Hugh Miles Backs Angling Clubmark

Angling and wildlife film maker Hugh Miles is giving his backing to the Angling Clubmark programme by presenting the Award to the chairman of Ringwood and District Anglers Association Geoff Ponchaud.

Ringwood Angling Club is only the second angling club in the South West region to gain the national accreditation recognised by Sport England and many national governing bodies of sport. The Angling Development Board Regional Officer Dean Sandford has been working closely with the club to develop links with the Ringwood School Partnership. The Award demonstrates that the club is a safe and child friendly place for juniors to learn to fish and provides opportunities to compete in a national structure.

Hugh Miles is a renowned nature and wildlife expert famous for the BBC Passion for Angling programme and the more recent Catching the Impossible series on Channel 4 featuring the actor Bernard Cribbins and record breaking angler Martin Bowler. Hugh is a strong supporter of angling within the local community and when presenting the Award he commented on the importance of promoting angling development to the youngsters within our sport, not only for the sustainability of the sport but also for the protection of our environment.

Dean Sandford said "we are pleased to support such a successful club that offers real benefits to the local community. We are now working with a range of angling clubs in the region to expand the ClubMark scheme which will offer many benefits to the general public”.

The presentation took place on a very wet and windy day at the Longham Study Centre in Dorset on the 10th February.