Ryan lands top prize
2:18pm Monday 25th August 2008
TEENAGER Ryan Clayton landed a major prize when he competed in a fishing competition.
The contest attracted 800 entries from young people across East Cheshire, and was hailed a great success.
The Emergency Services fishing competition was held over eight days at venues across the area.
There were 18 heats culminating in a final at Gawsworth Fisheries, with 180 boys and girls taking part.
The final was won by Ryan, aged 13, from Congleton, with a catch weighing 21 lbs.
Jack Williams won the award for catching the biggest fish in the final.
The under-11s, 13s, 15s and 17s awards went respectively to Jacob Sant, Linden Brooks, Blaine Pickering and Lawrie Goddard.
Dan Bradley won the award for the biggest catch of the whole contest, landing 61 lbs of fish in one of the heats.
Awards were presented by Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy, Cheshire Fire Service Chief Fire Officer Steve McGuirk and Bob McGowan from the North West Ambulance Service, acting sector manager for Cheshire and Merseyside.
“The way the competition has grown is tremendously encouraging,” said Chf Supt Paul McHugh, Cheshire Police’s Eastern Area Commander.
“It has given a lot of young people something to do during the school holidays, and has introduced many of them to a new sport.
“It also given them a chance to meet people from the emergency services on a friendly and informal basis.
“That creates understanding, which could be very important for the future.
“Involving young people in this way is a key factor in preventing anti-social behaviour.”