Andrew Macleod has flown back home from the slopes of Morzine in France, where he is training with Team GB, to join Stirling Fisheries for the official opening in Callander.
Andrew is part of the Great Britain Para Snowboarding team and is aiming to compete with Team GB in the snowboard cross events at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.
Andrew aiming to inspire others after accident
The 27-year-old former Riverside Primary and Wallace High School pupil lost his right leg below the knee at the age of 18 after being hit by a car. The outdoor pursuits enthusiast, who had taken up snowboarding just before the accident, required months of hospital treatment and rehabilitation.
As guest of honour in Callander, Andrew will not only help promote the fantastic range of opportunities that Stirling Fisheries offers to experienced anglers and newcomers alike, but also the enormous benefits that being active in the outdoors provided for him during his recovery.
Andrew said: “Being outside in the open air is a great boost for a person’s mental health. I genuinely believe that my background in the outdoors before the accident is what spurred me on to find out what I could do after I lost my leg.
“My love for the outdoors made me want to get back out and enjoy the positive benefits that it could have on me and I believe others can benefit from this too, whether it’s taking up fishing, enjoying other outdoor sports or just going for a walk and taking in the fresh air.”
Catching a salmon in a puddle
Andrew has been a keen fisherman since a young age and is well-versed on the fantastic range of fishing that the beats around Stirling have to offer.
“It’s a privilege to be asked to open the fishing season for Stirling Council. I used to fish in little streams all around Stirling as well as on the Forth. I loved being in the outdoors and there are so many positive feelings that fishing can give you, such as the exciting feeling when you catch something.
“I picked it up pretty quickly and even earned the reputation at one point of being able to catch a salmon in a puddle so I must have been pretty decent,” he laughed.
“The rivers around Stirling offer so many benefits, including great accessibility and some really affordable prices. There is great value fishing, especially for young people, that wouldn’t leave people too out of pocket even if they only wanted to go a couple of times a year and try their luck.”
Snowboarding towards Beijing
Andrew also conducts talks on mental health and the benefits of the outdoors to schools, youth groups and charities. He now snowboards with the use of a prosthetic limb and, as he trains towards Beijing, has even successfully competed against able-bodied snowboarders.
He said: “I am currently competing at a World Cup level, where I face athletes who have already competed at and won medals at the Paralympics. Last week I achieved my first medals and although that wasn’t a World Cup competition, I was running against able-bodied athletes. This is the first season I have been doing strength and conditioning work so I am really excited to see how this helps me progress as I aim to make Beijing.”
The launch event for the 2020 fishing season will begin at 9.15am in Callander on Saturday, when the piper-led parade of anglers, armoured with fishing rods, leaves Ancaster Square.
Stirling Councillors have again approved a continued freeze on permit prices, offering residents and visitors to Stirling some of the best value salmon fishing in the UK. Anglers can fish for nine months for just £200, while youths up to the age of 21 can now fish the whole season for only £15. Up to the age of 12, youths are also welcome to fish for free with a paying adult on a catch and release basis.
Stirling Council Fisheries also offer anglers spring fishing, sea trout fishing, summer fishing and back end fishing all on the one permit, which covers both rivers.
