GAIA NW Region Assessments, 11-12th May 2013

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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.