End of Year report 2008
End of Year Report 2008
As 2008 has now finally drawn to a close my end of year report reflects on what was an extremely busy year for the Fly Fishing Section. In May at Draycote Water the Section introduced a boat competition for English based police officers and staffs, in an attempt to emulate those events so passionately run in Wales and Scotland. Our National Championships at Bewl Water celebrated 25 years of being part of Police Sport UK, previously the Police Athletic Association, where a number of old faces were invited to return and join the celebrations. At Grafham Water the 2nd Services Championships took place and although success was not forthcoming for the Police team on the water, further steps took place to strengthen the team at the Sections A.G.M. shortly after this match. So fingers crossed that the 2009 season, will be the year we finally put the Soldier Palmers to the sword. This match featured in the August edition of the Trout Fisherman and plans are already moving forward to have a bigger spread this year. The season concluded with the Home International Championships at Brenig Reservoir, another successful event, with anglers qualifying for next years European Championships at the Lake of Menteith.
As an angler I know that a season is measured on a personal basis, so whether I broadcast that the returns were higher or the average weight was greater, anglers will reflect on the 2008 season on what they alone achieved. So whether you enjoyed the sweet taste of success by winning lots of medals and have a magnificent trophy proudly sitting on the mantelpiece or like I sit dwelling on why I didn’t change that leader, or why oh why I persisted with a line just cause it had worked the previous day. Contemplate only that the 2009 season is just around the corner, let the ghosts of 2008 leave and allow that tingle of excitement, that spell of anticipation to enter your veins with the thought of a “tightening line and the splash of the hooked fish”.
Fishing on the River Tay for salmon starts next week!
ENGLISH BOAT EVENT
Draycote Water on 7th May
Our season started with anglers from all over England gathering on Wednesday 7th May 2008 at Draycote Water to fish the inaugural English Police Boat Event, all thirty-nine forces in England were invited to send representatives to this match, which was organised by Ian Wood (Sec. Region 1).
I will not go into to great detail regarding the reason for introducing this event other than to say that I think such an event was long overdue. As it develops it will allow anglers from English forces to meet on a regular basis and enjoy a days fishing. The match will also allow the sixteen anglers selected to represent England for the International that year to get together and bond as a team.
The plan to get this going although well conceived, highlighted a slight problem, some regional qualifiers and selection of anglers for the England team took place after the date of this event in 2008, however that matter has been addressed for this year. (I really appreciated the efforts made by officials in the regions concerned in fishing additional events in 2008 to bring all regions in line). Your efforts have ensured that the qualifying anglers who will represent England for 2009 and years to come will be known by the end of the previous fishing season.
So a big thank you.
A full match report on Draycote is available on the Web Site. As you can see from the photograph below, it was a glorious day, and to make things even better not a single clean sheet, amongst the anglers. Ah if only, all events were like that, not to mention the super high tea arranged at the conclusion, well done Ian.
The Chair of the Section; Martin Baker (C.C. of Dorset Police) fishing at Draycote Water, playing his first fish …the photo doesn’t capture the full impact of the fish or the bend on the tip of the rod.
He finished the day with a nice brace for 4lb 10oz.
Fishing a floating line with small yellow lure, some sort of Dorset style. “Cat Whisker”.
Results top eight (Full list on Web Site)
|
Name |
R’gn |
No. Fish |
Best Fish |
Bag Weight |
Bonus Weight |
Total Weight |
|
Dave Allen |
1 |
8 |
4lb 12oz |
19lb 00oz |
|
19lb 00oz |
|
Fred Hollings |
5 |
8 |
|
18lb 01oz |
|
18lb 01oz |
|
Andy Crothers |
5 |
8 |
|
16lb 06oz |
|
16lb 06oz |
|
Richard Watkins |
4 |
8 |
3lb 12oz |
16lb 04oz |
|
16lb 04oz |
|
Mick Cooper |
1 |
8 |
|
16lb 00oz |
|
16lb 00oz |
|
Martin Barrett |
7 |
8 |
|
15lb 04oz |
|
15lb 04oz |
|
Julian Eales |
5 |
6 |
4lb 10oz |
14lb 11oz |
|
14lb 11oz |
|
Mick Cartlidge |
4 |
7 |
4lb 04oz |
14lb 00oz |
|
14lb 00oz |
The English Police Boat Event for 2009 will take place on Wednesday the 29th April at Eyebrook Reservoir. This year’s event is being organised by Malcolm Naylor (Secretary of Region 2) I believe Malcolm is organising accommodation at the Falcon Hotel in Uppingham, Leicestershire this year to cater for those travelling some distance. The entry forms will be circulated at the end of January 2009.
The Welsh National Championships took place on Thursday 8th May 2008
(See Region 9 Regional Championship Report)
The Scottish Police Angling Association: National Championships took place on Thursday 15th May 2008
(See Region 10 Regional Championship Report)
GRAFHAM
SERVICES FLY FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP 2008
GRAFHAM WATER on 3rd June
The second Services Fly Fishing Championships took place at Grafham Water on Tuesday 3rd June 2008. Six teams again competed in this event, with the RAF (Fish Hawks) making their first appearance at the match.
The Police Team on the morning of the event wearing their grey caps & fleeces provided by this year’s sponsor for the team the Trophy Centre Ltd.
Back row Mr Kenny Miller (Strathclyde Police): Mr Brian Williams (Gwent): Constable Alan Hill (Strathclyde Police): Mr Simon Davis (North Wales) Constable John Proverb (Gloucestershire): Constable Martin Barrett (Wiltshire): Front Row Mr Steve Evans (Avon & Somerset); Mrs Marian Davis (Support Staff North Wales) Sergeant Calum Fraser (Police Sport UK Fly Fishing Secretary)
The following services participated in the event:
Police
Fire & Rescue Services
Army (Soldier Palmers)
Navy
Civil Service
RAF (Fish Hawks)
Full match report on the Web Site: As I stated earlier an article on the match appeared in the August edition of the Trout Fisherman, though it concentrated on the performance of the winning team the “Soldier Palmers”. I will say this “These others teams are there for taking” Our position below does not reflect our true potential…!
Results in brief:
Results in brief:
|
Team |
No. Fish |
Total Fish Weight |
Returned Fish |
Bonus Weight |
Total Weight |
|
Army (Soldier Palmers) |
30 |
74lb 04 oz |
Previous page: Match reports Archive
Next page: International Brenig 2008