Firefighter Neil angles for Korea move

A firefighter with a passion for fishing has been selected to compete at an international sports event.

Neil Goodwin, aged 37, will represent Great Britain at the World Firefighters Games 2010 which are due to be held in Daegu, South Korea.

He has been honing his angling skills in his spare time along the banks of the River Trent, in Staffordshire, where he recently caught a brown trout which weighed 10lb.

Neil, aged 37, has been based with blue watch at Aldridge Fire Station for five years .

He was previously a firefighter at Smethwick.

The father of two submitted an application form to bosses and was given the nod to take part in the friendly championships, which were held in Liverpool last year.

"I've been fishing for fun for five years and now I'm really looking forward to going to the championships next year," Neil said

The former builder, who lives in Cannock, joined West Midlands Fire Service about nine years ago.

Colleagues at the fire station in Northgate, Aldridge, have praised his dedication to the leisure activity which will see him compete against other fire service staff from round the globe.

Fellow blue watch firefighter Matt Abley said: "Neil has been practising a lot and is a bit of a fishing fanatic.

"We're very pleased that he will be representing the service at the games next year.

"All his hard work seems to be paying off."

The World Firefighters Games are held every two years.

Fire and rescue service personnel compete in around 70 events including water rescue, archery, equestrianism, assault courses, body building, climbing, fencing, ice hockey, martial arts, rafting, snooker and golf as well as angling.