The all new BFCC website.  Enjoy.

The BFCC completed its first exhibition very successfully and, over the two day Spring Fly Show, sold lots of casting tuition sessions, Distance Badges and casting books. It was, in fact, great to see such good results from the major efforts put in by those keen BFCC Members who participated.

Casting took place in largely overcast conditions with a light southwesterly breeze and the results were:

#5F – Jonathan Tomlinson 128′ 8″ ; Mike Heritage  117′ 9″ ; Alex Titov  115′ 10″ ; Tony Bennett  103′ ; John Reynolds  102′ ; Roger Miles  102′ .

#7F – John Reynolds  130′ 6″ ; Jonathan Tomlinson  126′ 6″ ; Mike Heritage 124′ 4″ ; Alex Titov  121′ 10″ ; Tony Bennett  119′ ; Roger Miles  102′ 6″; Terry Jenner  91′ 1″ .

A highlight was fifteen years old Carl Malpass who cast a #7F outfit to achieve his 40yd Badge – well done indeed!

The proud recipients of Distance Badges were:         25 yds – Vee Carlson, David Adlard, Stephen Lindley. 30 yds – Bob Carlson, Terry Mann, Angus McLeod, Roger Smith, Adam Worker. 35 yds – Lee Kelly, Shane Carlton, Peter Major. 40 yds – Carl Malpass.

Reporter – Mike Marshall

Comment from Paul Arden – Just back from the BFCC’s competition day. A great day, plenty of casting, and the casting is getting better. I’m not quite on form but I’ve been fishing in Canada and so that’s my excuse and I’m sticking with it. Managed a couple of victories, one a scrape win in the #5 distance and the other a surprise win in the T120. Jonathan Tomlinson pulled victory in the #7 and neither Mike nor I could beat him! Mick Bell won the T38. Next year we’ll be making sure both join us for a complete weekend so I can Palinka Sabotage their game like everyone else’s.

Special mention goes to Adam who threw 116′ in the #7 and 111′ in the #5. Snake Pliskin threw over 100′. Alex swore in Russian a few times.

A wonderful day as always, expertly organised by Mike Marshall. Mike, if you don’t know, instructs at Hanningfield, where we first met ten years ago, back in the days when I was teaching at Ardleigh. He’s a competition caster and despite the fact that he’s 103 (fishing seasons) old, he still regularly wins full line and shooting head stuff. In fact he holds the #7 record, which is outstanding

#5 – Paul Arden  122′ 5″; John Reynolds  119′ 1″; Mike Heritage  118′ 6″; Jonathan Tomlinson  113′ 4″; Adam Denes 111′ 5″; Mick Bell  109′ 2″; Andrew Bagshaw 103′ 10″; Dean Bass  95′ 7″; Andy Miller 92′ 9″; Tony Bennett  87′ 7″; Colin Howlett 85′.

#7 – Jonathan Tomlinson  132′ 4″; Paul Arden  132′; Mike Heritage  129′ 8″; Tony Bennett 123′ 7″ S60 RECORD; Mick Bell  116′ 5″; Adam Denes  116′ 3″; Andrew Bagshaw  108′ 7″; John Bishop  107′ 9″; Colin Howlett 105′; Alex Titov  104′ 7″; Roger Miles  101′ 11″; Steve Kemp  101′; Dean Bass  96′ 11″; Geoff Mitchell  96′ 1″; Terry Jenner 91′ 7″; Roy Cannon 66′.

T38 – Mick Bell 184′ 9″; John Reynolds  183′ 5″; Paul Arden 181′ 9″; Andy Miller  177′ 7″; Andrew Bagshaw  171′ 10″; Jonathan Tomlinson 171′; Dean Bass 156′; Colin Howlett  150′; Mike Heritage  147′ 8″. Tony Bennett 141′.

T120 – Paul Arden  225′ 4″; Colin Howlett 223′ 7″; Mike Marshall 220′ 8″; Andy Miller  215′ 2″; Jonathan Tomlinson 204′ 2″; Mick Bell  201′ 3″; Andrew Bagshaw 194′ 7″; Terry Jenner  180′ 4″; John Reynolds 172′; Mike Heritage 167′ 10″.

#5F – Jonathan Tomlinson 129′ 10″ ; Mike Heritage 118′ 9″ ; John Reynolds  114′ 5″; Richard Flint  112′ ; Alex Titov  110 5″ ; Tony Bennett  110′ 2″ ; Andrew Bagshaw  103′ 11″ ; Steve Morris 101′ 5″ ; John Bishop 97′ 7″ ; Anthony Williams 96′ 2″ .

#7F – Mike Marshall  142′ 1″ OR & V70 Records ; Jonathan Tomlinson 135′ 8″ ; Mike Heritage  134′ 4″ ; Tony Bennett  118′ 8″ ; Richard Flint 116′ 3″ ; Shaun Cumming 115′ 11″ ; John Bishop 108′ ; Andrew Bagshaw  108′ ; Steve Morris  103′ ; Anthony Williams 96′ 9″ .

T 38 – John Reynolds  203′ 11″ ; Jonathan Tomlinson 203′ 1″ ; Andy Miller 186′ 10″ ; Barney Wright  171′ 6″ ; Colin Howlett  169′ 2″ ; Steve Morris  168′ 5″ ; Richard Flint  167′ 6″ ; Andrew Bagshaw  165′ 4″ ; Shaun Cumming  160′ 1″ ; Tony Bennett  159′ 8″ ; John Bishop  153′ 10″ ; Mike Heritage  151′ 5″ ; Alex Titov  137′ ; Anthony Williams  115′ 4″ .

T120 – Andy Miller  248′ 11″ ; Colin Howlett  237′ 4″ ; Jonathan Tomlinson 230′ 4″ ; Shaun Cumming  208′ 3″ ; John Reynolds  197′ ; Andrew Bagshaw  190′ 11″ ; Tony Bennett  180′ 9″ ; Mike Heritage  178′ 5″ .

Badges – 35yds Alex Titov, John Bishop.

#5F – Mike Heritage  114′ 1″ ; John Reynolds  103′ 3″ ; Tony Bennett  99′ .

#7F – Mike Marshall  130′ 10″ ; Mike Heritage 127′ 9″ ; John Reynolds  121′ Tony Bennett  111′ 11″ ; Colin Howlett  96′ 10″ ; Steve Morris 94′ 7″ ; Terry Jenner 92′ 10″ .

T38 – John Reynolds  174′ 6″ ; Mike Heritage  153′ 3″ ; Colin Howlett  151′ ; Tony Bennett  149′ 9″ .

T120 – Mike Marshall  214′ ; Mike Heritage  189′ 9″ ; Colin Howlett 180′ 8″ ; Tony Bennett  162′ 6″ ; John Reynolds  159′ .

#5F – Paul Arden  129′ 11″ ; Bart De Zwaan 121′ 4″ ; Jon Allen  117′ ; Mike Heritage 109′ 1″ ; Daniel Rees 106′ 4″ ; Kevin Knight  105′ 11″ ; Paul Procter 104′ 11″ ; Mick Bell  104′ 7″; Lee Cummins  103′ ; Tony Bennett 101′ 8″ ; Rupert McArt   99′ 10″ ; Dean Bass  99′ 6″ ; Ben Dixon  98′ 7″ ; Lee Watts  98′ 3″ ; Richard Flint  94′ 7″ ; Steve Cooke  67′ 11″ .

#7F – Paul Arden  138′ 10″ ; Mike Heritage  125′ ; Richard Flint  116′ 5″ ; Kevin Knight  115′ 11″ ; Jon Allen  115′ 3″ ; Bart De Zwaan  114′ 8″ ; Daniel Rees  113′ 9″ ; Rupert McArt  113′ 5″ ; Lee Cummins  107′ 8″ ; Ben Dixon  106′ 6″ ; Mick Bell  103′ 9″ ; Dean Bass  103′ 7″ ; Lee Watts  96′ 9″ ; Tony Bennett 96′ ; Steve Cooke  72′ 10″ ; Carl Bolding  72′ 8″ ; Geoff Mitchell 72′ .

T38 – Paul Arden  156′ ; Bart De Zwaan  155′ 2″ ; Mick Bell 151′ 3″ ; Lee Cummins 148′ ; Mike Heritage  141′ 11″ ; Richard Flint  136′ 10″ ; Dean Bass  130′ ; Andy Miller  126′ 5″ ; Kevin Knight  122′ ; Colin Howlett  118′ 3″ ; Tony Bennett  116′ 1″ .

T120 – Mick Bell  195′ 10″ ; Andy Miller  188′ 2″ ; Colin Howlett  182′ 9″ ; Paul Arden 168′ 6″ ; Dean Bass  166′ 10″ ; Mike Heritage  163′ 10″ ; Ben Dixon 158′ ; Lee Cummins  150′ 9″ .

#5F – Mike Heritage  119′ 6″ ; Mike Marshall  113′ 9″ ; Dean Bass  106′ 9″ ; Kevin Knight  104′ 5″ ; Tony Bennett  99′ ; Chris Cook  83′ 2″ .

#7F – Mike Marshall 132′ 1″ . Mike Heritage  132′ ; Tony Bennett  118′ 1″ ; Kevin Knight  116′ 8″ ; Chris Cook 111′ 8″ ; Dean Bass 107′ 9″ .

T38 – Mike Marshall 173′ 8″ ; Mike Heritage  168′ 2″ ; Terry Edmonds  161′ 7″ ; Colin Howlett 156′ ; Kevin Knight  141′ 10″ ; Tony Bennett  131′ 3″ ; Chris Cook  128′ 2″ .

T120 – Mike Marshall  213′ 7″ ; Colin Howlett 198′ 2″ ; Terry Edmonds 194′ 5″ ; Kevin Knight 174′ 7″ ; Dean Bass 157′ 2″ ; Tony Bennett  151′ 2″ .

Badges – 35yds Dean Bass.

#5F – Mike Heritage  124′ 4″ ; Richard Flint 116′ ; Tony Bennett  112′ 9″ ; Kevin Knight  94′ 5″ ; Terry Edmonds  87′ 10″ ; Dean Bass 82′ 3″ ; Malcomb March 66′ 1″ .

#7F – Mike Heritage  141′ 8″  OR & S50 RECORDS; Richard Flint  130′ 10″ ; Tony Bennett  112′ 9″ ; Kevin Knight  108′ ; Terry Edmonds  105′ 7″ ; Colin Howlett  97′ 7″ ; Dean Bass  93′ 10″ ; Malcomb March 78′ 7″ .

T38 – Terry Edmonds  173′ ; Mike Marshall  172′ 8″ ; Richard Flint  172′ 4″ ; Steve Morris  169′ ; Tony Bennett  161′ ; Andy Miller 146′ ; Kevin Knight  140′ 3″ .

Badge – 30yds Dean Bass.

T120 – Mike Marshall  224′ 9″ ; Colin Howlett  210′ 4″ ; Terry Edmonds 195′ ; Kevin Knight  171′ 6″ ; Mike Heritage  171′ .

Shenfield cricket ground looked glorious in continuous spring sunshine, surrounded by bushes and trees in full flower, which were barely ruffled by a light northerly breeze. The event was opened at 10am by club secretary, Mike Marshall, who then gave a talk and casting demonstration to the twentyfive casters present. This was then followed by comments on safety by John Reynolds and the Club’s computer links by Mike Heritage.

The enthusiasm of the participants was clear to see from their addresses, examples being Durham, West Midlands, Norfolk and from Sussex who was eightyfive years young. Once formed into teams of three, they all cast for three minutes with WF7F outfits and their longest casts were measured and recorded on cards, together with aspects requiring tuition. Distances were good with 9 casters over 25yds, 6 over 30yds, and the longest was 35yds by Terry Edmonds which was well beyond their expectations. The winning team total was 87.7yds, and badges were then awarded to the 25, 30 and 35yd casters.

Tuition then took place in four groups over two sessions, broken by a rest for lunch and it was remarkable to see the improvements in casting styles and distances achieved. Many commented on how much less effort they needed to achieve greater distance and that their record cards would prevent them slipping into bad habits. Some casters asked if they could cast again ot quantify their improvements, with remarkable results. Six upgraded their badges from 25 to 30yds, and two upgraded from 30 to 35yds, including our only lady caster, Sue Macniven. Well done indeed!

Badges – 35yds Sue McNiven, John Forster, Kevin Knight.

Reporter – Mike Marshall

#5F – Paul Arden  130′ 9″ OR ; Ben Spinks  124′ 1″ ; Jon Allen  120′ 10″ ; Mike Heritage  120′ 2″ ; Lasse Karlson 118. 5″ ; Richard Flint 114′ 5″ ; Mick Bell  111′ 3″ ; Joseph Harris (12 years old)  100′ 3″ ; Evan Ivey  93′ 9″ ; Rob Cleminson  85′ 5″ ; Phil Moran 63′ ; David Fisher  54′ 1″ .

#7F – Paul Arden  135′ 6″ OR ; Mike Heritage  132′ 6″ ; Lasse Karlson  121′ 9″ ; Richard Flint  119′ 4″ ; Ben Spinks  117′ 2″ ; Mick Bell  114′ 1″ ; Joseph Harris (12 years old) 108′ 10″ ; Bean Oliver 94′ 7″ ; Steve Collins  94′ 5″ ; Geoff Mitchell  88′ 2″ ;  Andrew Perkins  81′ 3″ ; Rob Cleminson  79′ 1″ .

T38 – Mick Bell  161′ 7″ ; Richard Flint  158′ 9″ ; John Reynolds  145′ 10″ ; Mike Heritage  145′ 2″ ; Andrew Small  144′ 2″ ; Colin Howlett  140′ ; Andy Miller  119′ .

T120 – Colin Howlett 177′ 4″ ; Mick Bell  176′ ; Andy Miller  165′ ; Mike Heritage  151′ 3″ ; Joseph Harris  127′ 1″ .

#7F Team Event – UKSF (Andy Miller, Colin Howlett, Andrew Small)  309′ 1″ .

Badges – 25yds Mary Ivey. 30yds Phil Moran, Rob Cleminson. 35yds Evan Ivey. 50yds Richard Flint.