14 Feb - DORSET TEAM CATCH NATIONAL POLICE TROPHIES AND SUPPORT THE RNLI

Four sea anglers representing Dorset Police in the recent Police Sport UK national sea angling boat championships caught the eye when they won both the team and individual trophies – and landed a prize catch for the RNLI.

The competition, held out of Weymouth port on Wednesday 10 October 2007, involved 40 teams of four anglers representing police forces across the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The anglers embarked on 20 charter boats to fish the productive waters around Portland for the six-hour points-based competition in which different species attracted extra bonus points – with the vast majority of all fish caught being returned alive.

After the event, when all the scores were checked and re-checked, it became clear that the Dorset Police team of four anglers had scooped the team trophy – this for the second time in the last three years – with the previous victory coming at Newcastle in 2005.

The same team – Police Constable Dave Mann of Bournemouth police, Police Constable Iain Fryett of Boscombe police, retired police constable Graham Dunhill and Media Relations Officer Stuart Cooper – winning the event on both occasions.

Team member Stuart Cooper had an even more memorable day when he was confirmed as the overall individual champion – and the winner of the ‘most species’ trophy for catching thirteen different types of fish.

Dorset Police’s Chief Constable, Martin Baker – who had great difficulty hiding his obvious pleasure following the home team’s clean sweep – presented the trophies after a formal dinner at Weymouth’s Rembrandt Hotel.

After the dinner he commented: “Police sport is an important part of maintaining the camaraderie that exists between all police forces as well as providing an opportunity to achieve sporting excellence. The competitors gave up their own time to participate in a closely fought competition while raising a substantial sum to support the RNLI in their vital role of saving life at sea. It was a privilege to welcome so many colleagues to Dorset and I am obviously immensely proud of the achievements of the Dorset Police team.”

Team captain, Police Constable Dave Mann, said: “It’s a brilliant result for the team and what’s equally rewarding is that because of the generosity of the anglers – and great support from local, national and international sport and other organisations – a large sum of money was raised for the RNLI.

“All the anglers who attended were really impressed with Weymouth as a base for the event and added that this was one of the best organised competitions that they had attended. There’s also no doubt that the town’s charter skippers went the extra mile for those taking part.”

Police Constable Dave Mann of Bournemouth police and Police Constable Iain Fryett of Boscombe police, visited Poole lifeboat station on Thursday 14 February, very apt being Valentine’s day, as the generosity and ‘big hearts’ of the anglers who took part in this fantastic event was reflected in the huge amount of money raised.

Coxswain Jonathan Clark said: "We work closely with the police and it is a great pleasure to receive this substantial sum, which will be put to good use funding the cost of training our volunteer crew here at Poole lifeboat station.

He added: "We are also very proud that the Dorset team won on our patch and glad that all the teams that took part had such a great day’s fishing.”

Pictures show PC Dave Mann, PC Iain Fryett, handing the cheque for £4,200 to Coxswain Joanthan Clark.