HISTORY

HISTORY

The English Disabled Fly Fishers were founded in 1980 by a small group of disabled fly-fishing enthusiasts from the Leicester area, following a request from a similar group based in Scotland.

After an eliminator was held at Draycote, the team was chosen and made their way to Scotland for the inaugural International held on the Lake of Mentieith, Scotland's only lake. Being a fledgling organisation, funding was almost non-existent and a rickety old mini bus was hired. The team, helpers, and baggage along with wheelchairs were crammed in for the journey. As you can imagine it was not the most comfortable of trips, for the people involved but the enthusiasm and spirit was there, and they survived. Scotland were the winners of this event but more important than the result, of this meeting, was the birth of England's First Disabled International Fly-Fishing Team.

It was not until 1986, that England tasted success on Draycote water in an International, this has been followed up by several more wins in the following years, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000,

Since 1980 the organisation has grown steadily, with members from almost every county in England joining.