Sunday 20th May
On a hard day where there were only 2 limits and nobody blanked, the winner of the SFF Chew qualifier was John Braithwaite with 8 fish for 28lb 11oz (including Time Bonus). Biggest Fish of the day was a 5lb 2oz Rainbow falling to 4th placed Tony Hill. 104 fish were caught at an average of 4 per rod and an average weight of 2lb 15oz.
Full Results: chew qualifier
Friday 18th May
The Team England FF team for this year’s Spring Loch-style Home International on Lough Sheelin consisted of:
Martin Introna (Manager), Bill Rankin (Captain), Paul Angell, Sean Brooks, Steve Collins, Ian Donaldson, David Drake, Stephen Ellerbeck, Martin Greatbach, Kim Green, Mark Howard, Mark MacLeod, Colin Martin, John Stevenson and Mark Withyman.
Early reports are that Ireland won Gold with Keiron Thomas of Wales taking the Brown Bowl with 7 fish.
1st Ireland 34 fish 2076 points
2nd Wales 32 fish 2004 points
3rd Scotland 27 fish 1692 points
4th England 13 fish 788 points
Brown Bowl: Kieron Thomas (Wales)
H. Emyr Lewis Trophy: Frank Kelly (Ireland)
Full Results: iffa2012spring
Video featuring the victorious Irish side
TEFF Boat Manager Martin Introna comments, “Fantastic week despite our result but hey! Well done to all the medal winners! The England team with Captain Bill Rankin worked their socks off and the new caps (all 7 of them) including our reserve performed like seasoned internationals! We knew we needed to average 2 fish per man and were around that figure during our practice days…we did our best but were beaten by some great teams! Well done to home nation Ireland who closely won from a strong Welsh team effort followed by Scotland and England who absolutely worked like troopers and were a credit to TEFF. I’m sure some will rejoice in our position but let me tell you this, once you have sampled this type of fishing in the wonderful country of Ireland, please take time to consider how massively different it is to our heavily stocked reservoirs where in some cases you would bag up using bunch of keys tied to a hook…Ireland is all about the fishing…not the ‘catching’! We all made many new friends and will hopefully keep in touch. Stan Headley and I had a terrific time as newbie managers and learned a lot through our experience. Our guys took a good look at our spoon…I insisted…as it should be a long time before we have the opportunity again…we shall return!
Thanks to Crover Hotel for their fantastic service to our party and to Micheal Callaghan for all the organising and lastly to Lawrence Finney for the framed flies given to the managers, a complete star of a man!
PS, I would like to thank all my mates who are sending all the joke ‘spoon’ texts to me…as expected they are all English apart from one who shall remain nameless (Boo)…Love the banter! I give it so I have to take it ha ha! One thing is for sure, and I am positive I speak for the whole English squad, if we could do it all again knowing we would still come back with the ‘Spoon’…we would swim over!”
Martin adds “Massive thanks John Ball for all his guidance and help for me personally in making this a trip to remember”.
At the Team England FF AGM last November (See Report TEFF AGM 27-11-11) it was decided not to enter a team into the European Championships (a competition we would have very little chance of doing well in) and instead organise a training trip to Norway, the venue of next year’s World Championships, to be better prepared for this event. Even so, TEFF still covered this year’s European event.
12 teams took part in this year’s event, which was held from the 13th-20th May, near to the Montebelo Aguieira resort. (See more details here: 18th European Fly Fishing Championship – Portugal(1)) It was held over five river sessions, on the Rio Mondeggo, Rio Alva and Rio Ceira.
France took an early lead after the first session, ahead of Spain, Romania, Italy and the Czech Republic. Ireland were 7th with Scotland 10th. TEAMS
Individually, Ludovic Chaomleffel of France led the first session, with Thomas O’Connor of Ireland in 4th place and Kenny Riddell of Scotland 19th. INDIVIDUAL
The Portugal 2 team won the second session, ahead of the Czech Republic and Italy. Scotland were 9th and Ireland 11th. TEAMS-1 Individually, three Portugese, an Italian and a Finnish competitor were in the top five places. INDIV
After two sessions, the Czech Republic were leading, with Portugal 2 second and France third. Ireland were lying 9th and Scotland 11th. TEAMS 1&2(1)
In the Individuals, former World and European Champion Pavel Chyba (Czech Republic) was 1st, with Ludovic Chaomleffel (France) 2nd and Laurent Gagneux (France) 3rd. Thomas O’Connor (Ireland) was 13th and Keith Renton (Scotland) 27th. INDIV 1&2
Spain won the third session Teams Individuals which put them into 1st place overall, with the Czech Republic 2nd and Portugal 2 3rd. Ireland were lying 10th and Scotland 11th Teams cummulative.
Individually, former World Champion Martin Droz (Czech Republic) was now lying 1st, with Ludovic Chaomleffel (France) 2nd and David Garcia (Spain) 3rd. Thomas O’Connor (Ireland) was 20th and Keith Renton (Scotland) 34th. Individuals cummulative
The Czech Republic won the fourth session TEAM INDIV and overtook Spain to lead with 74 points to third 76, with Italy 3rd on 86 points, and France and Portugal both on 97 points. TEAM CUMUL(1)
After winning his session Martin Droz (Czech Republic) remained top Individual, two place points ahead of David Garcia (Spain) in 2nd, Valerio Santi Amantini (Italy) 3rd, and Pavel Chyba (Czech Republic) 4th. Thomas O’Connor (Ireland) was 20th and Kenny Riddell (Scotland) 37th. INDIV CUMUL
Spain also won the fifth and final session TEAMS while Martin Droz recorded another session win, as did Valerio Santi Amantini INDIVS.
Final Results are: 1. Spain 89 pts 2. Czech Republic 98 pts 3. Italy 107 pts 4. Portugal 2 125 pts 5. France 129 pts 6. Poland 153 pts 7. Portugal 1 163 pts 8. Romania 179 pts 9. Finland 213 pts 10. Scotland 221 pts 11. Ireland 237 pts 12. Netherlands 258 pts TEAMS CUMULATIVE
Individuals: European Champion: Martin Droz (Czech Republic) 2. Valerio Santi Amantini (Italy) 3. David Garcia (Spain). Thomas O’Connor (Ireland) finished 31st and Kenny Riddell (Scotland) 39th. INVID CUMULATIVE.
Sunday 13th May
12 Individual entrants and 3 x Teams competed today in what can only be described as atrocious conditions. Anglers rotated along the lodge bank of the top lake and were subject to a continuous battering from the strong winds. The water soon coloured up turning the fish off. In contrast fish could be seen rising in the clearer calmer water of the upwind bank.
The match was fished to full c&r which adds a touch of early pressure as any tie on fish number will then revert back to time of first caught fish. Davey Parker was the quickest off the mark landing a fish 2 minutes after the start. Trevor Wadds was next in line followed by Fred B. then Glen Appleby. Only 4 out of the fifteen rods landed a fish on the first peg. No anglers caught on the second. The third move saw Howard Croston & Simon Robinson both land two fish, Howard then went on to land a further two fish from his fourth peg putting him ahead at lunch. 15 anglers landed a total of 19 fish before lunch.
Robbie Bell was in the running when he landed two fish after the lunch break, however the afternoon session was soon to harden up. Andrew Scott took a credible 2 fish to dry fly in choppy conditions and Fred B. landed 3 from 3, close in. A further 15 fish landed during the afternoon for 15 rods, giving a total of 34 fish, a credible amount on the day.
Well done to all – just for fishing in such harsh conditions.
Full results Aldin Grange Greys
Saturday 5th May
19 anglers fished the Individual heat and 3 Teams on a day when the fishing was hard but fair. Being one of the few non C&R or pegged heats, this competition was fished to a 6 fish limit, with a flat rate bonus of 1lb per fish if the 6 fish were weighed in before 2 o’clock (9.30 start). Only 4 anglers managed this, and a further 8 managed their limit by the end of the day.
With an average weight of 3lb 5oz and the biggest fish of the day falling to Andrew Campbell of 7lb 8oz, Bushyleaze lived up to its star billing.
Biggest bag of the day of 23lb 4oz also fell to Andrew but unfortunately he did not manage it in time to get the bonus.
The Odd Bods (Howard Letherdale, John Page & Nick Barley) took the Team heat with 15 fish for 62lb 6ox (including 12lb 0f bonus), ahead of the Outsiders (Less Cooke, Pat Cooke and Pat Damant) with 18 fish for 60lb 10oz (including 6lb 0f bonus).
The Individual heat was even closer with 1oz deciding the winner (Nicholas Barley 28lb 9oz ahead of John Pearn 28lb 8oz) and 3rd qualifying place being decided on the weight of the biggest fish (Less Cooke 26lb 4oz big fish 5lb 1oz over Howard Leatherdale 26lb 4oz big fish 4lb 10oz).
Full results Bushyleaze Greys heat
Saturday 12th May
The regional qualifying round of the rivers competition that ultimately decides who will represent England in International events was held on the 12th May at Fingle Bridge on the River Teign. The Peninsula Federation organizes this annual event and it was attended by anglers from all over the country.
The winner of the Snowbee Perpetual trophy was local angler Alex Bobba from Cullompton, who caught 18 trout in only 31/2 hours of fishing in the morning session. The top anglers will now go on to the National Final to be held on The River Dart in July where the top 5 anglers will represent England. The overall winner of the morning and afternoon sessions was John Tyzack from Stockport.
Bewl Water
Round 1: Sunday 27th May
Round 2: Sunday 1st July
Entry Fee £25 (includes £5 SEFFF admin fee – all cheques payable to SEFFF)
Fishing & Half Day Boat Ticket – Pay on Day
Accumulation of points over the two days to decide qualifiers. Entry Forms by 20th May. SEFFF Secretary: Brian Beeney, 11 Western Rd, Sparrows Green, Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 6TX Mob 07760 184833
Entry Forms: SEFFF Loch-style Entry Form
Sunday 22nd April
The Walthamstow heat of the Greys Bank Championship saw 12 individuals and 4 teams work their round the reservoirs in our usual rotating format. On the day the slightly more coloured No4 proved tricky, with the bulk of fish coming from No5.
Individual winner Jim Dillon won easily with a total of 8 fish, including a seven pounder, on a slow intermediate and his usual Charlie Farley, with Mike Heritage, Clive Morgan and Andrew Green behind him on 5 fish.
London Irish repeated their win of last year, one fish ahead of the Walthamstow Wanderers, but a good 13lbs in front, thanks to Jim’s bag. Rain made the last session uncomfortable but there were still fish to be had for those who persevered.
Full Results Greys Bank Walthamstow
Saturday 5th May
17 Individual competitors and 3 Teams entered the Seighford Lakes heat of this year’s Greys National Bank qualifiers.
Fishing was challenging due to a cold North Easterly, however a few fish were rising, and most anglers set out to target them. Terry Phillips and Dean Appleby got off to a great start by landing 2 fish each before their 3rd peg. Mike Dixon’s late morning charge saw him amongst the leaders at the half way stage.
Following a hearty Seighford lunch the anglers returned for the afternoon session. In contrast to the morning, the afternoon fished much better with fish more readily to take. Most pegs produced.
Best methods were dries & nymph fishing, although the Apps bloodworm proved to be the overall winner by adding a further 4 fish to Mike Dixon’s tally shortly after lunch. A great day was enjoyed by all and good luck to all those going through to the finals from Seighford Lakes.
Teams
1st Seighford Sharks 11 fish
2nd Trio’s 2 fish
3rd Serial Blankers 0 fish
Individual qualifiers
1st Mike Dixon 7 fish off 3 pegs (first fish 2lb 10oz)
2nd Terry Phillips 7 fish off 3 pegs (first fish 2lb 8oz)
3rd Phil Dixon 4 fish off 4 pegs
Full Results Seighford Lakes heat
Sunday 29th April
The Peninsula Federation of Fly Fishers held their National Qualifier at Blagdon Lake in Somerset on Sunday 29th April.
Heaviest bag of the John Tyzack, who also landed a 7lb 7oz rainbow, the best of the day. 
The majority of the competitors were from around the Peninsula region, with both second & third placed anglers being local. This included Simon Kidd from Plymouth, winner from the region, pictured with the hand carved perpetual trophy donated by Snowbee UK from Plymouth.
Angling Trust Team England Fly Fishing 