Angling Trust Team England Fly Fishing

Even though Grafham’s fishing had been ‘challenging’ in recent weeks, pre-match practice had thrown up good bags for some, and also suggested that fish were well spread out. Sure enough, at the gun 14 boats headed for the North shore, 25 to G Buoy and the rest to an area stretching from The Seat, to Gaynes Cove and the South end of the Dam.

Ideal conditions prevailed for much of the morning, with a good overcast sky and moderate winds. With fish high in the water, lines varied from floaters to DI3s, with some pulling on DI5s and DI7s.

First to finish was Kim Green, RAF federation, who took his 8 fish by 12.14pm drifting onto Deep Water Point. Having seen the numbers heading for G Buoy, he chose to pick a drift where they would be the only boat. Landing 7 in the first hour on floating line and nymphs, he found sport slowed noticeably as other boats joined in the drift and it took him an hour and a quarter to get that last fish. Even so, he still finished almost 90 minutes ahead of anyone else, and took the National Champion title with 23lbs 11 5/8ozs.

Second place went to Ron Gent who landed a 20lbs+ bag of fish just after 3.00pm, with third place going to David Drake with another spectacular 21-7-6 bag at 4.40pm. In a match that saw many four pound specimens, the best fish was caught by Denis Symonds, Peninsula federation, at 5-2-14.

The top 28, who will form the two England Teams to fish the Home Internationals at Lough Sheelin and Llyn Brenig in 2012, are: Kim Green, Ron Gent, David Drake, Paul Shaw, Fred Bainbridge, Alistair Beaumont, Andy Croucher, Richard Slater,  Brad Gifford, Steve Cullen, Rob Sosbe, Ian Donaldson, Dave Morris, Nick Dunn, Lloyd Pallett, Mark Howard, Colin Martin, Bill Rankin, Martin Greatbatch, Paul Angell, Mark MacLeod, John Stevenson, Steve Collins, Chris Micallef, Peter Appleby, Steve Ellerbeck, Mark Withyman and Sean Brooks.

Full results Loch-style National 2011

(Images courtesy of Cliff Waters Fishypics)

Italy 28th August – 4th September

England Team: Iain Barr, Phil Dixon, John Horsey, Simon Robinson, Mike Tinnion, Howard Croston (Reserve) & Ian Greenwood (Captain/Manager).

England made a good start in the first session, lying 2nd behind the Czech Republic, ahead of Poland in 3rd place and France in 4th, but dropped to 5th in the second session, and 7th in the third. After dropping out of the top ten in the fourth session, they recovered to finish in 10th place.

The final results confirmed that Italy had taken Gold (after lying in 13th place after the first session!), ahead of the Czech Republic with the Silver and Poland the Bronze. 4th Spain and 5th USA (their best ever placing), 6th Slovakia, 7th France, 8th Belgium, Scotland in 9th with England in 10th place. Ireland 15th and Wales 17th.

Lance Egan of Team USA has an excellent report on their experiences here

Individually, Valerio Santi Amanti, Italy, was World Champion. Tom Drinan of Ireland finished 5th, with Simon Cocker, Scotland, 7th. Phil Dixon was 21st, John Horsey 34th, Iain Barr 50th, Mike Tinnion 59th and Simon Robinson 90th.

Final results mosca_seniores_finale

Official website here

Images from Opening Ceremony here

Video covering the lake sector and the Presentation Ceremony.

After the fifth and final session in the Youth event, the USA hung on to take Gold, with Italy on Silver and Spain Bronze. England finished at 8th with Wales 10th and Ireland 11th. Individually, Kieron Jenkins of Wales came 4th, while the highest placed England team member was James Atkinson 24th. The World Youth Champion was Lukas Starychfojtu of the Czech Republic.

Images from the Youth event here along with video

With only a couple of weeks to go, I am still a few boatmen short for the International match which is to be fished at Grafham on Friday 23rd September.

The role of the boatman is predominately to see fair play. There will be a catch and release format to the competition, and you will be required to mark the competitors’ cards, and to ensure that fish are released carefully and without harm.

You will also be required to operate the drogue, to check flies, to ensure the boat is safe, and to assist competitors in any other reasonable way they may request.

In return, you have the chance to mix with the international competitors who by tradition will acknowledge the assistance of the boatman during the course of the day.

28 good boatman are vital to ensuring a successful match. Are you willing to help? The match will run on Friday 23rd September from 10.00am until 6.00pm, and the boatmen’s briefing will be at 9.00am.

If you are willing and able to help, please can you let me know without delay?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Richard Slater, England Loch-style Team Manager

07712 009676 or Email Richard Slater

The allocation for qualifying places in the 2011 Loch-style National (Saturday 3rd September, Grafham Water) has now been confirmed.

With 100 places available, and a total entry of 345, the allocation for each qualifier is worked out by dividing the qualifier entry by 3.45, with the figure obtained being rounded up or down as necessary. Regardless of the size of entry, this ratio – 3.45:1 – remains the same.

Allocation by Federation – 2011 Loch-style Allocation

Names of Qualifiers – 2011 Loch-style Names

A day was organised for a get-together to familiarise the team taking part in the Bank International on Barfinnihy Lake, Kenmare, Ireland in October.

The venues selected were Waskerley and Smiddy Shaw reservoirs, Co Durham. The fishing was arranged by Graham Robinson and members of the North West Durham Anglers Syndicate.

Despite strong winds and bright sunshine, fish were landed at both venues. The opportunity was also taken for a brief team talk by Manager Alan Jenkins, along with the presentation of Team England shirts and badges to new caps Bart Farmer and Rob Frame.

Preparations are now well in hand for the second Bank International which will be held on 19th October 2011, organised by hosts Trout Anglers Federation Ireland (TAFI).

Full report, Team Profile & more pictures