Introduction

Introduction to PSUK Fly Fishing

The Fly Fishing Section is one of three angling sections active within Police Sport UK. The sport of Fly Fishing was adopted as an official police sport by the P.A.A. in 1983. Prior to that date it was part of the Angling Section which covered all fresh water fishing, along with the sport of Course Angling. Fly fishing for trout has a lengthy history within the police service with early records going all the way back to the sixties detailing competitions between neighbouring forces competing against one and other.

The Section has three major competitions in the year:

The Services Championships: This competition is in its fourth year, a Police Sport UK team of eight (8) anglers fish against anglers from other services throughout the UK i.e. Army, Navy, the Fire & Rescue Service etc.etc. in order to win the covetted Police Sport UK Cup. Qualification for the police team for the Services Championships is as follows: The top two rods in the preceding Services Championships remain in the team to provide an element of continuity, they are joined by three members of the winning team at the National Championships, the Individual winner from both the National and International Championships & the winner of the Gwilym Hughes Trophy (best placed angler at both National & International events.

National Championships: An annual event fished in June, where each region send forward their winning team and individuals to compete in a national final. Each region puts forward a team of four anglers to represent them in the team event along with their top two anglers to compete in an individual match. These two competitions are run simultaneously at the same location; this determines the National Champions (Team) and Individual Champion for the season. Qualification: Each Region hosts a regional championships to determine which team (force/individual from that area) who will go forward to represent them at the National. The only exception to this, are Region 8 Metropolitan & Region 11 Police Service of Northetrn Ireland where individuals within each of these respective organisations compete against one another, throughout the fishing season for selection as part of the team or individual places.

International (Home) Championships: This event is fished in the September of each year, between the four home nations of the UK. Qualification to compete in the above events is as follows: The England team consists of the top two anglers from Regions 1 - 8, the Scottish team consists of the top 16 rods from the Scottish National Final, the Welsh team consists of the top four rods from each of the four Welsh forces from their own respective National Final, and the P.S.N.I provide16 rods (anglers) for Northern Ireland. Although the four nations have competed in this event since 1980 it only received official recognition by the Police Athletic Association in 1987. The teams compete for the Charles Landell Trophy in this event, Scotland are currently the holders and have been since 2005.

Fly Fishing is not a recognised USPE sport; however the section is involved in a bi-annual European Fly Fishing Championships against the Republic of Ireland and Austria. The first competition took place in Scotland in May 2009, with the host nation winning this event. The next European Championshipis in the Republic of Ireland in 2011 and plans in place for it to be held in Austia in 2013.

The Police Sport UK Fly Fishing Section is committed to promoting the sport within the police service. This included the introduction of an English Police Fly Fishing Association to develop and encourage members from the "grass roots" of the police in England to join the section. River fishing is also being planned to further embrace game fishing anglers within the police family and to cultivate new links in the greater community.