During the team practice held in June in State College PA, Hardy North America presented each of the members of the US Youth World Fly Fishing Team with a Greys rod and reel outfit of their choice. The team is preparing to represent the US and the 9th Youth World Fly Fishing Championship August 3 through August 10 in Slovakia.

Jim Murphy, President of Hardy North America said, " Each of these anglers has achieved significant success to qualify for the US Youth Team. We are proud to present each of them with the Greys tackle that has been developed and designed for the competition environment in Europe. Howard Croston, our lead designer, has designed this tackle for the conditions these anglers will meet in Slovakia. The Greys brand is the lead performance fly fishing name in Europe. These anglers will feel right at home with their new tackle."

The Greys brand is owned by Hardy-Greys on Alnwick, England and is exclusively distributed by Hardy North America in Lancaster, PA

For a detailed list and more information on the events visit our Events section.

The qualification, awarded by the UK's Advanced Association of Professional Game Angling Instructors is one of the highest salmon qualification anglers can achieve.

Hardy & Greys Ltd Consultant, Ian, who is also a qualified STANIC salmon instructor, specialising in the Spey cast, along with teaching basic casting with a double handed rod said;

"Having fly-fished with a double handed rod since the age of 9, I am delighted and thrilled to have taken and passed this AAPGAI in Advanced Salmon exam.

This qualification is a major milestone, in that it is very difficult to attain. The standards within AAPGAI are second to none, with only the very best of people making the grade.

Ultimately it was this high standard which initially drew me to AAPGAI, and I have to say, spending time with a group of people with so much knowledge of all forms of fly-fishing has been a real inspiration.

I very much look forward, through my association with Hardy/Greys and AAPGAI, to helping the next generation of fly-fishers take as much from the sport as I have been fortunate enough to take myself."

Ian hails from the river Spey in Scotland, having fished since the age of eight and worked as a Ghillie on the Knockando beat [Spey] for 19 years.

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new interactive website which we will be updating daily.

Featuring on the site are all of the new products for 2009 including the G-Tec and X-Flite range of rods and reels and Platinum Luggage.

Pease check back for further news and product updates coming soon.