The weather at Dodleston was almost perfect for distance casting, a steady wind blew all day and the casters took advantage of this setting a number of records. Luckily there was only one short, light shower of rain in the afternoon session which didn’t interrupt the competition. The casting order started with the accuracy then T38, T120 and S55, then the #5, #7 and ST27 were cast in the afternoon. As always the following results are in feet and inches:

#5 Trout Distance: Nick Moore 139.06*; Steve Parkes 124.11; Andrew Bagshaw 119.04; James Evans 119.00; Tracy Thomas 113.04; Howard Bishop 109.04; Marcus Robson 108.04; Stewart Ross 97.10

#7 Trout Distance: Nick Moore 141.05; James Evans 134.09; Andrew Bagshaw 134.06; Steve Parkes 131.07; Howard Bishop 123.10; Marcus Robson 119.01; Stewart Ross 112.05; Tracy Thomas 111.08

ST27: James Evans 159.05; Stewart Ross 158.01; Tracy Thomas 155.11*; Nick Moore 152.00; Steve Parkes 151.06; Stuart Tod 151.02; Andrew Bagshaw 144.11; Marcus Robson 134.09; Howard Bishop 127.03

S55: Steve Parkes 232.10*; James Evans 220.07; Stuart Tod 204.10*; Stewart Ross 198.06; Tracy Thomas 194.05*; Nick Moore 173.08; Andrew Bagshaw 168.11; Howard Bishop 159.10

T38: Andrew Bagshaw 176.07; Nick Moore 175.07; Stuart Tod 174.03; Steve Parkes 170.11; Stewart Ross 163.01; Tracy Thomas 157.10*; James Evans 157.03; Howard Bishop 147.11

T120: Steve Parkes 235.09; James Evans 212.10; Stuart Tod 202.05; Stewart Ross 178.11; Tracy Thomas 178.06; Nick Moore 170.10; Andrew Bagshaw 167.00; Howard Bishop 158.03

Accuracy (points): Nick Moore 53; James Evans 51; Tracy Thomas 46; Steve Parkes 36; Howard Bishop 32; Stuart Tod 28; Stewart Ross 25; Ian Lord 21; Andrew Bagshaw 18

Overall event (percentage): 1st James Evans 651.09; 2nd Nick Moore 641.93; 3rd Steve Parkes 641.69

*Records: Nick Moore broke the overall #5 record. Tracy Thomas extended her overall records in the ST27 and S55 as well as improving her T38 (S50) best. Steve Parkes beat the overall record in the S55 and Stuart Tod beat the senior (60+) record in the same event. Well done to all.

Thankfully the heavy rain in Willesborough blew through overnight and the casting day was completely sunny and dry. There was a breeze that seemed consistent in strength but not direction, so the casters had to deal with the line being blown into them at times. Many thanks to Lasse in Denmark for his virtual entries with both his right and left hands (in sympathy with James who is having to cast left handed). As always the following results are in feet and inches:

#5 Trout Distance: Mike Heritage 121.10; Howard Bishop 118.00; Marcus Robson 116.08; Tracy Thomas 114.00; John Reynolds 103.02; James Evans 94.10; Dominic Hewitt 94.05; Simon Horsley 66.10

Virtual #5 Trout Distance: Lasse Karlsson (right) 122.08, Lasse Karlsson (left) 97.05

#7 Trout Distance: Marcus Robson 125.00; Mike Heritage 123.10; John Reynolds 119.02; Howard Bishop 112.06; Tracy Thomas 111.10; Dominic Hewitt 107.03; James Evans 98.10; Simon Horsley 72.04

Virtual #7 Trout Distance: Lasse Karlsson (right) 130.07, Lasse Karlsson (left) 108.03

ST27: Tracy Thomas 149.02*; Mike Heritage 133.00; James Evans 132.02; John Reynolds 130.08; Marcus Robson 129.01; Howard Bishop 128.06; Dominic Hewitt 114.04

Virtual ST27: Lasse Karlsson (right) 149.07, Lasse Karlsson (left) 130.07

S55: James Evans 180.09; Mike Heritage 168.01; John Reynolds 164.09; Tracy Thomas 157.00; Howard Bishop 146.03; Dominic Hewitt 140.03

T38: John Reynolds 170.07; Howard Bishop 155.10; Mike Heritage 147.50; James Evans 144.04; Dominic Hewitt 133.06; Tracy Thomas 123.04

Virtual T38: Lasse Karlsson (right) 172.03, Lasse Karlsson (left) 140.01

T120: James Evans 211.08; Mike Heritage 185.06; John Reynolds 181.07; Howard Bishop 154.11; Dominic Hewitt 154.11; Tracy Thomas 142.11

Accuracy (points): Tracy Thomas 46; John Reynolds 31; Howard Bishop 25; Mike Heritage 15; Dominic Hewitt 14; Simon Horsley 3

Overall event (percentage): 1st John Reynolds 611.87; 2nd Tracy Thomas 609.87; 3rd Mike Heritage 588.03

*Records: Tracy Thomas extended her women’s overall (and S50) best in the ST27