National Championship 2009
Local boy Gary Haskins (Insp. Avon & Somerset) retained the Arthur Donaldson Trophy at Chew Valley at this year's National Championships on Thursday 18th June 2009. .
Gary who has won the trophy four times in the last five years left the majority of anglers in his wake as he demonstrated the art of fishing the dry fly along the Woodford Bank near the lodge at Chew. Gary had seven trout for 13lb 09oz, with this fine bag of fish he also won the RUC Memorial Plate.
Gary Haskins (left) being presented with the Arthur Donaldson Trophy by Mr Ian Arundale (Chief Cons. of Dyfed-Powys Police)
Neil Mitchell a retired officer from Strathclyde was the competition Runner Up, proving old boys can push the younger officers all the way. Neil had six fish for 11lb 10oz.
The team event was won by South Wales as pictured above having been presented the Strathclyde Cup. (left to right) Graham Jenkins, Roy Pascoe, Laurence Jones & Derek Pearce with Mr Arundale standing alongside the winning team.
Bright sunshine and steady breeze greeted the anglers for the 26th National Championships, a sharp contrast from the previous days wild wind and showers. It was apparent that anglers had however discovered that the fish were lying along Woodford Bank as the vast majority of boats headed in that direction as soon as the starting hooter sounded.
A number of fish fell to mini lures and bright coloured blobs, but those anglers that identified that the fish were in the top 18inches of water and fished dries or static nymphs received the better rewards.
At the conclusion of the match 85 fish been caught in the team event, with the South Wales team landing 16 of them for a 32lb 07oz. The South West team from Avon & Somerset were second with 11 fish for 21lb 07oz, unfortunately Gary Haskins excellent result couldn't deliver gold on its own, a few more were needed from his teammates. Cheshire was third. (Full results below).
Region No. Fish Weight Bonus T.Weight
Region 9 (Wales) 16 32 7 0 0 32 7
Region 7 (South West) 11 21 7 0 0 21 7
Region 1 (North West) 10 20 6 0 0 20 6
Region 10 (Scotland) 10 19 6 0 0 19 6
Region 3 (East Midlands) 9 17 5 0 0 17 5
Region 8 (Metropolitan) 5 13 0 0 0 13 0
Region 5 (East) 6 12 13 0 0 12 13
Region 4 (West Midlands) 6 12 4 0 0 12 4
Region 2 (North East) 5 11 5 0 0 11 5
Region 11 (P.S.N.I) 4 8 8 0 0 8 8
Region 6 (South East) 3 6 12 0 0 6 12
At this year's National Championship the section saw the departure of one their long standing fishing stalwarts from the committee, the Welsh Secretary, Phil Griffith who after 23 years of dedicated service to the post elected to resign his position on retirement from the police. Mr. Baker (Chair of the Section) paid tribute to Phil's contributions over the years, stating that he would be a hard act to follow, having over that time organised local, regional and eight Home International Championships. Mr. Baker and the committee wish him well for the future. The section awaits to welcome the arrival of new Welsh Secretary Colin Jones when he takes on the role at the Home International at Llandegfedd in September.
Phil's final match as an official could not have been any sweeter , he won the Official Shield with a bag of four fish for 12lb 10oz, which included the a Rainbow of 4lb 12oz and a Brown Trout of 3lb 01oz. Phil (left) presented with the shield by Mr Baker. Phil was also awarded the Chairman's plate for his contribution to the section over the years and presented with the now traditional hand painted lamp by the committee.
Cons.Kenny Hall (Lothian &Borders Police) receiving the South-West Trophy for the Heaviest Brown Trout in the competition a fish weighing 2lb
Mr Neil Mitchell (Strathclyde Police) receiving the Police Review Trophy as the Runner Up in the Individual Competition
Sgt Mark Stewart (Metropolitan Police) receiving the Capital Trophy for the Heaviest Rainbow Trout in the competition a fish weighing 3lb 08oz
Insp. Gary Haskins Avon & Somerset Constabulary) receiving the RUC Memorial Plate
The presentation of prizes was carried out be Mr Ian Arundale Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys.
On a lighter note away from the main competition:
Mr Ian Arundale joined Mr Martin Baker (Chair of the Section) for a days fishing, ghillie of the days was yours truly the Section Secretary. After coffee and watching the armada of boats head Woodford Bank, we set off for a days fishing. I took the gentlemen to North Shore behind Denny Island and tried several drifts from the deeper water towards the mass of reeds directly behind the island.
Both men quickly dismissed my remarks about a competition between Dyfed-Powys & Dorset, but I could sense a steely determination in both to do their respective force proud.
It was Martin Baker who struck first, a smashing bar of silver, a rainbow of around 3lb...unfortunately we will never know the exact weight for as I lunged forward with the net, the fish darted under the boat taking Martin's special "Cat Whisker" and two other flies purchased from the shop that morning away to the depths and beyond.
A certain tension hung in the air after that, so I took my two anglers to the dam wall to try new water. Fishing from Walley Bank to the North Shore drifting with the prevailing wind I tried various distances from the dam wall in an attempt to locate some feeding fish. The size of the lost fish had increased dramatically to about 5lb by now and the tempo of cast retrieve was definitely on the up. However, this all changed as Martin lifted into and landed a nice Rainbow of 1lb 12oz. Determined to ensure that both men had fish before lunch I allowed the boat on the fourth drift to follow the shoreline back along the North Shore towards Denny Island. My decision was right Ian lanced (literally) a small minnow of approximately 38mm in length, I did have quick glance around his feet to ensure he hadn't brought a jar of "Baggies" to perform some illegal fishing method, I congratulated him on his catch and I acknowledged, as did Martin that anyone who could catch something so small in such a vast lake had to have considerable prowess with rod, line and fly.
Given that both men had a fish each to the boat, I declared we should stop for lunch, after not a bad mornings work and only one warning to the pair for talking "Job" which was graciously accepted by both. As we headed back I noted Ian slide the minnow over the side of the boat and into the watery depths of Chew Valley, evidence gone....Well no, photographs were taken (but with a promise, never to be published....this year).
At lunch, I received my rollicking from Fishery Manager Bob Handford for although I had carried out the Risk Assessment/Health & Safety briefing......stressing the dire consequences to any angler who dared to attempt to fish without a life jacket......I had left mine on the table where I drank my morning coffee.
Afresh after lunch, attired with my life jacket we set off again.
This time across the water to Spring Bay having spied a couple of boats whilst at lunch carrying out short drifts in that area but seemingly intent in remaining there. Our suspicion that a pod of fish had been located in that area was confirmed on our arrival. A local angler not in the competition was carrying out short drifts from approximately 60 metres from the bank, over the fish that were shoaled up in an area amongst reed beds in a 15-20 metre band, approximately 20 metres from the bank, and having considerable success.
A strong wind, big wave and very short drifts, fishing wasn't easy. Drogue issues and endeavouring to fish around across reeds, whilst keeping a close eye on the tactics of the local angler proved challenging, however we established a short line with dries was the answer.
Thereafter swirls, pulls and splashes were the result. Ian broke on a nice fish, Martin landed his second giving him a fine brace of two for 3lb 13oz for the day. On landing his second Martin provided a home made fly a ginger grenadier, which Ian used and caught a nice rainbow of 2lb 05oz.
As much as both anglers would have wished to have "one more drift" we turned the boat at 4.30pm and headed back to the jetty to carry out the weigh-in, leaving the fish we had located for another day. An excellent days fishing with the current chair taking the honours, with the chair elect showing considerable promise.
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