Angling Trust Team England Fly Fishing

AT TEFF has appointed a new volunteer into the role of General Secretary. His name is Alex Adams, and his email is alex.adams1969@gmail.com

Dates, Venues and Brief Rules are here>>

Note: After listening to competitors’ comments and feedback the TEFF Exec has decided to introduce a seventh heat in 2023. Unfortunately, this will mean that less will progress from each heat rather than 50% as originally stated. The additional heat will be at Blithfield on Friday 9th June with a max of 40 anglers.

AT TEFF Loch-style Qualifiers & National Final – Brief Entry Rules

1. Enter either one Qualifier heat only in Block ‘A’ – less than 50% of those that fish rounded go through to the National Final, depending on entries.
2. Or having failed in a Block ‘A’ entry, you can enter the Block ‘B’ Qualifier heat where the chances are lower.
3. Or just enter the Block ‘B’ Qualifier heat where where the chances are lower.
4. Those progressing from the Block ‘B’ Qualifier heat will be enough to make the National Final a 100-rod event.
5. The National Final will be 100 anglers maximum, but may, if entry numbers are reduced, be less – at the discretion of the TEFF Executive.
6. When entering Qualifier heats please indicate your willingness to be a boatman if you do not make it into the National Final.
7. The National Final will be either a one or two day event – yet to be decided.
8. Catch rules for all Qualifier heats will be:
   Kill first 2 fish then Catch & Release at 2lbs per fish for the rest of the day.
   Record time of capture of first 2 fish – this will determine finish position in the event of a tie.
   Score cards will be used and must be completed by your boat partner and signed.
9. All entries to Qualifier heats in Block ‘A’ open at 8.00pm on 1st March 2023 and close on 31st March.
10. Block ‘B’ Qualifier heat opens for entries on 10th June 2023.

Reasoning behind this decision: Last year saw only 156 unique anglers entering the heats. Many heats were undersubscribed. This led to an overload at the repechage meaning that we had to restrict numbers going to the final to make it fair. Next season we will not know how many will enter – it could be less than 156 due to the financial climate. We have no new organisers offering to help so decided to cut venues to reduce the administrative load. We’ve always had a good entry in the SW (around 70 anglers) and the East (60 or so). The heats in the Midland were not so well supported this year and with the entries next year being reduced from 3 per angler to 2 we didn’t see the need to hold several heats in the Midlands. Why have we reduced the number of attempts? Again in response to anglers who made the accusation that those who could afford it could buy a place in the final. If anyone feels they have the time to help TEFF in running any events or simply helping in some other way please come forward.

Loch-Style Rules – updated for 2023. v1.2
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZOCEYTewEbGWypLcgQs7h-FZqEHGN60u/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102281041471959672607&rtpof=true&sd=true

Frequently Asked Questions – Loch-Style Qualifier Entrants 2023
https://docs.google.com/document/d/193KQiTtUpoWmzoxkxdDs5Fzo_cECp0wVldm1iX7hxtE/edit?usp=sharing

Risk Assessment
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nn07FjIVykuAM5mHRYwjHj0Cx4Gtn3aF/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102281041471959672607&rtpof=true&sd=true

AT TEFF Loch-style Qualifiers & National Final – Provisional Dates

BLOCK ‘A’

April 2023

Sunday 23rd April – Blagdon – South West area – Max Entry 40

Sunday 30th April – Bewl Water – South East area – Max Entry 12

May 2023

Sunday 7th May – Draycote – Midlands area – Max Entry 40

Sunday 28th May – Sweethope – North East area – Max Entry 10
Sunday 28th May – Chew – South West area – Max Entry 30

June 2023

Saturday 3rd June – Graham – East area – Min Entry 30 – Max Entry 60

Friday 9th June – Blithfield – Midlands area – Max Entry 40

BLOCK ‘B’

July 2023

Sunday 2nd July – Rutland – ‘Catch-all’ – Min Entry 40 – Max Entry 100

NATIONAL FINAL

Saturday 23rd – Sunday 24th September 2023 – Grafham (Official Practice – Friday 22nd September)

NB: After much consideration the TEFF Exec has decided the only suitable weekend to hold next year’s National Final is on 23rd and 24th September. Many other dates were considered but all clashed with other major competitions or the Autumn International. Official practice day will be Sept 22nd. The venue will be Grafham Water.

TEFF would like to welcome on board the following volunteers, all of whom will be Executive members:

Chris Bobby who will look after Finances
Keith Wallace who will look after Marketing and Sponsorship
Peter Scholes who will look after Rivers

Contact details for all the above will be posted shortly, along with a diagram of the new structure.
Remaining on the Exec are Scott Nellins and Ian Colclough (for now).
We have parties interested in the Secretary role, and are working on the details.
We still have a vacancy on the Exec for someone to take on the Bank fishing role.
If you are interested please send me a PM.

Ian Colclough

These are the current vacancies. The closing date for applications is 16th January 2023.

1. ATTEFF Executive Officer and Bank – Job Description and Person Specification
   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bf43MQlZEbnY4iWipV_kcvCx8TOz30Si/view?usp=sharing

2. ATTEFF Executive Officer and Rivers – Job Description and Person Specification
   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rPtMxj0ieFnsvHn6dcf5WftAQP6NKi-e/view?usp=sharing

3. ATTEFF Executive Officer and Finance – Job Description and Person Specification
   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1htnISh4Xgk8GwBELSbxZdJoU5drn7d7J/view?usp=sharing

4. ATTEFF Executive Officer and Secretary – Job Description and Person Specification
   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wYM_D9bkKtxVmEMP_9lRoZfOCeqgfhI4/view?usp=sharing

5. ATTEFF Executive Officer and Marketing and Sponsorship – Job Description and Person Specification
   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dy08tqRryi720Oyh0Pr7EYhkLoe4k1hd/view?usp=sharing

If you are interested in any of these roles, please apply by email to ian.colclough@gmail.com – Acting Secretary

Thanks

Ian Colclough

It is with great sadness that TEFF announces two of its most valued volunteers have now either stood down or taken more of a ‘back seat’.

The two people in question are our Secretary, Alan Tonge and Exec member Paul Page.

Paul has been heavily involved in all things TEFF for more years that I can remember. His input cannot be over-emphasized, being involved in virtually everything that TEFF does, from World and European teams to our Home Nations events on Loch-style, Rivers and Bank competitions. He has for many years been our link to Angling Trust, and was the main controller of all our budgeting and merchandise supplies. Paul has indicated that he is to step back from much of this work, but will remain on the periphery to help during handover. 

Alan too has dedicated an untold amount of his own time, over 20 years, to many roles, more recently as General Secretary, giving support to all the other TEFF volunteers. He has become a close friend of mine and I recall several meetings with him and AT representatives over the years.

These people work at their own cost, dedicating many hours a week to the cause. On behalf of all at TEFF I’d like to thank them for their dedication and commitment – I hope all of you will do the same.

TEFF is working hard to find replacements for the two roles, and a volunteer role job description will be made available soon via the AT website.

Ian Colclough

The loch-style working group met on 2nd November to discuss some major issues facing us over the coming months / years.
Top of the agenda was the format for the 2023 National Final.
Much discussion took place and as was expected, several ideas were tabled with differing opinions over one or two day finals and the catch rules.
A ‘vote’ was taken and it was apparent that a two day final is still preferred. As for catch rules a small majority of those that wanted a 2 day final also favoured catch and release in some form.
The Exec has looked at the proposal and agreed that next year’s final will be held over 2 days to a ‘kill 3 fish then catch and release a further 13 then a time bonus’. Returned fish will count as 2lbs and the bonus will be set at 8ozs per full quarter hour.

Other items discussed included the use of boatmen at the final. It was felt that this option was not feasible.

Discussion took place around those anglers that might be tempted to falsify their match cards. The cards for next season will be redesigned and both anglers in the boats will be required to complete the card simultaneously – one angler records his catch on one side of the card and also his partner’s catch on the other side.

Other subjects briefly discussed included:
How to increase entries especially amongst younger anglers.
How does TEEF generate more income to support its teams through grant allocations (fundraising below).
Is it necessary to always have a 100 rod final.
Perceived angler issues with Angling Trust.
The cost of representing your country.
How to counter possible cheating.
If ‘carry overs’ should be reintroduced – there was a resounding ‘no’ to this idea.
Fundraising – this will be looked into by some group members.
The above will be addressed at a future date.

Morning
The Angling Trust reports: We’re 10 minutes into the day’s fishing and Simon Caddy, the angler I’m controlling, has a 26cms Grayling on the card.
River is quite swollen but still accessible, weather progressing as to the forecast, showers and cloudy with the odd break of sun.
More news as the competition progresses.

Afternoon
Our anglers have returned from the river, after completing both the morning and afternoon sessions. As stated earlier, the river was still relatively swollen from the spate earlier this week. However as the river had settled below a metre of flood water the match progressed today.
Due to the trout season finishing at the end of September, this competition is purely for grayling, tweaking the weight of flies and finding fish is paramount. This time of year the grayling move into shoals rather than being spread across the river.
It can be a bit of ‘feast or famine’ and also ‘location-location-location’, however grayling are wonderful fish and our competitors love fishing for them.
Today’s Rivers National qualifying rods are: Kevin Moran, Mike Dixon, Simon Clarke, Carl Nixon, Pete Buckey, Simon Caddy, Phil Dixon and Gary Hedges.
Today’s top angler was Phil Dixon, who amassed 17 fish for 828 points, an excellent performance, due to the river beginning to rise again and the afternoon session proving a little more taxing than this morning.
Big thanks to Peter Scholes for organising a great match, Llangollen & Maelor Angling for hosting, and all our competitors for travelling from across the country to compete.
Safe journey home guys.

The Bank International Committee approved and authorised the following rules for the 2023 International. They include the 2021 FIPS-Mouche amendments.

The 2022 Home International Bank competition is being held at Garnffrwd trout fishery in Wales on Wednesday 19th October. Teams from Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland are competing.

Representing AT TEFF are: Mark Harrison (captain), Andy Taylor, Phil Shaw-Browne, James Stephenson, Josh Piper, Tim Joyce and Anthony Meadows.

The Angling Trust reports: The teams have been piped down to the pegs and this year’s Championship is under way.
We’ll aim to keep you updated as the match unveils, however, no official results will be available until they’re ratified this evening.
The klaxons sounded and lines are looping out across the lake, let’s see what the day brings.
Good luck to all.

The first of the sessions completed and our competitors have moved onto the second.
The rough report for session one is: Josh Piper has 2, Tyler Hay 2, Rhys Wadley 2/3, Kevin Lafford 1 & Shane Bird 1.
Apologies for the low quality photos, it’s quite a large lake to cover from the lodge.

The second session concluded, Brian Keer has one as have Kevin Andrews and Rhys Wadley.
Josh Piper is now on three fish adding to the first session score. Andy Taylor landed two in this session and Mark Harrison’s off the mark too.

PM update for the Bank International, the current position after lunch is still provisional, however it’s safe to say that Wales & Eire are both on thirteen fish, while England & Scotland are on eight.
It’s looking like Wales have the handle on the day, with Eire pushing for second, whilst England & Scotland tussle for third.
Conditions are bright, but the wind has lifted considerably.

This year’s Home International Bank competition is fished and results in, congratulations to Ireland on a fantastic performance pipping host nation Wales into Silver, this was by a single fish and 600 fish points. England landed the Bronze by three fish and 2460 points, over Scotland.
Wales took top rod as Dai Jones on the same six fish as Ireland’s Brian Keer, however one placing point clear. Rhys Wadley landed the longest Trout of 55cms as well as placing third in the individual table.
Paul Page announced the results and thanked both the fishery for their brilliant support and volunteer stewards for their diligent attention to detail whilst scoring and invigilating. As well as to our competing anglers whose dedication and commitment makes this competition such a fascinating as well as intriguing match.
We’re looking forward to next year already, roll on 2023