GAIA NW Region Assessments, 11-12th May 2013

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Category: England - North West

Published on Wednesday, 15 May 2013 12:37

Written by Chris Aldred

GAIA North West Region Assessments, 11-12^th May, River Ribble, Edisford Hall.

So, after months of planning the date was finally here, from the initial flurry of 24 people interested in taking assessments then number came down to 11 willing people, some not so willing, but more on that later!

Thursday 9^th May, and it was time to collect the Holmes Boys and Mark Patterson from Liverpool airport, this was done with no fuss and the Thursday evening curry was on, a good turnout and a great meal, for the people in the North West, I recommend Naga in Withnell village, superb.

Friday morning and the rain arrived; we arrived at Mitton Bridge, Whalley after a suspected Police incident involving Paul Brown and John Boon, this set the tone for the weekend, we all arrived at the Aspinall Arms to get changes and we drove en masse to the beat holding the assessments. The beat was walked and a rough idea was set out for the positions, we all had to pray for the river to drop, as is usual at these events we all stayed out in the rain and had a play with rods, lines, casts etc. Then it was off for a drink and time to prepare for Saturday and the assessments.

Saturday

Saturday arrived and the BBQ was set up for breakfast rolls and for the lunches later in the day, then the river was walked and positions were set out, the river had dropped slightly and we were ready to go, the day itself was showers, some heavier than others and wind, as per the rest of the year the wind was proving to be an issue, thanks here to Bernie Ratcliffe for manning the Cabin, BBQ and kettle for the day and keeping the assessors supplied with food and drink whenever they got a break.

The assessments came to an end and we all headed back to the hotel for the presentation and to get changed. The awards were made and the successful candidates were;

GAIC Single Handed

Bob Carlson

Vera Carlson

Olly Shepherd

Paul Brown

Trevor Heylinger

GAIC Double Handed;

Steve Daley

Phil Ratcliffe

APGAI Single Handed;

Dr Mal Hunter (retired adopted Yorkshireman)

Click Here to go to Recent Awards Winners Section where there are pictures of successful candidates.

There were 3 unsuccessful candidates, but I am sure that they will come back stronger, as I type this all 3 have been in touch for advice and will be heading back to their respective mentors to push onwards and this is a great sign, I am sure that you will all pass in the near future.

Prior to the awards presentation there was a meeting, which made Roger Miles and myself fully qualified assessors, we had both been supported leads on the day and had been watched by Louis Noble and Alberto Laidlaw in their capacity as assessor moderators.

Whilst the assessments took place on the water Wendy Gibson held a 6 hour master class covering all of the details for the GAIC and APGAI fly dressing, the people involved with this have all mentioned how comprehensive and though provoking the Fly Dressing day was, plenty of notes were made and lots of practice will be done as a few of the people involved will prepare to take the fly dressing assessment in the very near future, so thank you Wendy for a great session.

Saturday evening was spent in Whalley, a nice meal was had and most people headed back to get some rest prior to the CPPD event on the Sunday. On the subject of Saturday evening thanks must go to Brain McGlashan and Willie Holmes for staying out so late, and explaining to anyone looking remotely interested why they were in Whalley, and big thanks to them for donating their food later in the evening to the person known as “Kebab Thief” Well Done to Paul Brown as well who in celebrating tried to drink his and everyone else’s body weight in beer, a brave effort rewarded by some shaky photographs being taken on the Sunday!

Sunday CPPD

Sunday arrived and as the people started arriving in wet weather gear and wrapped up against the elements, one hardy soul arrived wearing his finest shirt looking like he had just been on a long night out………breakfast rolls were served and coffee was drunk as we had about 24 people for the CPPD event, Tony Quinn and Bernie Ratcliffe manned the BBQ, cabin and tea and coffee facilities, so thanks must go to them.

Chris Aldred did a talk on selecting fly lines and hopefully gave us a little bit of food for thought, then it was over to Willie Homes for a Skagit demonstration, this was brought onto the grass due to the state of the river (although it was falling slowly) this was a great demonstration and later in the day there was a number of people on the river trying out the Skagit outfit, one surprising thing about the demonstration was the amount of fluid that Willie managed to drink……

Then it was time for tea and cake, or coffee and cake, no matter what cake was served, one people had been warmed up Leslie stepped forward to cover Wiggles, mends and slack line casts, this was done with a double and single handed rod and this was a hands on demonstration, people all got involved with this and this took us up till lunchtime and the BBQ.

Aberdeen Angus and Minty Lamb burgers were cooked and eaten faster that they could be cooked; Queues formed and Bob Carlson was loitering with intent for a good 15 minutes clutching an empty burger bun. Appetites were satisfied and we headed out for Mark Patterson’s talk on Lough fishing and boat fishing in Ireland, this was a great fun demonstration and 4 of us have booked for a couple of days on Lough Corrib next May.

Then it was time to get hands on, plenty of people got instruction and help, there were people on the river trying out the Skagit casts, people trying wiggles and mends but as the afternoon went on the weather worsened and people headed home to reflect on what was a great event.

Thanks to everyone that came along to support this event and to the people manning the cabin and food, thanks to Martin James and David Moore for the loan of the facilities and I have already started reading Martins book.

So, till later in the year Adios Amigo’s.

Eyebrook Reservoir Workshop 5th May

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Category: England - East

Published on Tuesday, 09 April 2013 09:54

Written by Malcolm March

We have organised a Workshop at Eyebrook Reservoir on Sunday 5th May for all GAIA members and members of the public. Everyone is welcome.

The day will run from 9am until around 4.30pm, and cost about £25 depending upon numbers attending. The day is aimed at developing our casting, fly tying and fishing skills.There will be plenty of time to practice your casting and fly tying. 

The areas where there will be presentations are listed below and, depending upon demand, we will line up top quality presenters for each item. However, on the basis that there is not the time in one day for anyone to take part in everything, would you let me know the 3 areas you would most like to participate in; I can then draw up an appropriate agenda.

Fly Tying and Entomology will run throughout the day, including lunchtime.

*Hauling - why do we haul and its uses in a fishing situation?

*Small/Medium river fishing and casting

*Double Handed casting techniques

*Fly Tying

*Entomology

*the Fishing Year on large reservoirs

Further details will follow once you confirm you will attend and have let me know the 3 presentations you wish to participate in.

Malcolm March

email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kelmarsh Game and Country Fair 31st March/1st April

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Category: England - Midlands (East)

Published on Tuesday, 09 April 2013 09:50

Written by Malcolm March

Well, no-one thought beforehand it would be easy. We were all praying the event would be cancelled by the organisers, Countryman Fairs, but the conditions at Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire were truly atrocious. Temperature below freezing all day on both days, the lake completely iced over, biting easterly winds, and snowdrifts !

Sharing a GAIA tent with the Salmon and Trout Association were Barry Grantham, Paul Dunstan and myself, and we gave casting tuition to a grand total of 6 people ! Plus varied fishing discussions with callers and dogs sheltering from the wind.

Still, we enjoyed ourselves as only GAIA members can by swapping stories and gossip, taking Barry through his GAIC syllabus, drinking his wife Rose's tea, and training my new dog. It also helped that a nearby tent was giving free samples of sloe gin.

The weather and conditions are always terrible at Kelmarsh, so it's debatable whether we will attend next year. But,we say that every year and always return ! Masochists ?

NW Region CPPD Day 12 May 2013

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Category: England - North West

Published on Wednesday, 13 March 2013 10:07

Written by Chris Aldred

These are the details for the NW region assessments and CPPD day on the weekend of the 11^th and 12^th May 2013, click here for the running order for the CPPD event and some further details regarding accommodation and the assessments. This is getting closer and may I suggest for the people already booked to take assessments to seek out people and their mentors at the Bellingham and North East events to see if they can arrange a pre assessment\discussion with the mentors and assessors available, even if it is just to iron out any little issues. This will prove invaluable and can help in the final few weeks before your assessment.

I am arranging rooms at the Mercure Foxfields Hotel Clitheroe\Whalley, the prices are about £80 per room, the price is the same if it is a twin room of a single room, so it works out cheaper to share rooms, unless you are Roger and snore like a hibernating Grizzly! Please contact myself ASAP regarding rooms as I may be able to secure a better rate depending on the numbers involved.

There are options for the evening meal on the Saturday evening, again I need people to contact myself in the first instance, if this does not happen, then the award ceremony will take place on Sunday Morning on the banks of the River.

Just a few final notes

Closing day for assessment application is the 8^thApril 2013.

·         The cost for the CPPD event is £40 for GAIA members and £50 for Non Members

·         The CPPD event will be limited, this will be done on a first come first served basis, there is limited parking at the site and I will ask if people can car share where possible.

·         The lunch will not be provided on either of the days due to the logistics, however I will be bringing Soft Drinks, water and some snacks, I suggest you each bring a flask and some sandwiches

The cheques for the CPPD event can be sent to myself and also made payable to me, I will produce a financial breakdown sheet for anyone interested.