Tracy&James | Sunday, 30 June 2024
Last weekend was the first BFCC day of the year and it was the most poorly attended one we've been to since we first found out about the club in 2009. Tracy and I travelled from North Wales to Kent, with an overnight stay to have a casting competition with just two others. We had discussions with the instructors, who also incurred travel expenses and gave up their time, about why attendances are falling through the floor and nobody had any real insights. It does mean that those attending for instruction pretty much get one-to-one tuition for as long as they want it. This situation is not sustainable long term though.
It was still good to get back into the swing of things though. Getting a good cast out within the allotted time is much more difficult than hitting a big number in an hour-long practice session on our local field. I was relatively pleased with the fact I scored on every target in the accuracy event, but less so with the score itself – indicating that I had way too many 'one' scores, I think these were mostly from drifting long because I think my line was pointing down the centre of the target each time. I still didn't win mind you (I hardly ever win the accuracy), Tracy did despite missing a few targets – she had way more 'fives' than me. The other cast I was pleased with was my #7 trout distance. I'd decided earlier that I'd start the timed session with a pick-up / lay-down cast, so I set up with the head of my Celestial tournament line in the tip ring, lifted, and then shot a few feet into the back-cast before delivering. It turned out that for the remaining 2 minutes and 55 seconds of my session I was wasting my time as this PULD cast was my longest.
This week Tracy and I are heading up to the Scottish Game Fair in Perthshire to help run the casting competitions there. The championship will be a combined #5 Trout Distance, S55 Salmon Overhead and Accuracy, all with the BFCC club outfits There will also be daily competitions, using perhaps more 'user friendly' outfits. As is usual at the various Game Fairs there will be some great prizes on offer, especially for the daily events. Last year in Scotland the casting comps were very busy, I don't know what it is up there that makes people less inhibited to have a go but I wish that was the case down south. Hopefully we'll see a repeat this year. I've decided not to compete myself but you will find me on the casting platform during quiet spells or the evening, so come over and say hello if you're about.
Have a great week,
James