Portsmouth disability charity, Enable Ability, are fortunate to have recently partnered with Angling Spirit, a local company that organises and stages large scale international events in the fishing world.
Ross Honey, Tournament and Event Founder of Angling Spirit based in Emsworth, has invited the local charity to join them in this year’s very popular Sea Angling Classic event!
What began as a small meeting with Ross to see how his company could support young people with disabilities from our Hampshire Youth Project to access fishing and crabbing activities, turned quickly into a bigger opportunity for the charity, after Ross saw the wonderful work Enable Ability does via it’s website.
The yearly Sea Angling Classic event takes place within the Solent, this year on 17th and 18th June with a prize-giving day on 19th June. The excitement began with an on–land launch at Gunwharf Quays on 19th March, with a boat reveal marking the beginning of the promotion of Sea Angling Classic. Enable Ability were invited along to place their charity branded beach flag in the promotional vehicle in the presence of The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, before it sets sail around the UK promoting the major event. The vehicle is due to stop at various destinations around the UK to engage with prospective competitors, including Plymouth, Bristol, Grimsby, Glasgow, and the Thames, before making its way back down to Portsmouth for the final haul.
Hollie, Partnerships and Events Officer from Enable Ability said:
“It has been so lovely to form a new partnership with Angling Spirit. Enable Ability has been around for over 70 years, and we are still a fairly unknown but amazing charity within Portsmouth who supports local children and adults with disabilities, so to join forces with Angling Spirit at such a grand event is just an incredible opportunity for us! We can’t thank Ross and his team enough!”
The Sea Angling Classic event itself is open to 600 fishermen and women who will be competing to win a grand prize of a £150,000 boat and a trophy- made from wood from both HMS Warrior and HMS Victory. 150 boats will race their way to find the optimal fishing spot, in the hopes of catching the longest fish over the course of the 2 days.
Ross says:
“It is so wonderful for Angling Spirit to be able to help the community through Enable Ability and also raise awareness of this charity. The event will help to raise money for Enable Ability by donating 2 boats to the charity to fill. The event will also provide organised, fun-filled, fishing and crabbing days out!”
Sea Angling Classic will run a crab fishing event in Portchester on Saturday the 28th May for members of Enable Ability.
Enable Ability will be able to raise funds through 2 boats that are being donated by Sea Angling Classic- these will be given to the charity to fill on the day of the competition! If anyone is interested in catching a spot, please email Hollie at Enable Ability: together@enableability.org.uk
