Three Fly Challenge - 2017

Meon Springs anglers raise record £6,955 for Wild Trout Trust
Money raised will help fund a graduate post of Assistant Conservation Officer with WTT.
 
JUNE 23 2017 – A record £6,955 was raised at the weekend for a leading wildlife charity following a popular fly fishing competition at Meon Springs, near Petersfield.
 
Now in its eighth year, the ‘Three Fly Challenge’ – which is run in support of the Wild Trout Trust – has now raised almost £30,000 for the wildlife charity. The money raised from the competition last weekend will help fund a young graduate to learn about river conservation.
 
The winner of the event was Neil Mundy – the second year on the trot he has held the coveted Three Fly Challenge Silver Platter. The runner-up was Mark Roberts and the angler with the biggest rainbow trout was Tim Mundy with a fish in excess of 10lb.
 
Neil is also a great supporter of the Wild Trout Trust. And when you include the fundraising he’s done over the eight years – including being seconded to the charity – the total raised is nearer £40,000.
 
For Roger Greentree, fishery manager at Meon Springs, the most important part of the day was to see so many anglers come together to compete and raise money for charity.
 
“The Three Fly Challenge is a really popular event and it just keeps getting better and better,” said Roger.
 
“It was a blisteringly hot day – but despite that plenty of fish were caught – and some big ones too. This year the lunch and auction was held in our newly-converted 17th century barn – it really made the day!” said Roger.
 
The Three Fly Challenge is held each year in memory of Pasco James, an avid fisherman, whose life ended tragically early in 2010 at the age of 22. Since then, the Wild Trout Trust and Meon Springs Fly Fishery has run the Three Fly Challenge in his honour. All the money raised is used to improve the wildlife and habitat on the River Meon.
 
This year, the money is going to be used to fund a graduate post of Assistant Conservation Officer with WTT.
 
According to WTT Director Shaun Leonard, up until now, the funds raised have been used exclusively for project work on the River Meon, most recently in the village of East Meon.
 
“Now, though, we’re going to re-direct Pasco’s cash to fund a graduate post of Assistant Conservation Officer with WTT,” said Shaun.
 
“The ideal candidate will be a young person who can learn from our expert team and, who knows, maybe one day become a leading light in river conservation. I imagine this would be Pasco’s dream job,” he said.
 
Next year’s Three Fly Challenge is to be held on Saturday 16th June 2018.