Archive for October, 2011

 

INSTRUCTORS QUALIFICATION SUCCESS

Posted by mike On October 29th, 2011

How’s this for a demonstration of dedication to a task, which is above and beyond the call of duty? Whilst on holiday in America with Jan, Roger Miles took time out to take a searching four hour examination set by The Federation of Fly Fishers, which he successfully passed. As a result Roger was promoted from Certified Casting Instructor to Masters Casting Instructor, an achievement which deserves much acclaim from everyone connected to The BFCC. However, Jan’s support must also be given full recognition.

When teaching with his usual enthusiasm in future, I know the BFCC Membership and our visitors will benefit from this success, so thank you in anticipation and well done Roger!

50gm SALMON LINE

Posted by mike On October 25th, 2011

The BFCC 50gm salmon line for our 15ft rod, through  good honest use, had become distinctly ‘tatty’ – but no longer! This came up recently in correspondence with my friend Simon Gawesworth of Rio, who has very kindly donated two Rio 550gr Leviathan shooting heads for me to make a replacement. This extremely generous act will assist future BFCC beginners and improvers, in the lighter double handed salmon class, to make further progress. So, on their behalf, many thanks Simon!!

RESULTS – SHENFIELD 9 OCTOBER 2011

Posted by mike On October 11th, 2011

Cast in dry conditions with a gusty south westerly wind.

#5F –  Matt Tonkin 121′ 10″, James Evans 118′, Mike Heritage 114′ 09″, Alex Titov 114′ 03″, Andrew Bagshaw 103′ 10″, John Reynolds 101′ 04″, Alan Bath 93′ 08″, Tracy Thomas 88′ 07″, Mick Copeman 86′ 02″, Vernon Wood 85′, David Fisher 73′.

#7F – James Evans 127′ 10″, Matt Tonkin 124′ 09″, Mike Heritage 123′ 01″, Andrew Bagshaw 117′ 11″, John Reynolds 116′ 09″, Alex Titov 112′ 07″, Alan Bath 110′, Mick Copeman 105′, Vernon Wood 100′, Tracy Thomas 98′ 08″, David Fisher 85′ 08″.

B100 (#5 + #7) – Alan Bath 203′ 08″, Mick Copeman 191′ 02″, Tracy Thomas 187′ 03″, Vernon Wood 185′, David Fisher 159′ 03″.

#9F – Mike Heritage 137′ 06″, James Evans 123′, Matt Tonkin 122′ 02″, John Reynolds 119′ 01″, David Fisher 115′, Alex Titov 112′ 04″, Andrew Bagshaw 107′ 04″, Alan Bath 106′ 03″, Tracy Thomas 105′ 10″, Vernon Wood 92′ 03″.

T38 – John Reynolds 192′ 07″, Matt Tonkin 185′ 08″, Andrew Bagshaw 166′ 05″, James Evans 164′ 07″, Mike Heritage 158′ 09″, David Fisher 114′ 06″, Tracy Thomas 113′ 07″.

T120 – Matt Tonkin 213′ , Mike Marshall 204′ 04″, Mike Heritage 182′ 09″, James Evans 173′ 08″, John Reynolds 172′ 05″, Andrew Bagshaw 159′ 02″.

Accuracy (points) – John Reynolds 155, James Evans 95, Alex Titov 90, Mike Heritage 80, Mark Surtees 80, Matt Tonkin 35, Tracy Thomas 35, David Fisher 30, Vernon Wood 20, Andrew Bagshaw 15.

Victor Ludorum (points) – James Evans 15, Matt Tonkin 15, Mike Heritage 19, John Reynolds 22, Alex Titov 34, Andrew Bagshaw 35, Tracy Thomas 46, Alan Bath 47, David Fisher 48, Vernon Wood 52, Mick Copeman 53, Mark Surtees 54, Mike Marshall 56.

Congratulations are due to Tracy Thomas for casting a ladies record for #9F of 105′ 10″ and Alan Bath for a 70+ record in #9F of 106′ 03″. Also, there were significant Badge successes for Wendy Bath 25yd, John Graham 30yd, Alan Bath 35yd, Matt Tonkin 55yd (T38) and 70yd (T120). Well done in difficult conditions!

Shenfield 2011

Posted by mikeh On October 10th, 2011

Hooray, it stopped raining. We had a run of luck with the weather that ran for years. This year our luck changed and we have frozen, been blasted by the remnants of hurricanes, been rained on and had to deal with flying shelters. Were we down hearted? No. We are the BFCC and we always end the day with a smile, even if it is through gritted teeth.

Shenfield has it’s limitations, like a newly sown wicket where we would have liked to cast but the opportunities the pavilion provided more than made up for it. Jan and Jenny providing tea, coffee, a sandwich and a smile was a really nice touch. Thanks girls your efforts were really appreciated.

The gusty sou westerly made deciding which way to set the casting area up a bit of a problem but we got it right at the second attempt. The computer computed a random casting order and everyone swung into action.

Matt Tonkin made the six hour drive up from Devon and walked off with the five weight with a great cast of 121′ 10” 

James Evans had his revenge in the seven weight with a nice 127′ 10”

I was called 122′ in the nine which left me baffled as I had got the whole of the Snowbee XS out of the rod. It was then I discovered that Mike Marshall had not cut 15′ off of two tapes (so that the shooting line on the T38 and T 120 didn’t tangle in it) he had only done it on one and we were reading 15′ short on the nine weight lane! Don’t panic, we have added the missing 15′  to all the nine weights and also to Alex Titov who cast the seven from that lane. Anyway, add the 15′ to the 122′ and we have 137′ 6”. My turn to win something. Tracy Thomas added another Laurel to an already successful year by claiming the women’s 9 weight record with 105′ 10”

Alan Bath had the highest aggregate score (5 + 7) in the B100 of 203′ having hit a fantastic 110′ with his seven. You are getting close to elite Alan, stop practicing.

Before the real tournament gear was thrown Mike Marshall gave a master class because some had never cast them before. God knows what he told them (I was the other end of the field waiting to mark the casts) but when they did start I was having to extend the tapes to get the measurements! In the T38 John Reynolds just fell short of 200′ he is desperate to reach with a winning cast of 192′ 7” . Matt Tonkins first ever cast with the T38 was a massive 185′ 8” and Andrew Bagshaw a very creditable 166′ 5”.

Matt then threw an astonishing 213′  having never cast the T120 before. What distances he could cast if he knew what he was doing is frightening to consider.

We then all moved up to the accuracy area to finish the day with a laugh. The styles varied from hit ’em fast and hard to a more concidered approach to some very idiosyncratic styles. John Reynolds machine gun tactics won the day.

The overall championship was tied between James Evans and Matt Tonkin. Well done guys.

Congratulations to Alan Bath for getting his 35 yrd badge, Wendy Bath for her 25 yrd badge, John Graham for his 30yrd badge and Matt Tonkin for his 55 yrd badge and a very rare and well deserved 70 yrd badge. Turned into an expensive day eh Matt?

Many thanks to Roger Miles, Mark Surtees and Mike Marshall for their continuous all day instructing. Thanks to Tracy and Hannah for keeping the score. Thanks to Wendy for taking everyone’s money so graciously And a big thank you to every one who helped.

We now have someone who understands how to upload pics to the gallery ( David Fisher) and they should be up soon.

See you all next year,

Mike Heritage