At the GAIA meeting in North Wales on the 3rd March, Roger who was a GAIC (single handed casting), took another step up the qualification ladder. After a seaching three hour examination he achieved APGAI – Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructor (single handed casting), resulting from a great deal of dedicated preparation. Our congratulations and thanks are due to Roger since I know that his knowledge will, ultimately, be used for the benefit of all at BFCC Meetings.

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!

The BFCC made its first and very successful visit to Scotland. YES, it was wet all day long and YES, a gusty southwest wind caused a few casting problems, but did it dampen the enthusiasm of twenty hardy casters – NO! It was good to see new friends joining in all the tuition and fun competitions for the first time, with B100 very popular. The results in ft. and ins. were:

#5 F – Hamish Young 110.09, William McGuire 109.06, Tomas Bacsai 108.10, Scott Loudon 107.01, Ben Dixon 104.10, James Hek (jnr) 104.07, Mike Heritage 103.11, James Evans 102.02, Brian McGlashan 102.04, Mick Bell 101.05, Malcomb Prescott 100.11, Craig Brown 97.02, John Reynolds 96.05, Billy Salvona 90.02, Alberto Laidlaw 86.05, Tracy Thomas 78.06, Brian Pritchard 77.07, Angus McLeod 77.04, Alex Cruickshank 73.03, Mike Barrio 66.03, Ally Bremner 60.01.

#7F – John Reynolds 123.00, James Evans 111.06, James Hek (jnr) 102.02, Ben Dixon 100.10, William McGuire 97.09, Mick Bell 94.04, Hamish Young 93.06, Mike Heritage 92.06, Malcomb Prescott 86.01, Scott Loudon 84.07, Tomas Bacsai 84.06, Brian McGlashan 82.09, Craig Brown 81.00, Billy Salvona 77.08, Tracy Thomas 72.03, Mike Barrio 65.08, Alberto Laidlaw 65.06, Brian Pritchard 62.04, Alex Cruickshank 59.00, Angus McCleod 52.11, Ally Bremner 47.08.

B100 #5 + #7 – Hamish Young 201.03, Malcomb Prescott 187.09 Brian McGlashan 185.01, Craig Brown 187.02, Billie Salvona 167.01 Tracy Thomas 150.09, Brian Pritchard 142.11, Alex Cruickshank 132.03, Angus McCleod 138.03, Mike Barrio 131.11, Malcomb Campbell109.04, Ally Bremner 107.09.

#9F – John Reynolds 138.00, Wiliam McGuire 138.00, Mike Heritage 137.05, Mick Bell 137.03, Hamish Young 127.03, James Evans 127.00, Scott Loudon 126.09, Craig Brown 126.02, Brian McGlashan 122.00, Ben Dixon 121.11 James Hek (jnr) 121.01, Tomas Bacsai 113.03, Malcomb Prescott 106.06, Mike Barrio 105.05, Brian Pritchard 105.01, Alberto Laidlaw 104.00, Tracy Thomas 99.07, Billie Salvona 92.01, Alex Cruickshank 94.04, Malcomb Campbell 92.01.

T38 – Mick Bell 189.01, John Reynolds 159.11, James Evans 147.11, James Hek (jnr) 143.09, Ben Dixon 142.00, William McGuire 140.08, Hamish Young 136.04, Scott Loudon 134.05, Malcomb Prescott 106.00.

T120 – Mike Marshall 212.00, Malcomb Presott 189.05, Mick Bell 187.01, Ben Dixon 186.10, Scott Loudon 186.06, Brian Pritchard 168.11, James Evans 157.00, Ally Bremner 122.07.

Congratulations are also due to James Hek for setting a Junior 17,  T38 Record of 143.09, also to Mike Barrio and Hamish Young for achieving 35yd Badges.

I am sure you will all join with me in congratulating Vernon Wood for achieving his 35yd badge, and this in the less than ideal conditions of a changeable breeze, together with a high backcast being required. This was not a one shot wonder as several casts were beyond this excellent distance, in spite of some not too wonderful health recently and a consequent lack of practise. Keep up the good work Vernon!

Just like the old days, only better. From one point of view it wasn’t very successful but from the other it was a great day.

We did not have many non members turn up for tuition but we had loads of members turn up so the competition was really good. Because of the stiff south westerly we were restricted to casting across the grass towards the car park so we could not get the T38 or T 120 into action. As it was we were peppering car bonnets with the seven and nine weights.

Both Paul Arden and James Evens had hardly stepped off their planes from Australia and America respectively to be with us, Paul then walked off with three trophies. Well done.

Alan Bath achieved a new record in the V70 5 weight category with a cast of 94′. He deserves it for all the practice he does, Well done Alan.

Alan casts in the B100 class and there is some stiff competition. The winner is the person with the highest total distance in the five and seven events and Jamie Cashman’s 190? 11” did it this time.

We ran an accuracy event which had the unexpected bonus that it meant we all congregated in that area to help scoring and enjoy the sport of barracking whoever was casting. One member claimed not to have understood the rules on his attempt and requested another go with the proviso that we could chuck him in the lake if his score was lower on his second go. Boy, is he fit, we couldn’t catch him but the next time him and me are near water he had better watch out.

Welcome to new members Don Palmer and Alan Bowles.

Thanks to everyone who helped make it such an enjoyable day.

Because our unofficial official photographer, Terry Jenner, hasn’t been seen for a while we do not have any official or otherwise photos to add to the album. If you have some from Reading or even Wrexham please send them to me.

Our next event is at Eyebrook on the 27th August, see you there.

Mike H

The results were affected by a very strong SW wind and two heavy showers, but this not deter our keen casters and there was some good competition and the usual humourous remarks. In fact, this was most clearly evident when everyone grouped around the accuracy event, which turned into a test of character and patience due to the strong side wind.

The results were:

B100 #5 – Alan Bath 94′, Jamie Cashman 92′ 5″, Steve Davis 89′ 2″, Mick Copeman 87′ 4″, Tracy Thomas 84′ 10″, David Fisher 83′ 4″, Don Palmer 81′ 3″.

B100 #7 – Jamie Cashman 98′ 6″, Don Palmer 92′ 6″, Tracy Thomas 91′ 3″, Mick Copeman 89′ 6″, Alan Bath 88′ 7″, David Fisher 84′ 10″, Steve Davis 78′ 10″. 

B100 (#5 + 7) – Jamie Cashman 190′ 11″, Alan Bath 182′ 7″, Mick Copeman 176′ 10″, Tracy Thomas 176′ 4″, Don Palmer 173′ 9″, David Fisher 168′ 2″, Steve Davis 168′.

#5 – Paul Arden 129′ 6″, Jonathan Tomlinson 124′ 6″, James Evans 120′ 11″, Mike Heritage 115′ 10″, Steve Kemp 113′ 9″, Trevor Bourne 111′ 10″, Lee Martell 107′ 8″.

#7 – Paul Arden 133′, James Evans 130′ 11″, Jonathan Tomlinson 127′ 8″, Lee Martell 122′ 9″, Trevor Bourne 122′ 6″, Mike Heritage 113′ 8″, Steve Kemp 98′.

#9 – Jonathan Tomlinson 139′ 1″, Paul Arden 134′ 11″, James Evans 133′ 7″, Mike Heritage 131′ 11″, Trevor Bourne 130′ 1″, Steve Kemp 125′ 2″, Lee Martell 123′ 3″, Jamie Cashman 114′, David Fisher 105′ 8″, Tracy Thomas 100′ 3″, Steve Davis 90′.

Accuracy (points) – Paul Arden 85, Mike Heritage 75, Trevor Bourne 60, Jonathan Tomlinson 60, Mark Surtees 60, Lee Martell 55, Don Palmer 45, David Fisher 45, James Evans 35, Steve Davis 30, Tracy Thomas 15, Jamie Cashman 15, Steve Kemp 15.

Congratulations are due to Alan Bath for setting a V70 record in #5 B100 of 94′.

Casting took place in continuous steady rain and a moderate south west breeze and the results in feet and inches were:

#5F – James Evans 113.07, Mike Heritage 107.10, John Reynolds 104.00, Paul Brown 103.06, Mike Roden 103.03, Bob Carlson 93.00, Mike Helliwell 89.10, Alan Bath 87.03, Pat Stevens 85.03, Louis Noble 85.02, Bud Budryk 84.06, John Forbes 83.07, Stephen Lindley 79.07, Tracy Thomas 77.03, Vera Carlson 75.09, John Lomas 73.01, Alan Cain 72.02, Nigel Rogers 71.10.

#7F – Mike Heritage 127.02, John Reynolds 123.02, James Evans 114.00, Mike Roden 110.08, Mike Helliwell 106.06, Paul Brown 104.08, Pat Stevens 99.09, Bud Budryk 96.10, Louis Noble 94.00, Stephen Lindley 93.09, Alan Bath 93.03, John Forbes 89.02, Bob Carlson 87.04, Tracy Thomas 84.04, Vera Carlson 82.10, Nigel Rogers 82.04, Alan Cain 82.02 John Lomas75.04.

B100 (#5 + #7) – Mike Helliwell 196.04, Pat Sevens 185.00, Bud Budryk 181.00 Alan Bath 180.06, Bob Carlson 180.04, Louis Noble 179.02, Stephen Lindley 173.04, John Forbes 172.09, Tracy Thomas 161.07, Vera Carlson 158.07, Alan Cain 155.10, Nigel Rogers 154.02, John Lomas 148.00.

#9F – James Evans 140.03, Mike Heritage 134.01, John Reynolds 126.05, Paul Brown 122.04, Bud Budryk 119.00.

T38 – John Reynolds 178.00, Mike Heritage 156.06, Paul Brown 152.07, James Evans 152.03, Mike Roden 149.06.

T120 – James Evans 166.00, Bud Budryk, 162.08, Paul Brown 160.07, John Reynolds 160.03, Mike Roden 160.00.

The competition took place in less than ideal conditions, with a fluctuating north wind, overcast skies and showers. However, there were some sparkling casting performances to brighten the day, particularly by young Carl Malpas, Mike Heritage and Alan Bath. It was also very good to be able to welcome Roger Enger Lie from Norway.

The results were as follows:

#5 – Mike Heritage 125′ 8″, Carl Malpass 113′, James Evans 111′ 8″, Steve Kemp 105′ 9″, Andy Hutson 102′, Roger Enger Lie 99′ 5″, Ian Malpas 93′, Alan Bath 86′ 5″, Tracy Thomas 84′ 4″, David Fisher 82′ 10″, Stephen Lindley 81′ 8″, Richard Walker 76′ 11″, Chris Walker 74′ 9″.

#7 – Carl Malpas 131′ 3″, Mike Heritage 129’1″, James Evans 127′ 6″, Roger Enger Lie 115′, Andy Hutson 106′ 11″Steve Kemp 100′ 9″, Alan Bath 99′ 6″, Ian Malpass 92′ 4″, Stephen Lindley 88′ 10″, Chris Walker 87′ 5″, Tracy Thomas 87′ 1″, David Fisher 83′, Richard Walker 81′ 3″.

B100 (#5 + #7) – Alan Bath 185′ 11″, Ian Malpass 185′ 4″, Tracy Thomas 171′ 5″, Stephen Lindley 170′ 6″, David Fisher 165′ 10″, Chris Walker 162′ 2″, Richard Walker 158′ 2″.

Distance Badges were achieved as follows – 30yd Philip Pledger, Alan Bath, Mike Smith.  35yd Steven Petersen, Roger Enger Lie. Congratulations to you all!!

Weather conditions were bright sun and a gusty east wind throughout, making casting challenging – particularly the backcast.

The results were:

Accuracy – John Reynolds 12 points,  Jonathan Tomlinson 10,  Mike Heritage 10,  Andy Miller 8,  Lisa Isles 7,  Trevor Bourne 6,  Lee Martell 4,  James Evans 3,  David Fisher 0.

#5F – Jonathan Tomlinson 129′ 7″,  James Evans 121′ 2″,  Alex Titov 120′ 9″,  Mike Heritage 120′,  John Reynolds 114′ 2″,  Dean Bass 108′ 7″, Lee martell 107′ 10″, Trevor Bourne 106′,  Andy Miller 103′, Lisa Isles 87′ 7″,  David Fisher 87′ 2″.

#7F – Jonathan Tomlinson 136′ 11″,  Mike Heritage 128′ 1″, James Evans 127′ 4″, Dean Bass 126′ 1″,  Alex Titov 125′ 5″,  John Reynolds 115′ 6″,  Lee Martell 108′ 2″, Trevor Bourne 107′ 3″, Andy Miller 100′, Lisa Isles 97′ 2″, David Fisher 77′ 7″.

#9F – Jonathan Tomlinson 148′ 3″,  John Reynolds 143′,  James Evans 141′ 1″, Alex Titov 137′ 10″,  Mike Heritage 135′ 5″,   Trevor Bourne 132′ 5″,  Lee Martell 125′ 11″, Andy Miller 122′ 3″, Lisa Isles 103′ 9″,  David Fisher 94′ 7″.

T38 – James Evans 187′ 4″,  Jonathan Tomlinson 182′ 2″,  Dean Bass 176′,  Mike Heritage 173′ 7″, Andy Miller 172′ 9″, John Reynolds 172′ 8″,  Lisa Isles 165′ 1″, Lee Martell 163′,  Trevor Bourne 161′ 9″,   Terry Jenner 155′ 8″,  David Fisher 114′ 6″.

T120 – Trevor Bourne 225′,  Andy Miller 221′ 7″,  Jonathan Tomlinson 209′ 2″,  John Reynolds 204′,  Terry Jenner 198′ 1″,  Mike Heritage 189′ 7″,  Lee Martell 171′ 1″,  David Fisher 129′ 2″

Victor Ludorum (All Round) – Jonathan Tomlinson 10 points,  Mike Heritage 23, John Reynolds 24,  James Evans 29,  Andy Miller 37,  Trevor Bourne 38,  Lee Martell 42,  Dean Bass 46,  Alex Titov 47,  Lisa Isles 55,  David Fisher 62,  Terry Jenner 63.

Badges: Lisa Isles 30yd,  Terry Jenner 50yd.

Congratulations on new BFCC Records: Lisa Isles #9F OR & SNR 103′ 5″ & T38  OR & SNR 165′ 1″, Jonathan Tomlinson #9F OR & SNR 148′ 3″, John Reynolds #9F S50 143′, Mike Heritage T38 S60 173′ 7″.

Breeze – Moderate SW. Sun strong and atmosphere very humid.

#5F – Mike Heritage 125′ 1″; Jonathan Tomlinson 122′; James Evans 112′; Tom Festing 108′ 9″; Joseph Harris 89′; David Fisher 84′ 4″; Tracy Thomas 89′

#7F – Tom Festing 128’7″; James Evans 125′ 2″; Joseph Harris 124′ 5″ (junior 17 record); Jonathan Tomlinson 123′; Mike Heritage 120′ 7″: Tracy Thomas 90′ 3″; David Fisher 98′ 5″.

#9F New Saltwater Event – Joseph Harris 143′ (outright & junior 17 records); Mike Heritage 139′ 9″ (S60 record); Jonathan Tomlinson 135′ (SNR record); James Evans 133′ 6″; Tom Festing 127′ 3″; David Fisher 98′ 5″.

BADGES – Congratulations are due to – 25yds Richard Ellis. 30yds Don Andrews; Jamie Cushman.