After winning gold medals at Llandegfedd, Wales in 2010 and Bewl Water, Kent in 2011 in the Home Internationals the Angling Trust’s England Ladies’ Fly Fishing team was keen to continue the momentum and gain gold at the Lake of Menteith, Scotland but, despite a brilliant performance, they were beaten by the host nation.
Most of the England team decided to practise by travelling up to the venue a week before the event; chalets and boats were booked and a rota system created to ensure nobody over did the fishing. The weather for that week was bitterly cold with a maximum of six degrees with a raw easterly wind, rain and sleet. The ladies worked out the tactics that were effective and things were looking promising.
Match week loomed and suddenly the sun came out, the temperature soared to the mid twenties; tactics were changed accordingly and the team were still confident of a victory. On match day the temperature hit 29 degrees in the shade and the lake looked like a mirror; the trout were still playing, however, and there were bent rods from all four competing countries.
The final results saw Scotland come out worthy winners with 92lb 6.6oz and 42 trout, with England six fish behind with 78lb 2.4oz.
Results
1st – Scotland – 42 trout for 92lb 6.6oz
2nd – England – 36 fish for 78lb 2.4oz
3rd – Wales – 21 fish for 46lb 13oz
4th – Ireland – 19 fish for 44lb 5.6oz
Martha Thomson took the honour of being top England rod with seven trout for 14lb 5.8oz. England Captain, Eileen Chatwin, was very proud of the team and the effort they put in and Paul Sissons, England Team Manager, said, “The team put in 110% and I couldn’t have asked for more.”
The 2013 Home International will be held on Lough Caragh in Ireland and the England team will be selected at the National Championship on Grafham Water on 09 September 2012; details of how to fish in this competition may be found HERE
The England Ladies Fly Fishing Association is now part of the Angling Trust’s competitions structure and operates under the name ‘Team England Ladies’ Fly Fishing’. The Angling Trust is working at a national level to promote competitions in coarse, game and sea angling, and to seek sponsorship for all our national teams.
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust said:
“Congratulations are due to the England Ladies’ Fly Fishing Team for this excellent performance. They gave the Scottish team a very good run for their money and only just missed out on clinching gold. They are a great team who are entirely committed to fishing for their country. We are working hard to raise funds for all our England teams so that the squads can focus on fishing, not fundraising.”
