I think the BFCC got lucky with the weather in that we avoided rain during what was a very wet weekend. Casting got underway in pretty still conditions and a moderate breeze developed during the morning. Things kicked-off with the accuracy event and then the T38, T120 and S55g before lunch. The remaining events, the #5F, #7F and ST27 were then completed in the afternoon. The results are below, as usual the distances are in feet and inches.

#5F – Bart De Zwaan 132.00; Kei Okamoto 131.05; James Evans 124.10; Mike Heritage 122.02; Zhongxiang Zhu 117.01; Tracy Thomas 117.00; John Reynolds 114.00; Jose Nieto 111.02; Lee Martell 111.01; William Stancliffe 104.07; Howard Bishop 99.00; Neil Owens 95.02; David Fisher 89.00; Martin Penton 88.06; Larysa Yefremova 87.02; Claudia Audley 83.06; John Dunmall 77.02

#7F – Zhongxiang Zhu 135.05; Bart De Zwaan 134.11; Mike Heritage 133.07; John Reynolds 129.06; James Evans 128.05; Kei Okamoto 127.03; Lee Martell 122.00; Tracy Thomas 121.00; Neil Owens 109.00; William Stancliffe 108.02; Howard Bishop 106.08; Jose Nieto 106.02; Martin Penton 100.04; Larysa Yefremova 99.08; David Fisher 98.06; Claudia Audley 95.00; John Dunmall 85.00

B100 (#5 + #7) – Jose Nieto 217.04; William Stancliffe 212.09; Howard Bishop 205.08; Neil Owens 204.02; Martin Penton 188.10; David Fisher 187.06; Larysa Yefremova 186.10; Claudia Audley 178.06; John Dunmall 162.02

ST27 – Kei Okamoto 143.08; Zhongxiang Zhu 141.07; Bart De Zwaan 141.02; James Evans 140.10; John Reynolds 138.03; Howard Bishop 136.04; Tracy Thomas 125.09; Mike Heritage 124.01; Lee Martell 118.09; William Stancliffe 115.10; Claudia Audley 97.00

S55g – James Evans 182.09; Bart De Zwaan 177.06; Kei Okamoto 172.05; John Reynolds 168.02; Tracy Thomas 161.00; Howard Bishop 158.01; Mike Heritage 147.11; Zhongxiang Zhu 146.06; Claudia Audley 142.00

T38 – James Evans 180.10; John Reynolds 162.09; Bart De Zwaan 162.01; Kei Okamoto 149.10; Howard Bishop 149.00; Zhongxiang Zhu 147.03; Tracy Thomas 132.00; Claudia Audley 114.06

T120 – James Evans 207.06; Howard Bishop 192.11; Kei Okamoto 176.09; Bart De Zwaan 169.05; Tracy Thomas 165.05; Zhongxiang Zhu 165.05; John Reynolds 154.00; Claudia Audley 132.04

Accuracy (points) – Bart De Zwaan 45; Mike Heritage 40; James Evans 39; Kei Okamoto 37; Zhongxiang Zhu 26; Larysa Yefremova 25; Howard Bishop 22; John Reynolds 20; Tracy Thomas 16; Claudia Audley 15

Overall Event (points) – 1st Bart De Zwaan 16; 2nd James Evans 18; 3rd Kei Okamoto 23.

Records – Mike Heritage’s cast in the #7 takes the S60 record for that event – great casting Mike!

Many thanks to all who attended, some of whom travelled considerable distances to join us.

Unusually for a BFCC meeting there was a strong wind forecast for the casting competition and thoughts of big casts were in a number of competitors minds. However, once the lane marker flags were set out it was clear that we weren’t going to have things easy – the flags often indicated winds at right angles or more within the space of 10 metres denoting the swirly nature of the wind. As such many seemingly good loops collapsed due to wind shear. That said, there were some great distances recorded and a number of records produced. Casting commenced with the heavy outfits, T38, T120 and S55g and proceeded onto the #5, #7 and ST27 in the afternoon. The accuracy event was cast last.
All results are in feet and inches:

#5F – Ross Bannerman 127.09; James Evans 125.05; Tracy Thomas 115.07; Kevin White 113.10

#7F – James Evans 136.08; Tracy Thomas 121.03; Ross Bannerman 120.09; Kevin White 118.02; Clive Dunford 95.02; Bob McGinnigle 77.03

In a timed record attempt James Evans cast 146.06 beating the previous men’s overall record held by Mike Marshall.

ST27 – Ross Bannerman 159.05; James Evans 143.01; Kevin White 140.05; Tracy Thomas 127.06

In a timed record attempt Tracy extended her ST27 record to 138.08

S55g – James Evans 194.11; Ross Bannerman 184.08; Tracy Thomas 175.06; Bob McGinnigle 168.07; Kevin White 168.05; Bob Mallet 140.00

T38 – James Evans 180.00; Ross Bannerman 178.05; Kevin White 173.03; Tracy Thomas 144.00; Bob McGinnigle 116.06

T120 – James Evans 223.06; Ross Bannerman 185.01; Kevin White 181.00; Tracy Thomas 170.05; Bob McGinnigle 157.00; Bob Mallet 138.02

Accuracy (points) – Ross Bannerman 45; Kevin White 33; James Evans 23; Clive Dunford 19; Bob McGinnigle 14; Darren L’Enfant 9

Overall: 1st James Evans (11), 2nd Ross Bannerman (12), 3rd Kevin White (24)

Records: Ross Bannerman demonstrated that there is at least one advantage to getting old, he’s now casting in the S50 category and took the following records: #5, ST27, S55g and accuracy. Great casting Ross! Tracy extended her female records in ST27, S55g and T120. James Evans took the #7 overall record which had stood for over a decade.

It was another warm day with high pressure and a light, but very variable, wind that greeted the competitive casters on Saturday. Things were made slightly worse by the un-mowed pitch (despite Tracy receiving many assurances that it would be freshly cut for the day) which caused the inevitable snagging of running lines. The competition started with the accuracy event and progressed with the T120, T38 and Salmon overhead (S55g) outfits. After the lunch break (kindly organised by Heather Dunmall and Tracy) the trout distance, #5 and #7, plus the ST27 events were cast. The results below are in feet and inches:

#5F – James Evans 118.02; Steve Parkes 114.09; Kei Okamoto 111.08; Tracy Thomas 107.03; Dean Bass 104.09; Matt Clarke 101.01; Andrew Bagshaw 98.01; Steve Lindley 95.02; Dave Beresford 84.01; George Clarke 68.06

#7F – Kei Okamoto 124.02; Dean Bass 122.01; James Evans 121.01; Tracy Thomas 116.01; Andrew Bagshaw 111.01; Matt Clarke 106.08; Dave Beresford 100.02; Steve Lindley 93.04; George Clarke 92.00

B100 (#5 + #7) – Matt Clarke 207.09; Steve Lindley 188.06; Dave Beresford 184.03; George Clarke 160.06

ST27 – Dean Bass 136.05; Kei Okamoto 133.07; James Evans 130.04; Andrew Bagshaw 128.10; Tracy Thomas 117.04; Matt Clarke 114.03; Steve Lindley 114.00; George Clarke 88.01

S55g – James Evans 180.09; Steve Parkes 175.05; Kei Okamoto 174.04; Tracy Thomas 141.02; Andrew Bagshaw 133.07; Matt Clarke 127.10; Dean Bass 122.10; Stuart Tod 115.07; George Clarke 97.08

T38 – Dean Bass 163.05; Kei Okamoto 144.01; Stuart Tod 143.10; Andrew Bagshaw 143.08; James Evans 141.05; Tracy Thomas 121.02 ; Matt Clarke 120.02; George Clarke 86.04

T120 – Kei Okamoto 207.08; James Evans 195.08; Stuart Tod 185.00; Dean Bass 176.05; Andrew Bagshaw 169.10; Steve Parkes 164.01; Tracy Thomas 138.09

Accuracy (points) – Kei Okamoto 55; Mike Heritage 47; James Evans 39; Tracy Thomas 34; Stuart Tod 34; George Clarke 22; Dean Bass 18; Andrew Bagshaw 14; Matt Clarke 10

Overall event – 1st Kei Okamoto (13); 2nd James Evans (18); 3rd Dean Bass (27)

Records: George Clarke took the junior (under 13) records in the accuracy and T38 events as well as extending his own record in the Salmon Overhead (S55g). Kei Okamoto further extended his overall accuracy record. Mike Heritage took the S60 accuracy record. Great casting by all.

Badges – both Phil Stott and George Clarke achieved their 30 yard badges with trout outfits – well done both.

The weather for the competition events was warm with a moderate southerly breeze. Casting commenced with the accuracy event followed by the T38, T120 and S55 before lunch. In the afternoon the #5 and #7 trout distance and ST27 events were cast. All distances are in feet and inches.

#5F – Bart De Zwaan 138.03; Zhongxiang Zhu 122.07; Dean Bass 122.05; Tracy Thomas 116.01; James Evans 115.06; Kei Okamoto 115.00; Lee Martell 106.08; Howard Bishop 92.06; David Fisher 87.00; Martin Penton 69.10

#7F – Bart De Zwaan 137.03; Dean Bass 132.00; Kei Okamoto 130.00; James Evans 130.00; Zhongxiang Zhu 129.05; Tracy Thomas 128.02; Lee Martell 118.00; Howard Bishop 99.03; David Fisher 90.09; Martin Penton 79.04

ST27 – Bart De Zwaan 160.07; Kei Okamoto 153.06; Howard Bishop 136.10; Zhongxiang Zhu 136.10; James Evans 136.08; Tracy Thomas 130.05; Dean Bass 126.03; David Fisher 110.04

S55g – Kei Okamoto 193.06; James Evans 175.07; Bart De Zwaan 160.06; Howard Bishop 150.07; Zhongxiang Zhu 145.04; Tracy Thomas 145.03; Dean Bass 108.05

T38 – Dean Bass 173.06; Kei Okamoto 156.04; James Evans 151.05; Bart De Zwaan 150.11; Howard Bishop 138.08; Tracy Thomas 130.11; Zhongxiang Zhu 130.10

T120 – Dean Bass 206.11; Kei Okamoto 190.04; Howard Bishop 184.08; Bart De Zwaan 168.08; James Evans 159.10; Tracy Thomas 156.11

Accuracy (points) – Kei Okamoto 53; Mike Heritage 44; Bart De Zwaan 40; James Evans 38; Dean Bass 21; Tracy Thomas 19; Lee Martell 17; Howard Bishop 16; Martin Penton 13; Roger Hoad 8; Ed Turney 8; David Fisher 7

Overall Event: Joint 1st Bart de Zwaan/Kei Okamoto (17); 3rd Dean Bass (26)

Records: Kei Okamoto took the overall accuracy record. Bart de Zwaan extended his overall #5 record by 1 inch. Tracy Thomas also extended her #7 women’s record by 1 inch. many congratulations to all.

Apologies for the delay in posting these results, I’ve been busy catching bonefish. The BFCC calendar kicked-off, as usual, in Cullompton in typical BFCC weather – light to no wind that was swinging round completely at random – enough to have the competitors tearing their hair out. Thankfully it was pleasantly warm and dry all day so all the events were run, starting with the accuracy, T120, T38 and S55g in the morning, moving on to the #5, #7 and ST27 in the afternoon. All distances are in feet and inches:

#5F – Tracy Thomas 110.02; James Evans 103.06; Alex Bobba 98.02; Dean Bass 97.09; Toby Merigan 92.07; Stuart Tod 87.01; Tony King 83.04; John Dawson 82.00; David Fisher 81.02; Dean Mockridge 81.00; James Mockridge 79.11; Max Mockridge 63.11.

#7F – Dean Bass 121.00; James Evans 114.02; Toby Merigan 110.07; Tracy Thomas 103.00; John Dawson 95.06; Stuart Tod 92.06; Dean Mockridge 92.06; Tony King 91.04; Alex Bobba 90.03; James Mockridge 89.02; David Fisher 84.00; Max Mockridge 57.07.

B100 (#5F + #7F) – Stuart Tod 179.07; John Dawson 177.06; Tony King 174.08; Dean Mockridge 173.06; James Mockridge 169.01; David Fisher 165.02; Max Mockridge 121.06

Sea Trout 27 – Dean Bass 127.03; Tracy Thomas 122.02; James Evans 113.08; Alex Bobba 105.03; Tony King 103.00; John Dawson 102.09; Stuart Tod 102.06; Toby Merigan 100.03; David Fisher 98.11; Dean Mockridge 97.08; Max Mockridge 60.05.

Salmon 55g – Toby Merigan 164.02; Tracy Thomas 152.05; Stuart Tod 152.03; James Evans 145.09; James Mockridge 134.06; Dean Mockridge 123.01; Dean Bass 118.00; David Fisher 116.06; Tony King 97.06; Max Mockridge 76.03

T38 –  Dean Bass 159.08; Toby Merigan 157.06; Stuart Tod 149.05; Tony King 138.05; James Mockridge 131.04; Tracy Thomas 118.04; Dean Mockridge 100.00; David Fisher 99.00; John Dawson 82.00

T120 – Dean Bass 184.10; James Evans 181.00; Stuart Tod 177.07; Toby Merigan 172.05; Tony King 153.10; Tracy Thomas 140.00; David Fisher 125.00.

Accuracy (Points) – Toby Merigan 43; James Mockridge 21; Tony King 20; Dean Mockridge 19; David Fisher 17; Dean Bass 16; Stuart Tod 16; John Gilmore 14; John Dawson 9; Max Mockridge 7.

Overall result: 1st Dean Bass, 2nd Toby Merigan, 3rd Tracy Thomas.

Records: James Mockridge beat the junior (17) record for Salmon 55g. James and brother Max also claimed the accuracy records for the Junior 17 and 13 age groups respectively – well done to both.