International 2006
Police Sport UK
International Fly Fishing Championships 2006
Llyn Brenig Reservoir
Hosting the Police Sport UK “Home International Fly Fishing Championships” always seems to place a heavy burden of expectation on the home country to do well. As both Scotland and England have found out in the past two years to their cost. As Wales geared up to be crowned champions for the third year in a row, little did they realise what fickle creatures the rainbow trout would be. Home advantage doesn’t count in fishing, not when the other home nation teams are tying killer flies late into the night. The rooms a cleaners nightmare the following day:
“ A midst the dust was imitation seals fur, feathers, thread and glue
A scattering of coloured tinsel just to add some confusion too
In case the weary cleaner whilst rummaging in a bin
Was spy of great ambition to help our Welsh chums win”.
“ Nought to be revealed of these killers colours true
Until they danced upon water, oh I’m sure with just a touch of blue
The plotters hatched their plan on Brenig’s lapping might
Though size and shape of dabblers gave most us a fright
The boats returned in evening glow
Some chins of anglers hanging ever low
Now forward I cried, there’s a weigh in to be done
The Welsh had several bag fulls, but the Scots had already won”.
Results of Championships
Winners Scotland 69 Fish for 112lb 15oz + (Bonus of 42lb)
Runners Up England 58 Fish for 97lb 01oz + (Bonus of 32lb)
Third Wales 57 Fish for 93lb 14oz + (Bonus of 22lb 8oz)
Fourth N.Ireland 46 Fish for 77lb 10oz
Officicals 12 Fish for 21lb 04oz
Individual
Winner P.Solomon England 6 Fish for 10lb 09oz + (Bonus of 13lb 8oz)
Runner Up A.Gilbert Scotland 6 Fish for 9lb 13oz + (Bonus of 12lb)
Heaviest Bag G. Anthony Wales 6 Fish for 11lb 03oz + (Bonus of 3lb)
Heaviest Overall Fish
Winner M. Drillingcourt N.Ireland A Rainbow Trout for 2lb 07oz
A fantastic days fishing with a total of 242 fish for 73 anglers with an average weight of 1lb 12oz per trout.
Match Report
Rarely do you get two days the same in fishing and Llyn Brenig proved to be no exception. The practice day was phenomenal from the very start to the day’s end the fish were moving just below the surface of the water and taking a variety of flies. Curiously, as I listened to conversations that evening most rainbows fell to a mass of different coloured boobies, though those that persevered with dries, nymphs or buzzers were rewarded with decent bags of fish as well. Though I found it a little disconcerting as to the number of different methods that had “Cracked it” and would do the trick the following day. For my part I was drawn along on this tide of optimism, informing anglers at the briefing the following morning that I would come ashore at 1 o’clock to allow those anglers who along with their boat partner had bagged up early to return to the jetty. After all, when so many were going to catch their fish so quickly, who was I to keep them out on the water, sitting there in a boat, idling unable to fish.
Well I came ashore and what a quiet, though pleasant lunch I had, there were a few anglers who had some early success but they were in the minority and not a single boat arrived to be secured at the pier at 1 o’clock. The fishing was oh so different from the previous day and proving to some to be extremely difficult.
Secretary/Treasurer Calum Fraser outlines the rules for the days championship and briefs the anglers prior to the commencement 23rd Police Sport UK International Fly Fishing Championships.
As the anglers make their way to the boats heavy grey clouds loom in the sky above the dam wall, was this an omen? Fortunately the rain stayed away and in the afternoon the sun came out.
Concentrating on the flies ahead, the chair of the section Mr Martin Baker (Chief Constable of Dorset) finished the day with a fine brace of rainbows for 4lb 03oz.
A boat arrives in Tower Bay where a number of fish were caught on the practice day; it didn’t take long till one of the anglers was into a fish.
This year the section welcomed back a three of its founder members to present trophies that they had either donated or had been purchased in memory of lost love ones. Mr Arthur Donaldson MBE, (formerly the Scottish Fly Fishing Secretary & Official and Council Member of the PAA) here (on the left) presenting the National Champion Mr Mick Cartlidge (Staffordshire) with the Arthur Donaldson Trophy.
Dave Scougal (left) attended the Championships to present a beautiful crystal trophy donated by Fife Constabulary in memory of his son the late Derrick Scougal (Assistant Chief Constable) who died suddenly and tragically in 2004. The trophy was presented to the Insp. Mark Drillingcourt (Police Service of Northern Ireland) the angler who caught the heaviest fish a Rainbow Trout weighing 2lb 07oz.
The last guest was Gwilym Hughes who presented his magnificent trophy to the top angler in both the National and International Competion. This year Bert Short (Region 6 South East & England) scooped this terrific trophy with 13 Fish for 22lb 09oz (Bonus 2lb 08oz) for the two events.
Pete Solomon was the overall individual winner and is here collecting the Cambridgeshire Cup from Mr Martin Baker (Chair of Section & Chief Constable of Dorset). Pete was one of the quickest anglers to catch his six fish by bagging up 10.37am. He had 6 Fish for 10lb 09oz with a super time bonus of 13lb 08oz.
Graham Anthony collecting the Hampshire Cup from Mr Martin Baker (Chair of Section & Chief Constable of Dorset) for the best bag of fish, without a time bonus. He had 6 Fish for 11lb 03oz.
The Winning Team from Scotland (working across from left to right) Reg MacDougal (Strathclyde): David Mateer (Northern): Jim Hume (Grampian): Stevie Bett (Fife) right at the back Alan Hill (Strathclyde): Kenny Miller (Ret’d Strathclyde): John Curry (Central Scotland): Jim Clelland (Ret’d Strathclyde): Bill Neilson (Ret’d Central Scotland), Paul Barr (Central Scotland): Roddy MacIntyre (Lothian & Borders): Ian Anderson (Northern): Jim McBride (Ret’d Lothian & Borders) Captain of the team holding the Charles Landell Trophy which is collected by the winning team.Jim Walker (Lothian & Borders and finally John Greep (ret’d Lothian & Borders). The only team member missing was the Individual Runner up Alan Gilbert (Strathclyde) who had to leave the event early as he had court the following day. The joys of being a serving police officer. Well-done Scotland.
Finally, my thanks go to the staff at Llyn Brenig for the excellent sport they provided. The Kinmel Manor Hotel for providing the accommodation and an excellent presentation dinner. Many thanks go to Constable Phil Griffith of North Wales Police, who again worked tirelessly away to ensure an excellent championship was provided in North Wales. Thanks again “Phil”.
Calum Fraser
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