THIS could be Britain's fittest veteran angler - and he's about to show what he's made of on a fitness/fishing mission for charities.
At an age when most people are putting their feet up, Fishing 4 Schools founder Charles Jardine and top flight angler is taking on his biggest ever fundraising challenge.
He aims to catch trout in three fisheries in 24 hours that are 60 miles apart…. running between them!
The 65-year-old will start fishing at Clatworthy Reservoir in Somerset at 10 am on March 10, and once he has caught a trout he will run 14 miles to Hawkridge Reservoir where he will catch another one.
Then it will be off on a 46-mile double marathon to the next fishery at Sutton Bingham Reservoir, running through the night in order to net another fish by 10 am on March 11.
Charles, from Downton, Wiltshire, is an international fly angler, who coaches the England Youth Fly Fishing team, and has run the London Marathon three times, but says this is by far and away his biggest challenge.
He will also be running in memory of his beloved constant companion black labrador, Midge, who died recently aged 12.
Charles said: “It offers me the perfect way to celebrate the amazing qualities of a labrador – not just Midge but most of them, and I will need those qualities to complete this.
“To be honest I would rather do this, hurt, suffer and just get behind and shove my sport forwards – the one that I have loved for a lifetime – than, simply just talk or worse just sit idly, shaking my head and doing absolutely nothing. Actions always did speak louder than words.
“This is something that the entire angling community can really get behind – two marathons plus in 24 hours and a bit of fishing in between, what can possibly go wrong?
“It is really scary! I have an expert cartographer on the case, helping me to plot the best route, but it is going to be a very, very long way and I really do not know how long it will take me to run.
“Then there’s the fishing – as any angler knows you never know what to expect when you pick up a rod, so that could also be a challenge.”
Charles continued: “I really believe in what we are trying to do with F4S and Casting for Recovery. Angling can have amazing, restorative results for the young people we work with, many of whom have had really challenging starts in life and find school so difficult.
“We are excited that we have new F4S regions setting up and new schools and groups joining the F4S family – and the results of Casting for Recovery are truly inspirational.
“By sponsoring me you will help ensure that many more people can benefit from these amazing initiatives,” he concluded.
Dubbed The Wessex Water Challenge it will raise funds for Fishing for Schools – the initiative set up by Charles ten years ago, which introduces children to fishing and nature through short courses which are integrated into the National Curriculum.
It will also assist Casting For Recovery, which offers healing fishing retreats to women who have or are recovering from breast cancer.
To sponsor Charles, go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wessexwaterchallenge
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