It's a knock tr-out as police probe punch up at a charity fishing tournament

AN ANGLER IS SUSPECTED OF ATTACKING AND HOSPITALISING A RIVAL DURING NORMALLY PEACEFUL POND PASTIME DURING A FISHING EVENT ORGANISED TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHILDREN'S HEART SURGERY 18:46,

01 Jun 2025 Police are probing a punch up at a charity fishing tournament. They are hunting an angler suspected of attacking rival Gary Thornton during the normally peaceful pond pastime.

Gary, 64, needed hospital treatment after he was battered and floored at what should have been a goodwill match in Alne, near York. He said it was the first time he had met the man in three

years - when he kicked him out of a fishing club for upsetting other members. Gary had not even his rod out ahead of this year’s event in aid of the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund at Forest

Lane Fisheries when he was confronted by the same angler. “I did not think anything of it as he walked towards me - then bang,” he said. “He launched himself at me. “I am only 5ft 4ins. He

is about 6ft 4ins and weighs about three times as much as me. I got punched quite a few times. He hit me more than once when I was on the floor. He caught me off guard and that was it.

Article continues below “I was smacked a few times and I think I have got a cracked rib. He was saying something but I was too busy trying to defend myself to really recall what it was.”

Gary, who runs a flooring business, is off work, on painkillers and has been told by medics his injuries could take two months to heal. He said the £30-a-head event should have been a

fun-packed fundraiser including post-match pies, peas and chips and a raffle. “I was basically assaulted at a fishing tournament,” he said. “I run a fishing club and we had a bit of do on

with him three years ago. He was being a bit of a pain and we asked him to leave the club. A couple of elderly chaps said they were not fishing with us if he was in the club any more."

“I tried to have a quiet, amicable word with him and he kicked off. I said, ‘Take your money and go. Three years later - bingo. I phoned the police and they came around and took a statement

and pictures." “I am not bitter against this bloke. I feel sorry for him for behaving like that.” A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “We were called with a report of an

altercation in a car park near Alne. Article continues below “The victim had been pushed to the ground and punched several times by a male suspect. He attended hospital for treatment.

Extensive enquiries are ongoing to locate the suspect.”