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FIPS Mouche had invited the ELFA to enter a team to fish the 10th European Championships to be held in Lapland Sweden 1st to 5th July 2004.
ELFA held an eliminator in November 2003 on the river Dee in Wales to identify a team of five plus a reserve to represent the ELFA. The team were: Wendy Miller, Eileen Chatwin, Mary Hopper, Maggie Godwin and myself, ably supported by our manager Paul Miller.
The flight, Wednesday 30th June, Stanstead Airport 4.30am for the Flight to Vasteras Stockholm. .All of us tired but very very excited at what lay ahead. After a good flight we had arrived (10am) this was it. Collect the hire cars and drive to Saxnas Lapland, The journey was long but very scenic Trees, trees, water and more water. When can we go fishing was the request.
We arrived at the hotel at 9pm. We were met by the men's teams who were already out there (thanks for everything) and by the Swedish organisers we were made to feel very welcome.
The European Championship competition lasts two days and each team member fishes four sessions, morning and afternoon on each of the days. There were three sessions on the Rivers and one on a Lake. Most of us are at home on Lakes but we have varied river experience, however the chance to compete with the cream of Europe and to gain experience was a great draw for us all.
After a couple practice sessions on the lake and river, we had got a few fly patterns to go at.
Ring beep ring went the alarm clock 4.30am match day 1, (whose idea was it) time to get up for the first one of us to get up and get on the coach for 5.30am, having breakfasted, with waders on and tackle ready for the trip to the river and to the lake, Paul was up and helping us to get on the coach giving us all moral support. Little did we realise that we wouldn’t be back until 7.30 pm. ready to get evening meal at 8pm. Having replenished our energy, time for team meeting and to see what the day had brought us.
Day 2, Alarm clock must be stuck it can’t be 4.30 am already, but sure enough it was and here we go again, 5.30am and on the coach with 15 other competitors, it is raining again, just what we didn’t want as this will make the rivers rise, off we headed of to the rivers and the lake again, five buses left every morning.
Arriving at the river, then shown to your beat, by your controller for the next 3 hours, wow, what a river (and rising). Still raining. I had tried everything and only managed to catch one but it was undersize, wet and hungry, we waited to be collected and transferred to the next session (we were all only different stretches of the river). A fire yippee time to get warm and dry whilst we had lunch (cold reindeer salad mmmm yum).
6pm, the final session over and it was back to the coach, guess what the SUN came out just in time for the Party!
By the way the darkness never arrives, so you don’t know that it is time for bed. It was light 24 hours.
Time to reflect on the days fishing we had learnt a lot, a few of us had been “christened “ in the river and had to dry out at lunch time, thank goodness the other anglers had spare dry clothes!!!
Our Swedish hosts had arranged a trip for us the next day, Fatmomatke, which is a preserved Sami village and church, inc a boat trip, which we all enjoyed.
Results time and the closing ceremony.
The England Men's team came third bringing home Bronze medals, John Horsey came third individually, now proudly owns two Bronze medals, so with tears and laughter of joy, we proudly took their photos. ........Congratulations boys.
A huge thanks to Clive Chatwin, Paul Sissons and Paul Miller for all the driving, flies, advice, encouragement (especially the early am’s) and for just being there ............ Many many thanks.
From all the girls (Sue, Eileen, Maggie, Wendy and Mary)
Time to head back home, just in case you were wondering I slept the next 2 days just catching up on sleep. What Holiday!!!! |