IT was celebration time at Bungay Cherry Tree Angling Club recently when they were awarded Club Mark status - the first in the region to have achieved this.

IT was celebration time at Bungay Cherry Tree Angling Club recently when they were awarded Club Mark status - the first in the region to have achieved this.

Jonathan Wilson and Julian Taylor from the Angling Development Board handed over the Club Mark certificate of accreditation at a special presentation by the River Waveney at Falcon Meadow.

Clubmark is endorsed by all the main sporting, youth and education agencies involved in delivery of sporting opportunities for young people as the accreditation scheme for clubs with quality-assured junior sections.

Clubmark is the only national cross sports quality accreditation scheme for clubs with junior sections. It is built around a set of core criteria which ensure that accredited clubs operate to a set of consistent, accepted and adopted operating standards.

President Richard Patrick said: “It is a great achievement for the club to become the first angling club in the region to be awarded Club Mark status and will ensure that Bungay Cherry Tree AC will continue to lead the way in promoting angling in the region.”

Club secretary Mark Casto added: “It's quite an achievement, we're very proud of this. We have worked hard to achieve Club Mark accreditation - it took just under two years with restructuring to meet the criteria.”

Casto commended the club's efforts to gain Club Mark status saying that the sport of angling was greatly enjoyed by many age groups and that Club Mark accreditation would open the doors to greater opportunities to work with local community sports partnerships in promoting angling activities for all.

The Angling Development Board's regional officer Jonathan Wilson was delighted with the club's efforts to gain this status.

The Angling Development Board has now formed a CAAG (Community Angling Action Group) with Active Norfolk as part of their work with our local community sports partnerships - and the formation of this group will integrate with local CSPs to promote the sport in the region including Club Mark clubs, angling coaches and local angling clubs and tackle shops.

Casto said: “This is an exciting time for angling development. As more angling coaches are trained up and available it is certain that the skills and passion for angling that have kept the members of Bungay Cherry Tree Angling Club going since 1945 will continue long into the future.”

Picture: Mark Casto, Bungay Cherry Tree AC secretary, (left) and Jonathan Wilson, Angling Development Board officer, at the official presentation of the Club Mark certificate.

Picture: BCTAC