The UK Carp office managed to catch up with Nick Rowe, ex circus performer, ex stuntman, ex deep water diver and now a wheelchair using angler, to find out about his passion for angling, and his aims for 2010.

When Nick, who has severe osteoarthritis, found that his passion for angling was being thwarted by his disability he didn’t sit around saying “I can’t do that anymore” he decided his mantra should now be “there is no such word as can’t” and enrolled his wife (and carer) and friends to help him get to the water’s edge.

Thinking that others may need similar help to get back to the water’s edge Nick founded the charitable organisation Reels on Wheels in 2007, with the support of its patrons, Mick Brown, Zyg Gregorek, Martin Cronin, Giles Cochrane, Dave Gowthorn, Bob Roberts and Ron Woodward, With the primary aim to get disabled anglers back to the water’s edge, with over 200 anglers helped so far.

Many successful events for all abilities have been held over the past three years and many more planned for this year, Notably the Reels on Wheels Festival (ROW).

The ROW Festival this year is to be held at Martin Cornin’s Peterstone Fishery, Newport, South Wales, (the home of the Birch Syndicate) on 5-6 June 2010.
The two day event comprises of 2 separate matches’, raffles, and plenty of fun, especially with known anglers, Mick Brown, Dave Gawthorn, Martin Cronin and many more attending.
Tickets are priced at just £20 for both days and are available from Reels on Wheels on 01288 350775.

As if to prove to others that there is nothing you cannot do if you put your mind to it, Nick at the grand age of 58 has managed to gain a place in probably the most prestigious and hardest carp fishing competition in the World, the six day long World Carp Classic. This event is fished on a huge 2700 acre lake in North East France, it is not disabled friendly in the least but Nick wants to prove that your disability should not create barriers to following your dreams.

I think you will agree that this is an amazing man and would make a great human interest story, perhaps in stages through the year as his preparation progresses and the various events take place.

The UK Carp office would like to wish Nick and his team all the best for the World Carp Classic and the Reels on Wheels Organisation.

If you would like any more information about Nick and Reels on Wheels you can visit our website www.reels-on-wheels.org or contact him directly on 01288 350775 or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it