So I don't have any photos to share I'm afraid
I was either too busy working on the Mackenzie Fly fishing stand, watching other events or entering qualifying for the Saltwater event to take any.
That was my three days at the 2014 CLA. Boy was it hot, I mean really feckin hot with a chilli on top kind of hot.
The important thing is that the two 'big' events (Saltwater and Spey) were well attended, the Saltwater had in excess of 40 entries over the day and a half of qualifying. The final was held on the Saturday afternoon (eventually
) which was in keeping with how it's previously been run. Personally, I'd like to have seen it run on the Sunday before the Spey final..... giving almost another 12 hours of potential entrants to have a chuck, maybe another time.
Plenty of folk came to enter the Saltwater who I had not met before but who had rallied to the call. Although none of them qualified for the final - only the best 6 go through - I'm confident most will be back next year to have a crack at it again. There was great camaraderie amongst the competitors which was really nice to see.
I was delighted to qualify for the final, at the previous two events I have been within a gnats bollocks of qualifying but been knocked out at the last minute. Not this time.
Despite crushing heat, humidity, torrential rain (thank the Good Lord for the rain
) crap wind conditions and .... well..... you get the idea.... I popped in a cast in the 36 metre territory which seeded me 4th. Now that's some 10 metres
below where I've been casting at home, it was really brought home to me this time that the caster who is consistent in
all conditions will be successful. Ben seeded 1st by casting better than I've seen him chuck before, almost as if there were no pressure at all. Utter git.
Come the final I have to say I was a smidgen nervous to begin with. Stepping up onto the 'big' platform (where the Spey event takes place) with a good sized audience and a thunder and lightening storm going on around you is an experience I can assure you.
Once I started casting some advice given to me by Scott Mackenzie kicked in and, despite everything going on around me, I did OK. I expected to have my arse handed to me and finish last but it wasn't to be and I threw some really good casts; enough to remain 4th at the end with some really top casters ahead of me. I believe I was only a few centimetres from making the top three but I was just happy, exhilarated in fact, to have been part of a final. The conditions were tricky though and, honestly, Ben was unlucky to come second. Luck of the draw and all that. Good caster though he is young Tommy had a major wind assist with his winning cast.
Results of all CLA events are here:
http://www.gamefair.co.uk/visitor-info/results/fishing-results I'll be doing the Spey event next year as well. Promises to be fun
Hopefully Ben will post about his exploits over the weekend too.
Thinking of going next year when it's at Harewood House in Yorkshire
You should.
We hope to have raised the profile of the Saltwater event and, perhaps more importantly, encouraged some Ladies events for next time. See you there.
H