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June 17th was the date of the Home International on the Lake of Menteith in Scotland. Most of the team arrived at the Hotel on the Sunday before, and some of us had the intention to fish the lake on the Monday as well as the two official practice days. The weather had other plans and no boats were allowed out due to gale force winds. The boats on Menteith just aren’t made to cope with wind!
Menteith is the only Lake in Scotland, all the rest being Loch’s. Apparently this is because the owner at the time of conflict between England and Scotland swore allegiance to the English King and the Scots would not allow him to have a Loch (what can I say!).
Scotland has always proven a difficult nut to crack for the England Ladies. We have not won the gold medal in Scotland since the Home Internationals began. With great determination we set out on the
17th having had two days of practice and got an idea of how to approach the water. The fish were high in the water and wanted to chase boobies.
We put up a real show, and the final result was closer than we had
expected. Scotland won with 133lbs, Ireland second with 120lbs and England 3rd with 116lbs. We caught roughly, as many fish but they were a smaller average size. So no gold in Scotland again, but well done to Tracey Rathbone who took individual first place and is Ladies International Champion 2004!
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