Competition Results
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International Fly Fishing Association Autumn Match
Lake of Menteith - 14th September 2007Summary of Results:
Winner - Wales
| 55 fish
| 162lbs 0.000oz
|
2nd - England
| 53 fish
| 157lbs 11.0oz
|
3rd - Scotland
| 49 fish
| 138lbs 2.5oz
|
| 4th - Ireland | 41 fish | 119lbs 4.5oz |
GRAND TOTALS
| 198 fish
| 577lbs 2.0oz
|
Weigh-in totals
| 190 fish
| 1561lbs 14.0oz
|
Best Basket - winner of the Brown BowlRussell Owen, WALES - 10 fish, 25lbs 8oz
Heaviest TroutRobert Baldi, SCOTLAND - 4lbs 14oz
Best Baskets:WALES - Russell Owen 10 fish 25 lbs 8.0 ozs
SCOTLAND - John Simpson 8 fish 21 lbs 14.5 ozs
IRELAND - Mick Linehan 6 fish 19 lbs 6.5 ozs
ENGLAND - Mick McLintic 6 fish 19 lbs 5.0 ozs
OFFICIALS' TROPHYJohn Kettles 3 fish 7lbs 0.0 ozs
In the days when some of our major sporting national teams are not winning the international and world honours we, the supporters, had hoped they would, it is important to realise that in other sports Welsh teams are doing very well. This accolade certainly applies to participants in the 2007angling competitions.
Last week the U.K. International Fly Fishing Championship was held on the Lake of Menteith in Scotland. It saw teams from the four home nations locked in the most prestigious and keenly contested competition in the U.K. angling scene.
Wales went into the Autumn match with just one victory in the last thirteen matches under its belt. In fact Wales had had more than its fair share of the ‘wooden spoon’ - so much so there were fears that the spoon could take root here in Wales! Ever the optimists, the Welsh Team went into the fray with a very positive attitude.
They travelled to the venue early and put in a lot of practice – more so than the other teams. This paid dividends and under the guidance of coach George Barron, Talybont and captain Paul Davies, Corwen, the team learnt to share their expertise. There was a lot of experience sitting around the team meeting table as the team consisted of five previous captains, others who had represented Wales on more than one occasion and a fair percentage of new caps - all very able and brimming with enthusiasm.
During the practice sessions the squad had learnt a lot about the wonderful Lake of Menteith. They managed fairly quickly to get to grips with the depth, the colours and combinations of the flies to be used and the speed of retrieve. All information and knowledge was always readily shared.
When match day arrived it was good fishing weather with the gentle breeze creating that favoured corduroy water which is such a boon for anglers. The sun, generally a spoil-sport for anglers, was present but not too hot and glaring.
The match lasts for eight hours and a few members of the team were fortunate in that they started off well. However the two Dixon brothers Aled and Gareth from Machynlleth were five down on their boat partners at lunchtime. Grit, determination and sheer abilty brought both back to five all in the boat. Great stuff this as it is important for the team result that you try to outscore the angler who is sharing your boat as he represents another country and is doing his level best to outscore you! Six of our lads out fished the competitors sharing their boat. In fact each member of the Welsh team caught fish.
The star of the Welsh team was Russell Owen from Llanidloes who took ten fish in all - which was two better than the best from among the other fifty-six anglers in the competition. Russell’s contribution was invaluable and how wonderful that he - a previous world champion - did so exceptionally well.
The three Margam fishers, Craig Gimblett, Jeff Thomas and Kieron Thomas took over twelve pounds of fish each to give the team a solid middle order score. Dean Kibble of Oakwood, as is his usual, gave an excellent contribution with his nap hand of five fish. Gareth Jones, Denbigh, Anthony Hoffrock and Anthony Cartwright, both from Llandegfedd A.C. weighed in four fish apiece while Neil Ashman, Mountain Ash Club, Chris Jones, Corwen, Michael Roberts, Wentwood and Paul Davies Corwen, fishing and fulfilling the captain’s role with distinction, made up the sum total of fifty-five fish.
So often in U.K. championships and in world competition the luck and results do not always favour Wales but this was a great and a wholly well deserved victory.
England picked up the silver medal. This was a very experienced team that brought in two fish less than Wales. Scotland on home territory was the odds on favourites and they were in a rampant mood hoping to emulate their footballers’ feat that the previous night won the soccer match in France. It was not to be, despite their star man Willie Leech being on the ball.
Ireland are slowly getting to grips with the rainbow trout as we must not forget that their loughs are predominantly wild brown trout fisheries. The Irish also want a strong wind and a biggish wave to get the best out of their fishers.
Despite our failure to come out tops in soccer and rugby - both considered major sports – the Welsh fishers have done really well this year.
Warmest Congratulations to the Welsh Fly Fishing Team.
On Grafham Reservoir, Bedfordshire, on the last day of May 2007, the Welsh Ladies Fly Fishing team gave one of its finest performances in the International fly fishing arena. The team comprising of lady anglers from all parts of Wales competed in the four nations international fly fishing championship of the U.K. and won handsomely.
The team brilliantly led by its captain Nikki Clark, Hirwaun and coached by Russell Owen, Llanidloes caught sixteen more fish than did the runners up - Scotland.
The top rod at the event was Marian Davies from Penrhyndeudraeth with a bag of 7 fish weighing 15lbs 13.75ozs and in close second was Nikki Clark also with 7 fish but weighing 15lbs 8.75ozs.
This time the English team despite having the ‘home’ advantage could not compete with the confident Welsh team that gave a perfect example of a great team effort – with every single member playing a pivotal role.
The Welsh Ladies last won the event in 1994 – in fact this was only their third victory in eighteen years of competing. But judging by the quality of this year’s team the future should be a golden one.
| Fish Taken | Total weight (lbs) (oz)
|
| Wales | 50
| 113, 7.75
|
Scotland
| 34
| 74, 13
|
England
| 33
| 70, 7.25
|
Ireland
| 17
| 38, 10.25
|
The Welsh (Spring) Senior team did not do so well in their International match which was held a day after the Ladies match and was fished on Rutland Reservoir. Despite some very thorough preparation from Captain, Phil Thomas and George Barron, coach, the team was unable to match the catches made by the English and Scottish teams.
The English team with 84 fish weighing 172 lbs 7.375ozs had 19 more fish than Scotland the runners up with 65 fish. The Welsh team had 54 fish giving them the third spot and the Irish team collected the wooden spoon on this occasion. In the hot sunny conditions the English team excelled with their nymphs and buzzers approach and were far too effective for the other teams to match.
The Welsh top rod was Scott Graham, Pontardawe with 9 fish. Brian Morgan, Llandeilo was the runner up in the Welsh team with 8 fish.
Malcolm Edwards, Ammanford also took limit bag of 6 fish and Spencer Williams, Pontardawe took 5.
This was a disappointing result for Wales as the team had gelled together really well and had achieved so much in preparation. Their homework and dedication had promised so much more and it is hard to think that any other team had been so well prepared.
| Fish taken
| Total weight (lb) (oz)
|
England
| 84
| 172, 7.375
|
Scotland
| 65
| 144, 14.000
|
Wales
| 54
| 110, 0.625
|
Ireland
| 51
| 99, 15.375
|