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Alan Faulkner Memorial Award - Previous Winners
2010 winner – Toft Newton Trout Fishery
On behalf of The Wheelyboat Trust, veteran actor and passionate angler Bernard Cribbins presented Jason Foster of Toft Newton Trout Fishery with this year's Alan Faulkner Memorial Award. The presentation took place on Friday, 23rd July at the CLA Game Fair, held this year at Ragley Hall. The main prize was a 4hp outboard motor provided by the award's sponsors, Suzuki Marine.
Toft Newton Trout Fishery is a small reservoir in the heart of rural Lincolnshire and is well established as Lincolnshire's number one trout fishing venue. The 40 acre reservoir provides excellent sport for all trout anglers from beginners to expert. It is a concrete bowl and consequently has its limitations in terms of access for disabled anglers but gets round this by operating one of the original Mk I Wheelyboats to run alongside its fleet of standard boats. However, what impressed the judges the most was Jason Foster's determination to ensure that disabled anglers can get on the water and fish. His attitude and thoughtfulness towards the needs of disabled anglers is exemplary and the service he offers is first class. While bank access is limited for wheelchair users, the fishing lodge, loos and parking are all accessible, essential requirements for a hassle-free day's fishing in Toft's Wheelyboat.
l to r: Steven Foy (Suzuki Marine Area Manager) Bernard Cribbins, Michael Evans (Fishing Grandstand Master of Ceremonies), Jason Foster and Andy Beadsley (Wheelyboat Trust).
2009 Winner - Eyebrook Trout Fishery
On behalf of The Wheelyboat Trust, sportsman and angler Liam Botham presented Andy Miller, Fishery Manager of Eyebrook Trout Fishery, with this year's Alan Faulkner Memorial Award. The presentation took place on Friday, 24th July at the CLA Game Fair, held this year at Belvoir Castle. The main prize was a 4hp outboard motor provided by the award’s sponsors, Suzuki Marine.
Eyebrook Trout Fishery is one of the UK's most highly regarded and popular trout fisheries. It is a 400 acre water in the Welland Valley, Leicestershire, and is renowned for its top-of-the-water sport. It impressed the judges enormously with its commitment to provide equality of opportunity for disabled anglers. The fishery's facilities are fully accessible throughout and the parking is level and close to the water. It operates two wheelchair accessible Wheelyboats and is the busiest Wheelyboat venue in the UK - the boats going out more than 200 times each season.
Typical of all large waters, bank access is limited for wheelchair users, but the more mobile disabled angler can drive around the 5 miles of shoreline and park close to their chosen fishing point. The fishery is a very popular venue with disabled anglers which speaks volumes for the attitude of the management and their desire and enthusiasm to run an inclusive fishery. It hosts disabled competitions and events and raises funds to help groups like the English Disabled Fly Fishers. Eyebrook sets the standard among larger fisheries and the judges are delighted to have conferred the award on such a fine example of a fishery that goes much further than simply meeting the needs of disabled anglers.
Andy Miller from Eyebrook Trout Fishery receives the award from Liam Botham (left), Danny Peet (second left), Trustee of The Wheelyboat Trust and Mark Beeley (right,) Northern Sales Manager, Suzuki Marine.
2008 Winner – Tweed Foundation
On behalf of The Wheelyboat Trust, Bernard Cribbins presented Tony Bird, representing the Tweed Foundation, with this year's Alan Faulkner Memorial Award. The presentation took place at the CLA Game Fair held at Blenheim Palace. The main prize was a 4hp outboard motor provided by the award's sponsors, Suzuki Marine.
The Tweed Foundation has demonstrated extraordinary effort and enthusiasm over the last two years to ensure that disabled anglers have access to the fishing on this world famous game river. In this short period of time, they have turned a river that was out of bounds to all but the most determined disabled angler into a fishery that is widely and easily accessible. No other organisation has delivered such a massive transformation in a fishery's accessibility and they deserve much praise and recognition for their hard work and determination. Their efforts have funded two wheelchair accessible boats now in operation on the river with funds in hand for a third. They are also offering grant aid to encourage riparian owners to construct access paths up and down the river so more beats can use the boats.
The Tweed Foundation beat the competition hands down this year with their achievements and set the standard of disability access for other large game rivers in the UK to follow.
Tony Bird (right) receives a Suzuki outboard from Gareth Lumsdaine (sales & marketing manager, Suzuki Marine) with Bernard Cribbins and Andy Beadsley looking on.
2007 Winner – Millhall Reservoir
Millhall Reservoir in Polmont near Falkirk wins the Alan Faulkner Memorial Award. Andy Kirkham, Chairman of the Avonbank Angling Club run Scottish fishery, received the prize of a 4hp outboard motor from the award's sponsors, Suzuki Marine.
Avonbank Angling club has, over the last few years, spent considerable time and money upgrading the facilities at Millhall Reservoir. They have created all weather paths to 30 platforms, 15 of which are suitable for wheelchair users; disabled parking beside the accessible lodge; accessible boat dock and disabled toilet unit; and a wheelchair accessible boat for added choice and variety. The judges felt the overall contribution that Millhall had made to accessible angling in Scotland put them well ahead of the rest of the field. They are very worthy winners and now join an elite group of titleholders that includes Eyebrook Trout Fishery, Grafham Water and the Lake of Menteith.
The CLA Game Fair is the award's usual host but its cancellation last year due to the weather meant that the presentation had to be rescheduled. This has now taken place at the fishery itself with John Hood, Wheelyboat Trust Field Officer, also presenting Andy with a framed certificate.
Avonbank AC's Andy Kirkham, Jim Cowan and Sandy Johnston with their prizes.
2006 Winner - Lake of Menteith
The Lake of Menteith in Stirlingshire is this year's winner of the Alan Faulkner Memorial
Award. The presentation took place at the CLA Game Fair at
Broadlands in Hampshire. Douglas Fraser, assistant manager of the Scottish fishery, received the prize of a
4hp outboard from Richard Whittaker, Sales and Marketing Director of the
sponsors, Suzuki Marine. Bernard Cribbins hosted the ceremony in
front of a packed grandstand on the river Test and Andy Beadsley, Wheelyboat Trust Director,
presented Douglas with a framed certificate.
The Lake of Menteith is Scotland's premier rainbow trout fishery and has long been accommodating disabled anglers on its 720 acres. This last year, though, has seen a considerable investment in new facilities principally with disabled anglers in mind. There was stiff competition for the award this year and the judges had several excellent candidates to consider. The Lake of Menteith, however, excels in all categories and the judges felt the overall contribution the fishery makes to accessible angling in Scotland put them ahead of the field.
2005 winner - Grafham Water
The Wheelyboat Trust is delighted to
announce that Grafham Water is
this year's winner of the Alan Faulkner Memorial Award sponsored by
Suzuki Marine. John Mees, Senior Warden at Grafham, was presented
with a 5hp Suzuki outboard motor by the Duke of Rutland at
the CLA Game Fair on Friday July 22nd.
The judges were very impressed with the nominations that came in for Grafham – it is clearly held in high regard for the services it provides to disabled anglers. Access to the water is the major issue, but fisheries can do so much more to make their fishery truly inclusive. Grafham is the epitome of an inclusive fishery where disabled anglers are as equally valued as their able-bodied anglers. The fishing lodge, canteen, loos and shop are fully accessible; the parking is convenient and the fishery staff are helpful and enthusiastic.
Some fisheries provide only a token service to disabled anglers but Grafham truly welcomes and encourages their disabled clientele. This is very important for the future of the sport as it endeavours to spread its appeal. Most disabled people have probably never considered fly-fishing as an activity within reach. The set up at Grafham easily dispels this myth. Grafham's management works closely with members of Grafham Water's Fly Fishing Association to provide tuition, help, advice and boat partners for disabled anglers. There is an annual match between GWFFA and the English Disabled Fly Fishers which is very popular.
All in all, Grafham sets a very high standard among game-fisheries for the service, facilities, opportunities and access it provides disabled anglers. It is a very worthy winner of the 2005 Alan Faulkner Memorial Award.
2004 winner - Eyebrook Trout Fishery
Eyebrook Trout Fishery, a 400 acre
reservoir in the Welland Valley, Leicestershire, impressed the judges enormously with its commitment
to provide equality of opportunity for disabled anglers. The fishery's facilities are fully
accessible throughout and the parking is level and close to the water. It has two Wheelyboats and
is the most successful Wheelyboat venue - the boats going out more than 200 times each season.
Although bank access is limited for wheelchair users, the more mobile disabled angler can drive around the 5 miles of shoreline and park close to their chosen fishing point. The fishery is a very popular venue with disabled anglers which speaks volumes for the attitude of the management and their desire and enthusiasm to run an inclusive fishery.
The English Disabled Fly Fishers hold regular competitions there. The judges believe that Eyebrook sets the standard among larger fisheries and were delighted to have conferred the award on such a fine example of a fishery that goes much further than simply meeting the needs of disabled anglers.
The cheque for £500 and framed certificate was presented by Bernard Cribbins to Roger Marshall, Eyebrook's manager. Also present was Andy Beadsley, Director of The Wheelyboat Trust.
2003 winner - Stonebridge Trout Lakes
Bernard Cribbins presented the award to the inaugural winner, Adam Dick of
Stonebridge Trout Lakes, at the 2003 CLA Game Fair at Harewood
House near Leeds on August 1st.
Stonebridge Trout Lakes of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, impressed the judges tremendously. There are two trout lakes and one coarse lake, all three being entirely accessible by way of concrete footpaths and level fishing platforms. The fishery's two lodges, parking and loos are also all wheelchair friendly. In fact, all the fishery's facilities have been purposely laid out to provide disabled anglers with equality of opportunity alongside their able-bodied counterparts. Tuition is provided and competitions, both specifically for disabled anglers as well as integrating disabled and non-disabled, are held, including the prestigious Northern Disabled Championship.
The anglers who nominated Stonebridge Trout Lakes could not recommend the fishery highly enough and the judges were delighted to confer the inaugural Alan Faulkner Memorial Award to such a worthy contender.
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