Islanders beat Dounreay team to challenge cup
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SOME good baskets of trout were weighed in following Dounreay Fly Fishing Association’s two-day competition with Shetland Angling Association – despite the variable weather.
Following the SAA team’s arrival last Thursday, the all-important draw was made for the following two days of fishing.
This determined the pairing of team members and also which of the nine lochs they would fish.
The teams usually comprise the top six in each club’s previous year’s championship but both had two substitutes.
The conditions could hardly have been more different from day to day with a light north-east breeze and warm sunshine on Friday and mist and drizzle on Saturday.
As the anglers met in Thurso on Friday afternoon the visitors appeared to be the happier-looking lot and this was confirmed by weigh-in supervisor Ken Macleod who announced the SAA team was taking a 5.83 lbs lead into the second day.
Their best result came from Kevin Robertson with a basket of trout from Loch Seilge that weighed 8.67 lbs.
Billy Reid returned from Loch Toftingall with a 5.79 lbs bag and Seilge also gave Bobby Irvine a total of 5.21 lbs.
Loch Caorach proved to be a good draw for Alex Donald (who was making his first appearance for DFFA) as he weighed in 8.84 lbs of trout.
Toby Bracey fished Seilge for a 6.49 lbs basket but the rest of the home team struggled to get something to weigh in – although late sub John Briskham had the satisfaction of netting the best fish of the day on Loch Watten.
The pairings changed for the second day and everyone fished different lochs but, with the dramatic change in weather, advice from team-mates on lines and flies was of little use.
After a hard day’s fishing it was back to Thurso for the weigh-in and this time the home team had some cheerier faces.
Tony Chalmers had a cracking day on Toftingall and this was confirmed when his bag tipped the scales at 9.81 lbs – the best single basket of the competition.
Tony was ably supported by Alex Donald who had fished well on Loch Calder for 6.15 lbs and Jan Hughes who returned from the Seilge hike with 6.33 lbs.
For SAA, Mark Sandison had a better day with an 8.41 lbs Seilge basket; Bobby Irvine did well again with 6.04 lbs from Toftingall, and late sub Barry Robertson chipped in with 3.68 lbs from Loch Dubh nam Geodh (near Loch More).
Following the presentation dinner in the Pentland Hotel DFFA president Ken Macleod announced the results and presented the trophies.
The Brian Hunter Memorial Trophy for best fish went to John Briskham, of DFFA, for his 1.28 lbs Watten trout caught on the first day.
The Viking Shield for best individual total over the two days was won by Alex Donald on his debut for DFFA with a total of 14.99 lbs.
The Challenge Cup was accepted by SAA captain Barry Robertson for his team’s total of 51.68 lbs.
