
Show Features
Fisherman of the Year Competition

‘Fisherman of the Year’ competition to take centre stage at Fishing 2010
An exciting new ‘Fisherman of the Year’ competition will be staged at this year’s Fishing 2010 exhibition in Glasgow with prizes worth at least £5,000 on offer in a three-day event to seek out the UK’s most experienced and proficient fisherman.
The tough competition aims to find the UK’s top commercial fisherman through a series of challenges against the clock that will test their skills and practical knowledge.
As well as a substantial cash prize of £1,000 along with fishing equipment and clothing, the winner will also be awarded with an all expenses paid trip to the Faroe Islands in August to participate in the world net-mending championships.
Organised by Inverurie based global crew information services provider, Crew2crew.com, in association with the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, the ‘Fisherman of the Year’ competition will be one of the major highlights of Fishing 2010, with as many fishermen as possible being encouraged to register their interest in participating through the specially created competition website, www.foty2010.com
The format will involve heats on each morning of the exhibition, with semi finals on the Thursday and Friday afternoons and the final on the Saturday afternoon (22 May). During the heats fishermen will face a variety of trials against the clock, including net mending and splicing skills, a hydrostatic liferaft release competition, a knowledge test, and a speed trial for donning an immersion suit and lifejacket.
The top five fishermen from each heat will then go forward to the semi-finals that will involve a similar series of gruelling tests, with the first and second placed contestants winning a place in Saturday’s final. The winner and the runners ups will be in line to win a number of prizes – including clothing and safety equipment - with an equivalent cash value of at least £5,000, although this figure could rise to as much as £6,000 as more sponsors come on board.
Graham Duncan, managing director of Crew 2 Crew, said: “We are delighted to have been able to organise this competition in association with the Fishermen’s Mission. This will be a real test of skill and knowledge under the pressure of the clock and the winner really will be deserving of the title of ‘Fisherman of the Year 2010’.
“We wanted to organise something a little bit different for the exhibition that would prove a magnet for fishermen to attend. We envisage that the competition will create friendly rivalry between fishermen from different areas of the UK and the various fishing sectors.”
Sharon Kane of the Fishermen’s Mission said: “We are delighted to be associated with this competition. There are a whole range of difficult skills and knowledge that a commercial fisherman needs to acquire and this competition will provide a superb showcase of the unique talent within the fishing industry.”
Fran McIntyre, managing director of QD Events, the organiser of Fishing 2010, said: “We believe there will be a huge amount of interest in this competition and we encourage fishermen to register their interest in participating as early as possible.”
Fishing 2010 will be held at the SECC in Glasgow from 20-22 May. More information at www.fishingexpo.co.uk
Notes to editors
Fishing 2010 is the UK’s only annual commercial fishing exhibition and attracts visitors and exhibitors from around the world.
Crew 2 Crew is a unique global communications platform that brings together Fishermen and the Commercial Fishing industry through a professional network of online information and communication services. Designed for narrow bandwidth, satellite and mobile access, it connects crew, welfare, industry and government organisations in an online Commercial Fishing Community. More information at www.crew2crew.com
The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen is a charity registered in England and Wales: No. 232822 and in Scotland: No. SCO39088. More information at www.fishermensmission.org.uk
To Register Click here
Media enquiries:
Keith Broomfield
Catch PR Ltd
Tel: 07890 781151
Katy Walker
QD Events Ltd
Tel: 0141 576 3878
Theatre Timetable
Click for the theatre timetable
| Fishing Show Theatre | ||
| Thursday 20th May | topic | speaker |
| 10:30 - 11:10 | ||
| 11.30 - 12.10 | Challenges facing consumers in the purchase of fish | Jo Dunlop, Marketing Manager, Seafish |
| 12.30 - 13.10 | Kumiko Hatori Sushi Demonstration | Kumiko Hatori, Chef |
| 13.30 - 14.10 | John Quigley, Red Onion - cookery demonstration | John Quigley, Chef & owner Red Onion |
| 14.30 - 15.10 | The Responsible Fishing Scheme | Mick Bacon, Seafish Project Manager |
| 15.30 - 16.10 | Fisherman of the Year 2010 competition | Crew 2 Crew & Fisherman\'s Mission |
| Friday 21st May | ||
| 10.30 - 11.10 | Opening Address from Scottish Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead MSP | Richard Lochhead MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs & Environment |
| 11.30 - 12.10 | Responsible Fishing Scheme | Mick Bacon, Seafish Project Manager |
| 12.30 - 13.10 | Sourcing & Sustainability Issues Affecting the Multiples | tbc |
| 13.30 - 14.10 | John Quigley, Red Onion - cookery demonstration | John Quigley, Chef & owner Red Onion |
| 14.30 - 15.10 | MSC Cookery Demonstration | TBC |
| 15.30 - 16.10 | Fisherman of the Year 2010 competition | Crew 2 Crew & Fishermans Mission |
| Saturday 22nd May | ||
| 10.30 - 12.10 | Breakfast showing of End of the Line followed by debate | Louize Hill, WWF; Bertie Armstrong SFF; Charles Clover; Prof Callum Roberts |
| 12.30 - 14:10 | Finals of the Fisherman of the Year 2010 competition | Crew 2 Crew & Fishermans Mission |







