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NORMAN IRVINE WINS THE ALAN FINLAY CUP, JIM HARCUS IS THE NEW FISHERMAN OF THE YEAR
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Jim and Norman worthy winners |
Saturday the 27th saw anglers competing in the final competition of the season, the “Any Loch” competition, for the Alan Finlay Cup. Once again, as has been quite typical for the whole year, the weather was far from ideal, with a strong, gusting gale force, N/NW wind, which never abated much all day. This meant that all competing anglers bar five fished Harray and that is where the majority of the big point scoring baskets came from.
The north end of the Harray loch, with the best shelter of the Kirkness and Bankhead shores was the starting point for just about every boat, while on Boardhouse, Colin Sutherland had the loch to himself and on Hundland, (where Colin ended up later on because Boardhouse was so poor), the two pairings of Hutcheon/McConnachie and Adams/McLeod were pleasantly surprised to find they were the only two boats on the loch, which had reputedly fished well during the week.
The boys on Hundland were in to fish immediately, while on Harray, things started less encouragingly, with not many rods bending. This was to improve greatly as a moderate hatch of olives got under way, enticing trout to feed, and fish were soon being contacted, especially in the renowned areas for olive hatches, Merkister Bay and Bochan.
With this being the last competition of the year, there was much at stake, with the Fisherman of the Year, the most coveted of prizes still very much up for grabs. Jim Harcus, who started the day on top, did not manage to put a fish in the boat in the first two and a half hours, and thought his chance had all but gone, but a change in area, down to the big Ess Holm, brought a transformation in fortune and he began to catch steadily. At this time, his other closest contenders, John Munson, Ian Hutcheon, and Stewy Leslie all had already caught well, but it was Norman Irvine, the angler with the most outside of chances to win it, who ultimately pushed Jim all the way.
At the weigh in at the Stenness Hotel, there was a great buzz of excitement as all the anglers gathered, as it was immediately apparent that the Fisherman of the Year award was going to be very close. Norman Irvine had a fish of a lifetime in his basket, the heaviest fish caught in the history of the OTFA competitions, a sea trout weighing in at 6lb 7 1/2ozs, this along with his other dozen, weighing a total of 14lb 3ozs, securing the Alan Finlay Cup and probably at least half a dozen others. Raymond Miller had a good day with 15 for 11lb 14ozs, as did Erlend Hutchison with 15 for 10lb 1oz and John Munson finished his season off in style with 14 for 9lb 9ozs. Once the weigh in was completed, anglers retired to the bar where they enjoyed soup and sandwiches which were greatly appreciated on such a poor day, many thanks to the hotel and staff. Following a short wait, club president Sandy McConnachie announced the final placings, and a delighted Jim Harcus was acclaimed as Fisherman of the Year, to a resounding cheer from his fellow anglers, an extremely popular winner, and a new name on the Roll of Honour at the Harray site hut. Jim had done just enough on the day, beating Norman, who couldn’t have done any more, by 2 points. In third equal spot was a delighted John Munson who has had a brilliant season, and the ever present Ian Hutcheon, with Stewy Leslie and Sandy McConnachie filling the last two berths, Sandy squeezed in by a point from Erlend Hutchison. The second six team places being filled by Erlend, Kevin Muir, James Bews, Ken Kennedy, Malcolm Russell and Jimmy Grant, congratulations to all concerned.
Tactics on the day were pretty standard for this season, you either took your chance with mini lures and sinking lines in the deep water, or fished the drop offs and shores with Hedgehogs on Harray, and Hedgehogs on Hundland, and as a point of interest, Norman caught his leviathan at Burrian on a size 12 Merkister Maid and DI5 line.
It’s hard to believe that another season has slipped by, one dogged by poor weather, but we still had some tremendous fishing and a truly memorable week at the Home International. One last event next weekend, the WS Sinclair/J&S Allan Trophy, or the final fling as it is affectionately known. The draw has been made and here’s hoping for a good day to finish the year off.
KK
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