;

"Our team of Product Managers have worked hard all year designing, testing and developing a range of brand new and innovative products and we are proud to walk away with these awards at Efttex."

Efttex is held annual in a different country each year. The Efttex 2010 will be held in Valencia, Spain.

Taking the Best New Fly Line Award; the Mach 55 fly lines are designed by Salmon anglers to excel in real life fishing situations.

The line benefits from a lubrication system that improves distance, control and durability and a 55ft head makes it ideal for the most extreme distance situations.

Taking the Best New Fly Rod Award; the Classic Lightweight rod was rewarded for its overall specification and technical innovation along with its great aesthetics and traditional fittings.

Drawing from their past, Hardy has produced a rod in the Classic Lightweight mould which provides smooth and accurate delivery.

Careysville Fishery on the river Blackwater in Co. Cork has an international reputation as one of the best Salmon fisheries in Ireland and is one of the prime fisheries for spring Salmon.

The fishery is now promoting various Hardy product ranges including a Hardy Swift 15' Salmon fly rod, Swift reel and Mach 55 Wet2 Sink Tip Line and a Greys X-Flite 15' Salmon Fly rod with a Hardy Mach 44 Intermediate Clear Sink Tip Line.

Head Ghillie of Careysville Fishery, Patrick Devennie said;

"We are very excited about teaming up with such an established company as Hardy & Greys Ltd.

"Guests who are thinking of investing in a new rod, reel or fly line will now have the opportunity to try out two different new models alongside correct instruction on their use.

"Although we do not carry stock, should anyone wish to purchase an item while at Careysville, we can contact our nearest dealer and aim to have it within 24 hours."

New products to see at the show include the Hardy St. George and Hardy Perfect Salmon Reels, both made in Alnwick, England.

Other products include the Hardy Angel 2 rod range, Classic and Glass rods and Demon rods and reels. In the Fy Line category, come and see our range of Fly Lines as well as waders and boots.

Under the Greys Brand we have the Greys X-Flite rods and reels, Platinum XD competitor rods, GRXi + reels as well as waders and boots, platinum luggage and new retractors.

World Renowned Spey caster, Ian Gordon and fly angler, Charles Jardine will also be demonstrating their casting skills throughout the event and Hardy & Greys will be sponsoring all CLA casting competitions and GAIA Instructors.

Customers can purchase from ten retailers at the show and there is also a competition giving you the chance to win a Hardy prize.

Visit the Hardy & Greys stand on Fisherman's Row.

More information on the CLA Game Fair

The competition, which took place between the 5th and 12th June at five different venues across Scotland saw the five-man team take gold.

Howard joined Hardy & Greys Ltd Consultant, John Horsey and other members of the 2009 Team including Ian Barr, Simon Robinson and Davy Parker.

World Fly Fishing Championship Results Table

1- England

2- France

3- Scotland

On the individual front, England's Ian Barr has won the title of World Champion.

Hardy & Greys Ltd would like to congratulate Howard and the England Team on their success.

Results

"This means that you can now buy a set of waders off the shelf that fit as though they were tailored just for you!"

Read More

View more information on the Hardy Marksman Breathable Waders.

Hardy & Greys Ltd are delighted to announce they have teamed up with one of Scotland's most prestigious Salmon beats.

Park Fishing on the river Dee has twelve rods available on both the North and South banks of the river Dee and is professionally managed by Head Ghillie, Keith Cromer who said;

"I am over the moon that Park fishing and world leading tackle manufacturer, Hardy & Greys Ltd has joined forces together and we look forward to working with Hardy & Greys in the future."

Hardy & Greys are proud to be sponsoring Park Fishing and will be providing equipment for anglers to use on the river.

For more information on Park Fishing on the River Dee visit www.park-leisure.co.uk

Caught whilst fishing using a Wapsi ‘Egg Yarn' fly pattern just below the surface of the water Zdravko said;

"What a day! I saw a big shadow swimming slowly near the surface, and I tried few times to cast my fly in front of it. Finally the fish took the fly and after 10 minutes of fight I managed to land it. The 20kg Carp is likely to be the first 20kg+ Carp caught on fly rod in Croatia."

Zdravko was also using a floating Hardy DT 6wt line.

"This is the cutting edge of rod design with Hardy employing computer technology to maximise performance in weight distribution, lightness and balance..I want it and I want it now!”"

Read More

View more information on the Hardy Angel 2 TE Rods

18 anglers battled it out in the 8 hour loch style competition, each having to comply with international Rules.

Using his Greys Platinum XD Comp Special rod for the first time, Hardy Demon 5000 Reel and new Hardy Mach Clear Intermediate line, Scott fished using the washing line method with long slow pulls, whilst landing 21 Trout.

Scott said;

"This is a great start to the season, and I am very much looking forward to using the Greys Platinum Comp Rod this year - It handled the rough conditions effortlessly.

Credit must go to the Stocks management for the great job they are doing, hopefully more people will attend the next sweep."

Further details plus information on the next two Spring Sweep competitions can be found at www.stocksreservoir.com

Overnight frost forced many high achieving anglers to fish deep and Welsh International angler, Craig Gimblett prised out his 6 fish limit within the 90 minutes fishing a fast sinking line with Boobies and mini lures.

Most of the competitors failed to get deep enough and Gimblett took the top prize of a coveted Hardy EWS Soft Shell Jacket plus a £100 voucher.

Runner-up was another Welsh International angler, David Hoppe, who started on nymphs, but after only landing 1 fish in the first 3 hours, switched to a sinking line to take his limit bag by 4pm.

Hardy & Greys Ltd Consultant and Championship Manager, John Horsey said;

"The sharp overnight frost really stopped the trout from feeding until after midday. Craig Gimblett's gamble to fish very deep certainly paid off and on a hard day, his International pedigree certainly came to the fore".

For further details on future event information visit www.johnhorsey.co.uk

The qualification, awarded by the Advanced Association of Professional Game Angling Instructors is one of the highest salmon qualification anglers can achieve.

Hardy & Greys Ltd Consultant, Ian, who is also a qualified STANIC salmon instructor, specialising in the Spey cast, along with teaching basic casting with a double handed rod said;

"Having fly-fished with a double handed rod since the age of 9, I am delighted and thrilled to have taken and passed this AAPGAI in Advanced Salmon exam.

This qualification is a major milestone, in that it is very difficult to attain. The standards within AAPGAI are second to none, with only the very best of people making the grade.

Ultimately it was this high standard which initially drew me to AAPGAI, and I have to say, spending time with a group of people with so much knowledge of all forms of fly-fishing has been a real inspiration.

I very much look forward, through my association with Hardy/Greys and AAPGAI, to helping the next generation of fly-fishers take as much from the sport as I have been fortunate enough to take myself."

Ian hails from the river Spey in Scotland, having fished since the age of eight and worked as a Ghillie on the Knockando beat [Spey] for 19 years.

Andy Smith, Hardy & Greys Game Academy Manager, said;

"This is great news for Ian. In the Hardy & Greys Game Academy we promote continuous personal development with our members and Ian joins many other Academy members who have passed angling qualifications in the last few months, including newcomer, Mike Smith who passed his APGAI salmon, Stevie Kennedy passed his AAPGAI trout and Sue Sissons who has passed her APGAI trout. This makes Sue the first female member of the Academy to have achieved this highest level of qualification."

Hardy have launched a range of waders that are also suitable for female anglers.

Available in three styles of breathable waders; Hardy EWS MK2, Marksman and Flyweight waders all come in sizes XS to size XLS.

Hardy & Greys Ltd PR Coordinator and keen angler, Lucy Bowden said;

"At last a pair of waders that fit!

The availability of waders to fit ladies is very small and, although the new waders from Hardy are not made specifically for us girls, they fit fantastically and, what's more they look good too!

I think female anglers will be very impressed with these."

Hardy & Greys Ltd Clothing Designer, Pam Sandford said;

"The waders are not made for ladies; therefore, they are not tailored to fit the female form. However, we have taken into consideration a smaller frame when designing these waders and have produced a wide range of varied sizes."

Hardy EWS Mk2 Felt and Rubber Wading Boots are also available in sizes UK 6 to 13.

Thirteen rods make up the Demon single hander range with four rods in the double hander range.

Four reels make up the range - in sizes 3000, 5000, 7000 and 9000 and all come complete with two spare spools.

Click here for more information on the Hardy Demon Rods.

Click here for more information on the Hardy Demon reels.

Three of the new pairs of  waders from Hardy are featured on the advert, including the Flyweight, Marksman and EWS2 Waders.

Click here for information on Hardy Waders.

The show, which took place on the 7th and 8th February at the Ijsselhallen in Zwolle, Netherlands, saw the new Hardy Carp rod, designed for the Dutch market, stolen prior to the Show on the evening of the 6th February.

Andrew Sowerby, International Sales and Events Manager for Hardy & Greys Ltd said;

"I am sickened by this theft. As it is a prototype, this specific example of the rod is of little value, even worse, anglers had travelled several hours to the show specifically to see, handle and discuss the Hardy Goldbow - this is exactly why anglers go to shows."

This rod, together with a number of Hardy Marksman Coarse rods were stolen. The Hardy Goldbow rod is clearly identifiable by its distinct rich brown blank, full cork handle and has no bag, tube or stopper. The Marksman Coarse rods are easily identifiable as they also have no bags, stoppers or tubes and the Hardy Feeder rods only have one 2oz quiver tip in each of them.

Police are now looking to find the stolen items and Hardy & Greys Ltd are offering a complete finished Hardy Goldbow Carp rod as a reward to anyone who has information that leads to the recovery of this prototype.

One of the best known Ghillies in Scotland and renowned Spey casting champion has joined the Hardy & Greys Ltd Product Development team as a Consultant and is endorsing the Hardy Spey lines in America.

Ian Gordon, winner of the Jimmy Green Spey O Rama in San Francisco in 2004 and highly regarded in the US Spey Casting Community, praises Hardy for the invention of the Mach 55 and 65 Spey lines.

Ian said:

"These new Mach lines from Hardy are a must have for the serious Salmon, Sea Trout or Steelhead Angler.

"Technological advances in both coating and physical taper give the Mach ll the edge - These new lines feel both slick and easy to cast, the taper on both the 55 and 65 foot heads, importantly, make them suitable for both short as well as longer casts, turning over heavy as well as lighter flies.

"The welded loop makes it convenient to add polytips or replace nylon and what I loved most about these is how the line shoots - whether your style be underhand or more traditional, this low friction technology is truly amazing." 

Ian Gordon will be attending The Jimmy Green International SPEY-O-RAMA and Fly Casting Festival, California on April 17-19 (info@spey-o-Rama.com) and Sandy River Spey Clave at Oregon (www.flyfishusa.com/spey-clave.htm) on May 16-17.

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new interactive website which we will be updating daily.

Featuring on the site are all of the new products for 2009 including the Angel 2 fly rod and reel, Perfect reel and Classic range of rods.

Please check back for further news and product updates coming soon.

Hardy have launched their brand new fly fishing catalogue for 2009.

Available at your local dealer or as a download from  the website, the consumer catalogue  showcases some of the finest products Hardy have ever produced.

Designed, developed and made in Alnwick, England the new Angel^2, Angel² TE and Angel² Double Hander range of fly rods offer all the refinement and performance of the original with all the uses of modern day technology.

With dynamic casting capabilities these rods are some of the world's fastest finest action fly rods, responding brilliantly to a short, controlled casting stroke. Computer aided design helps give the rods supreme lightness and balance whilst creating a long range distance but accurate cast.

New in the Lough fishing category, the Marksman Drifter rod combines a smooth and friendly action. With optional extension handles the versatile rod brings a new dimension to the Marksman range. 

The Classic Lightweight range of rods consists of a Classic and Glass rod, drawing inspiration from our past. Using modern day technology we have re-launched the range of rods giving the angler a rod with stunning aesthetics, a soft action with unique performance - modern design with a classic look.

The 2009 catalogue is also the first version to showcase the company's Heritage product range. These are rods and reels made in Alnwick, England, symbolising the values they have made us one of the oldest, most respected tackle makers in the world.

Hardy Managing Director, Richard Sanderson, said:

"Our products have come a long way since 1872, but I think what has always been vital to the Hardy brand is the focus and passion for the development of new, exciting and innovative equipment. As we head into 2009, Hardy have, as we always have, invested allot into our product development team, all of whom provide a unique contribution to both the design and manufacture of Hardy fishing tackle."

Hardy introduce their all new Worldwide Extended Warranty in the catalogue and, for the first time, a German translation will be available.

Hardy and Greys Ltd were delighted to support Newcastle City Council with this presentation made by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle and Councillor, David Wood supporting its historic connections with both the North East and also Norway, where Hardy fishing tackle has enjoyed prestigious connections over generations.

The honour afforded King Harald V as the highest the city council can offer any individual and marks the 40th anniversary of the official opening of the Newcastle Civic Centre.

At the ceremony Andrew Sowerby, International Sales & Events Manager for Hardy & Greys Ltd, offered the gift of the very latest concept and design that Hardy has to offer and was moved to say:

"We as a company are delighted to be able to offer the Angel 2 outfit as a gesture of appreciation for the support Norway has given to the firm over the years and also continue our company's historic association with both the country and her legendary Salmon rivers."

The newly appointed Salmon & Trout Association Secretary for the Northumbria branch, Carole Sanderson said:

"This Annual Dinner has become a regular part of the "angling" social calendar, and is a vital way in which anglers can help with and promote the environment, the conservation of fisheries and species management.

"As usual we have had enthusiastic support from those donating towards the raffle. Hardy & Greys especially, have supported us generously, and we are proud to be associated with them and thrilled that they continue their generosity to this vital cause.

"This year is the first time that I've organised the event, and I'm looking forward to meeting so many friends, old and new on the evening."

Prizes in the Raffle include a Hardy Demon 9'6" #7 and 10' fly rods and Demon 5000 reel.

Hardy & Greys Ltd are also heavily involved in the support of other angling and conservation based charities including the ‘Anglers Conservation Association', ‘Wild Trout Trust' and ‘Angling Trades Association'.

For tickets for the Salmon & Trout Association Dinner and Raffle contact Association Secretary, Carole Sanderson on 01697748003.

Hardy Greys North America Ltd President, Jim Murphy said:

"Hardy Greys North America is proud and thankful for this award. We are thrilled to be able to offer, once again, Hardy's hallmark UK engineering excellence back into the fly fishing market place.

"This marvellous award is the first formal recognition of our efforts to bring the ingenuity and heritage of Hardy products to the US market with our new organisation. We recognise MidCurrent as a strong voice for the US fly fisher and appreciate the award as a first step to becoming a full member of the American fly fishing community."

Renowned fly-fisher and Hardy & Greys Consultant, Charles Jardine said:

"Having grown up with the Hardy Perfect all my fly fishing life, I am thrilled that other generations of fly fishers - as well as those of my vintage will, once again thrill to the reels unique song when playing fish and its classic feel and look. I am so glad that Hardy has reintroduced this truly bespoke fly reel - a reel to be proud of."

Products selected as winners in the awards were selected for both innovative design and utility to fly fishers.

The best new fly fishing rods, fly reels, fly lines, waders, luggage, fly boxes, tools and accessories were all highlighted in MidCurrent's annual review of new designs, updates, and prices released by fly fishing manufacturers.

MidCurrent Editor and Publisher, Marshall Cutchin said:

"We would like to congratulate Hardy & Greys for displaying a high level of innovation and utility for fly fishers in the re-introduction of the Hardy Perfect Fly Reel for 2009."

The winner, Mr. Kazutaka Nakamura was presented with a new Hardy Featherweight 7' #3 rod by Yukio Mikoshi of Hardy & Greys Japan Ltd. He won the competition using a wet fly, hook size 18, pheasant tailed body with cock hackles to catch a 53cm/21" rainbow Trout.

Mr. Kazutaka Nakamura said:

"I will be transferred to China next year for work and unfortunately I won't be able to go fly fishing while I am in China. However, I promise to take part in the competition next year and defend my title."

Hardy & Greys, International Commercial Director, Martin Kelly commented:

"We have always had a long and successful relationship with Japanese anglers, so it was particularly pleasing to see so many at the event."

Photographs taken by Muneyoshi Yoshida.

Items in the Hardy Heritage range include the most famous product ever to have been launched by Hardy; the Perfect reel, a timeless design revamped and relaunched utilising the most modern technology.

Other products in the range include the Gladstone bamboo rods, created by our master bamboo rod builder, Callum Gladstone.

Callum has been building in this material for over two decades and creates Gladstone and bespoke Palakona rods in Alnwick.

Managing Director of Hardy & Greys, Richard Sanderson said:

"The opportunity of introducing the Hardy Bros, Heritage range is an exciting addition to the 2009 Product line and we are proud to take Hardy back to its roots.

"Heritage products are seen the world over. Today original Perfect reels are worth their weight in gold. As well as being a classic to own, early Hardy Perfects are a sound investment in fishing. Hardy Heritage - history in the future of world fly fishing."

Hardy plan to revive many classic designs in its Heritage range and are the only fishing tackle manufacturing company with a royal warrant and
one hundred and thirty seven years of experience."