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Benson and Hedges House of Hardy Fly Fishing Championship OTFA Participation
Orkney Trout Fishing Association has sent a team northwards every alternate year since 1951, to compete against our island neighbours, Shetland Anglers Association, but it was 1987 before a team ventured south to compete on the Scottish Mainland.
The Home International Championships were held on Harray Loch, Orkney in
1983 and 1985 and it was as a result of this that OTFA came to send their
first representative to compete in the Scottish National Championship Final
on Loch Leven in 1986. Peter Miller was unsuccessful in gaining a place
on that occasion but in August 1987 Sandy McConnachie caught two nice fish,
including the heaviest one of the competition, and secured a place in the
Scottish Team for the 1988 Spring International on Loch Conn, Ireland
1987 was also the year when a decision was taken to enter a team in the
Benson & Hedges forte first time. This came about as a result of increased
publicity for the event, which began in 1982, and because Loch Leven was
to be the venue for both the Scottish and British Finals and only one trip
would therefore be required in the event of success.
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FIRST ENTRY TO THE B &
H 1987 |
In those days Loch Leven held only brown trout and they could be very difficult to tempt in bright conditions. The team had one practice session prior to the Heat, this being the first time on the loch for four members. With the Heat scheduled to start at 5.00.am there wasn't much time for sleep - the two members who only got out of the bar in time to head for the loch can vouch for this. At the 11. 00am Weigh-In it transpired that one more decent fish would have been enough to secure a place in the Scottish Final but, unfortunately, it was to be a long haul back north the following morning instead. In 1988 the team succeeded in reaching the Scottish Final and went on to gain a place in the British Final on Rutland Water where they finished in a commendable Sixth Place. This was to be the first of a run of seven consecutive British Final appearances achieving Second Place in 1989 and the coveted Gold Medals in both 1991 and 1994. Since 1996 two teams have taken part but success has become more elusive with a single team qualifying for the British Final in 1996 and 1998.
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1989 Silver Medal Team |
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1991 Gold Medal Winning
Team |
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1994 Gold Medal Winning
Team |
There has always been keen competition between members for team places.
Since selection is based on the results from fourteen competitions, held
on various Orkney lochs, a good attendance is ensured for each event, with
in excess of thirty anglers normally taking part.
Nowadays, with increased practice sessions, the Scottish Heats and Final
can mean team members being away from home for up to eight or nine days
depending on the Heat results. With the need to hold back holidays in the
event of qualifying for the British Final this can make it difficult for
some members to take part but there are plenty of others waiting to fill
their shoes.
Some of the women folk think these trips are just a holiday when, in actual
fact, it is more of an endurance test - fishing and fly tying sandwiched
between fried breakfasts and deep-fried suppers. The travel is not always
a pleasure either. Sitting in a minibus for the thirteen hundred -odd mile
round trip to Rutland Water is not something to relish. The first trip to
Rutland was in a hired camper van with a mind of its own. It had to be wrestled
all the way there, with a top speed of 60mph, into the face of a southerly
gale.
Thankfully, the downside of these trips has always been outweighed by the
enjoyment and there have been lots of memorable moments over the last thirteen
years. Many friendships have been established with other anglers from throughout
Britain and members have been able to keep up to date with the latest in
fly patterns and fishing techniques.
Orkney Trout Fishing Association's participation has been greatly assisted
over the years with sponsorship from the following: - Highland Park Distillery
(both financial and liquid), Matthew Gloag & Son, P & 0 Scottish
Ferries, Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Enterprise and Bank Of Scotland
(Stromness Branch). Without this assistance it would not have been possible
for OTFA to enter a team every year. The Association is also indebted to
Ian Muckle and Brian Roberts for providing accommodation in the early years