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Susan asked me to write a little on the Ladies National at Grafham Water in August. One assumes from a partners/male perspective. I will talk specifically about the 2003 National but believe this event and previous events I’ve attended with ELFA evoke very similar feelings for me.
Susan and I have been involved since 1999 when she fished her first International (having taken up fly fishing in 1997). I was boatman in 1999 International on Rutland Water, just as I was this year on Grafham Water and must admit that this can be both a very interesting, if not frustrating role to play. The frustration comes from wanting to fish and wanting to participate but having to be completely impartial to ensure fairness to all. At times you really want to grab the rod and say do this or try this, but you have to restrain yourself. The interesting comes from watching others fish and see how they react and compete.
In the last 5 years the ELFA have won four gold and one silver medal (in Scotland), to be remedied in 2004! I believe this is because of both the dedication and added versatility I’ve witnessed in the England Ladies squad, compared to their counterparts. Don’t get me wrong the desire to win is there with the other teams, however the English do not seem to give up and have a broader range of fishing techniques they are prepared to use and employ. This is the competitive edge and long may it last.
This 2003 National on Grafham dawned with an overcast morning with the light wind blowing from a northerly direction (onto the lodge), veering from a westerly the day before when Clive Chatwin and I had been out fishing.
My boat pairing were Tracy Rathbone and Gillian Tizzard; we were waiting for the off and they were discussing where they intended to fish. The gun went of and we headed to G buoy, not a place I’d spent much time the day before I must admit, but the ladies were confident fish were there to be had. G buoy is about the best known spot on Grafham.
I saw Susan head in the opposite direction towards H & L buoy and the nature reserve area, not where I expected but where I had also caught the day before. This was the last I was to see of Susan all day (not a bad thing!). I get concerned being on the water at the same time, I do not want to make her any more nervous or anyone to think I’m passing her information (not that I would).
The day was not easy, after an hour I had not seen a fish caught, Sue Hunter eventually caught a fish tight to the bank at G, this was noticed by my boat pair and we tucked in tight ourselves, much to the delight of Gillian who quickly hooked a rainbow of about 2lbs, then nothing!
We moved off the Tower on the dam, nothing, and drifted to the south side of the dam, seeing only the odd fish caught. This was hard fishing. Mary Hopper went past and indicated three fish, and a thumbs up, it was working OK for Mary.
It was probably gone 3 o’clock when Tracy hooked her fish, the second and last to come to the boat. Tracy had started to fish deep and got the ‘Blob on’ so to speak, when the line tightened and a nice rainbow came to the boat.
Boats searched all day, but fish were hard to come by.
It was good to see that Grafham Water had stopped people anchoring for the duration of the match!
The final whistle brought the tension. I’m sure Tracy and Gillian had not expected to qualify with one fish each, but on hard days it can go to the wire, they were both
in; second cap for Tracy, first for Gillian,
Scotland here they come.
The weigh in brought tension for Susan, Eileen and Margi, all of whom had 5 fish each, to my delight (sorry I’m a little biased) Susan took it by a pound, but this was close compared to the year before. Susan didn’t want to let the trophy go and didn’t have to as it turned out, but she was stunned.
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoy being involved with the ELFA and the new circle of friends this has brought into our lives. Long may it last, and many more gold medals!
Congratulations to the rest of the ladies who made the team.
This year’s team is:
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