Casting Clinic at Meon Springs - Sunday 15th April
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 03 May 2012 07:55
- Written by Alan Purnell
The Meon Springs Countryside Day was a success with positive feedback from Snowbee and the management at Meon. The rain stayed away though the keen wind made the temperature feel several degrees below actual.
The Demonstration; Snowbee area and GAIA Casting Area were secure and well signed though access to our area could have been better. Access was via a pathway cut through the hedge line over a 3 to 4 ft high bank and then down a grassy slope, with 4 deep well hidden by long grass six inch diameter holes, to the cut grass area. Fortunately Scott Simmonds and I discovered the holes whilst performing our pre-event H&S check and were able to insert white road pins to alert the punters to the potential danger.
Scott Simmonds Demos
The booking in desk was situated in the S&TA Hampshire Branch Marquee situated in the car park leading to the Fishing Lodge. An ideal location we thought as it meant the public would channel past us. However, after booking in several people I walked round to the Casting Area and discovered a queue of people waiting to 'have a go' the majority having not booked in our paid. Understandably, they were unhappy at having to return to the booking in point before returning for tuition. Although we had been advised that the public would be entering via the car park, in reality, the majority entering the site, were doing so via another entrance! I took the decision to re-locate the booking in desk to the pop up gazebo at the casting area. As the gazebo had no sides it was a very drafty and very very cold for the those sitting at the table.
GAIA Headquarters!
We provided 'have a go' sessions to 41 adults and 15 juniors. This was way below the numbers anticipated by Jamie who thought we would have in excess of 150 people 'having a go'. In previous years attendance levels had been circa 2,500 with over 3,500 attending last year. GAIA were well represented with 14 members present although not all were involved with the 'have a go' sessions.
