The second Dodleston BFCC competition of the year was arranged to coincide with the World Fly Fishing Day and the SIM fly fishing festival in Castel di Sangro, Italy. The morning weather was bright with a steady breeze, however the forecast was for heavy rain later so the competition events proceeded at a pace to try and ensure the casters didn’t get a soaking. This didn’t work and the casters did get caught in a torrential downpour. When the rain arrived the wind also performed a complete 180 degree shift in the space of only a couple of minutes – obviously some results were affected by this shift, although the tapes were switched mid-competition to try and save some from being massively disadvantaged. As always the following results are in feet and inches:

#5 Trout Distance: James Evans 129.05; Steve Parkes 124.05; Andrew Bagshaw 120.02; Callum Bright 116.02; Howard Bishop 112.11; Stewart Ross 106.10; Tracy Thomas 104.08; Nigel Conlon 82.06.

#7 Trout Distance: Howard Bishop 132.07; James Evans 130.02; Andrew Bagshaw 130.00; Steve Parkes 123.11; Callum Bright 123.08; Stewart Ross 118.00; Tracy Thomas 111.11; Nigel Conlon 83.06.

John Reynolds (Virtual entry) 136.06

ST27: Steve Parkes 159.03; Callum Bright 153.05; Andrew Bagshaw 144.05; James Evans 137.07; Stewart Ross 137.00; Howard Bishop 134.02; Tracy Thomas 133.10.

John Reynolds (Virtual entry) 162.07

S55: James Evans 206.11; Stewart Ross 202.02; Steve Parkes 186.11; Tracy Thomas 185.00; Stuart Todd 178.07; Callum Bright 164.02; Andrew Bagshaw 160.00; Howard Bishop 159.05.

John Reynolds (Virtual entry) 168.10

T38: James Evans 181.04; Stuart Todd 168.09; Steve Parkes 165.11; Andrew Bagshaw 163.08; Stewart Ross 156.03; Tracy Thomas 156.02; Howard Bishop 146.11; Callum Bright 142.11.

John Reynold (Virtual Entry) 168.04

T120: James Evans 226.06; Stuart Todd 206.00; Steve Parkes 205.08; Stewart Ross 184.09; Howard Bishop 178.07; Andrew Bagshaw 164.09; Tracy Thomas 154.08; Callum Bright 127.06.

Accuracy (points): James Evans 58; Callum Bright 42; Steve Parkes 40; Tracy Thomas 37; Stuart Todd 32; Howard Bishop 31; Stewart Ross 21; Andrew Bagshaw 13

Overall event (points): 1st James Evans 11; 2nd Steve Parkes 19; 3rd Andrew Bagshaw 34.

Records: In his last meeting as an under 18 year old, Callum Bright broke the J17 #5 trout distance, Salmon Overhead S55, Accuracy and ST27 records. Stewart Ross became only the 2nd caster to exceed 200ft in a BFCC S55 event, taking the S60 record in doing so. Tracy Thomas also produced a great cast in the S55 to beat her overall and S50 records, she also extended her T38 S50 record. Well done all.

Another BFCC competition where there was a decent wind blowing, but as is typical of cricket grounds surrounded by trees the direction was somewhat variable. This became so much of an issue that for the afternoon session each casting position had two tapes arranged in a ‘Vee’ – the caster then nominated which of the tapes they would cast down prior to the clock starting. It should also be pointed out that the accuracy court was set up in the apparent lee of the club house – this proved to be a mistake as the building amplified the swirly nature of the conditions, resulting in lower than normal scoring in the event.
The competition started off with accuracy followed by the T38, S55 and T120 events. After the lunch break the #5, #7 and ST27 were cast with the dual tape layout. The following results are in feet and inches:

#5 Trout Distance: Nick Moore 131.10; Bart De Zwaan 130.10; James Evans 130.01; Jose Nieto (Virtual Entry) 126.00; Kei Okamoto 120.05; Mike Heritage 120.04; Mick Copeman 118.04; Tracy Thomas 115.11; Howard Bishop 101.07; Andrew Bagshaw 98.06; Corey Heath (Virtual Entry) 88.09; Chris Baty (Virtual Entry) 76.00.

#7 Trout Distance: Bart De Zwaan 153.02; James Evans 144.10; Kei Okamoto 135.03; Nick Moore 134.06; Jose Nieto (Virtual Entry) 132.05; Howard Bishop 121.10; Andrew Bagshaw 119.03; Tracy Thomas 109.11; Mick Copeman 109.01.

ST27: Kei Okamoto 164.00; James Evans 163.01; Bart De Zwaan 159.00; Mick Copeman 153.05; Howard Bishop 146.09; Tracy Thomas 146.04 ; Andrew Bagshaw 138.11; Nick Moore 133.02.

S55: James Evans 218.11; Kei Okamoto 193.09; Bart De Zwaan 191.00; Tracy Thomas 176.06; Mick Copeman 167.09; Howard Bishop 167.03; Andrew Bagshaw 160.11; Nick Moore 156.01.

T38: James Evans 182.03; Andrew Bagshaw 177.08; Bart De Zwaan 169.04; Kei Okamoto 165.03; Nick Moore 157.06; Mick Copeman 148.07; Tracy Thomas 146.02; Howard Bishop 137.02.

T120: Kei Okamoto 227.06; James Evans 216.00; Bart De Zwaan 212.02; Tracy Thomas 183.09; Howard Bishop 169.09; Andrew Bagshaw 163.04.

Accuracy (points): Mike Heritage 38; Kei Okamoto 34; Bart De Zwaan 33 ; Nick Moore 28; Tracy Thomas 24; James Evans 19; Howard Bishop 13; Andrew Bagshaw 8.

Overall event (points): 1st James Evans 17; 2nd Kei Okamoto 17; 3rd Bart de Zwaan 18.

• Placing determined by countback of 1st and 2nd positions in individual events.

Records: Bart De Zwaan beat the senior and overall #7 record. Mick Copeman extended his ST27 and S55 V80 records. Finally Tracy Thomas added a couple of feet to her woman’s S50 T38 record. Well done all.