2016 Scottish Club Championship - SANACC

The gales that had lashed Scotland towards the end of the week finally abated overnight and the competitors for the final on Friday 30th September 2016 were met with a light westerly wind and a mix of sun and good cloud.  Rain threatened to arrive for the briefing and again looked likely to soak the anglers as they came off at the end of the day but fortunately it was generally dry throughout the session.  The Championship started out on the evening of 7th May and continued through thirteen Saturday night heats to finish on 30th July.  167 teams contested the heats and 40 of them made it to the two semi-finals which were contested on 19th and 26th August.  20 teams from the semis contested the final.  The final was fished on a partial catch and release basis with the first two trout being retained and an allowance of 2lbs given for each returned fish.  Trout were capped at 4lbs.  

In the final Alan Steven took his fish in Cages Bay and International Bay where he fished a cat booby and cormorants on a buzzer line.  At the weigh-in he had 10 trout for 20lbs 6.5ozs.  Barry spent his day at the Butts where he fished crunchers and boobies on a midge tip line

In second place with 38 trout for 79lbs 12.7ozs was the Lintrathen FF  "A" team of Neil Anderson, Chris McAllister and Kevin Neri.

Their top rod was Kevin with 15 trout for 32lbs 9ozs.  Neil had 13 trout for 26lbs 4.6ozs and Chris had 10 trout for 20lbs 15.1ozs.   Lintrathen started off their Championship in heat 6 which they won with 27 fish.  They were in semi-final No 2 where they finished in 5th with 23 fish.

Unfortunately two teams were disqualified due to a boat being late back at the end of the session.

At each of the Saturday night heats, semi-finals and finals of the Scottish Club Championship and the Champion of Champions, the anglers are encouraged to donate £1 each which is donated to the Cardiac Unit of Yorkhill Childrens Hospital.  Many of the clubs also donate the cheques that they receive as prizes in the finals.

On 25th February, Brian Mackenzie of the 2015 Scottish Club Champions, Neilston FF, along with Jim Crawford from finalists Change FF AC met with Amy Aitken from the Yorkhill Childrens Hospital Cardiac Unit and handed over a cheque for the £8,512 which has been donated by the anglers who took part in the Scottish Club Championships and Champion of Champions.  Amy was overwhelmed by the generosity of the anglers and explained that the money will be used for heart monitors. On behalf of Yorkhill Childrens Hospital she thanked everyone who had made a donation.

The second of the semi-finals was held at the Lake of Menteith on Friday 26th August 2016.  Twenty one teams took part with the top 10 going through to the final on Friday 30th September.  A total of 337 fish for 709lbs 3.3ozs were caught with 220 of them being returned.  Fly Tying Sotland provided all anglers who took part in the semi-finals with a bag of fritz and the Lake of Menteith presented commemorative bottles of beer to the top two teams in each semi.  It was overcast for most of the day with a stiff westerly wind and the rain held off until 5.25pm just in time to catch the competitors as they were coming off the water.

Dows FF represented by Abigail Montgomery (2 fish), John Buchanan (12 fish) and David Mateer (13 fish) were second with 27 fish for 56lbs 0.1ozs.  In third place was Tartan Tyers "B" represented by Shane Kelly (11 fish),  Barry Tindell (9 fish) and Alan Steven (4 fish) with a total of 24 fish for 50lbs 3.2ozs.

The top individual rod on the day was Jimmy McBride of Heriot AC with 17 fish for 34lbs 9.9ozs.  Jimmy covered much of the Lake and took his fish at the Road Shore, Rookery and Malling Shore with some being taken on dries and the remainder on cormorants on a midge tip line.

Menteith Ospreys won the first of the Scottish Clubs semi-finals with 27 fish. Change FF AC "A" were second with 26 fish and Soldier Palmers were third with 22 fish. The top 10 teams qualify for the final.

30th July saw the last heat of Scottish Club Championship where 12 teams competed. Conditions were very good with a south westerly breeze. As in previous heats few fish were again feeding on the surface, and the boats heading out did the usual split of half going westerly to Silage pits, Malling Shore and Gateside Bay. Other half south to International Bay, Chapel Site and Kates Brae. 10.30pm saw end of the heat with 54 trout having been caught and 8 being released. Total weight was 122lb 12oz.

1. Ian Scott, Falkirk Municipal with 4 trout for 10lb 2.5 oz.

2nd Joe Lee Drumbowie FF with 4 trout 8lb 2oz.

3rd Brian Lockie Thistle AC with 3 trout for 7lb 2.5oz

4th Ralph Fleming Firecats with 3 trout for 7lb 0.3oz

5th Allan Daisley Drumbowie FF with 2 trout for 6lb 3.7oz.

The heaviest trout on the night was a rainbow of 3lb 13.9oz caught by Ian Scott of Falkirk Municipal AC. Captains of winning team, team runners -up, Captor of best catch and heaviest trout, all received engraved commemorative bottles of whisky and beer, courtesy of Lake of Menteith Fishery. 

The 12th and penultimate heat of the Scottish Club Championship (sponsored by Keir Hardie Joinery and the Lake of Menteith) was held on the evening of 23rd July.  The conditions were near perfect with a westerly breeze and an overcast sky but although conditions were good the fishing was hard.  Thirteen clubs turned out for this heat with the top three going through to the semi-final on 26th August and the top 5 individuals going through to the final of the Champion of Champions.  A total of 80 trout for 171lbs 12.4ozs were caught with 33 of them being released.  The top club received a Lake of Menteith commemorative flask of malt and the top two clubs, heaviest bag and captor of the heaviest fish received commemorative bottles of Lake of Menteith beer.

The Cove & Kilcreggan AC team of Kenny Whitehead (10 fish), Alan Hier (1 fish) and Bob Currie (1 fish) were second with 12 fish for 22lbs 15.1oz.  Kenny took his fish at the gravel pits where he was fishing a cat booby and cormorants on a slow glass line.   The Balbeggie AC trio of Keith Doig (5 fish), Bob Smith (2 fish) and Jim Mackie (1 fish) were third with their total of 8 fish for 18lbs 8.8ozs.

The top individuals were:-

1.  Kenny Whitehead of Cove & Kilcreggan AC with 10 fish for 19lbs 3.8ozs

2. Mark Stephen of Neilston FF with 7 fish for 14lbs 6.1ozs

3.  Calum Stephen of Future FF with 6 fish for 12lbs 11.9ozs

4.  Keith Doig of Balbeggie AC with 5 fish for 12lbs 6.5ozs

5.  Stuart McLean of Future FF with 6 fish for 12lbs 0.5ozs.

Keith Doig caught the heaviest fish of the night which went to the scales at 3lbs 6.2ozs.

 Heat 11 of Scottish Club Championship proved to be a real cracker. 15 teams took part with holders Neilston FF and 7 other previous heat winners involved.   At end of the night 143 trout had been caught with 68 being returned, for a total weight of 289.2.5oz. 6 teams weighed in over 20lbs weight of trout.

1st place Alan Steven Tartan Tyers with 7 trout for 14lb 1oz. Alan was drifting from Rookery to Sams point using a floating line with dry fly

2nd place Alex Ewart Lintrathen AC with 6 trout for 12lb 7oz.

3rd place Steve Cowan Ayr Travellers with 4 trout for 9lb 5oz

4th place to Ian Preston Farmers & Associates with 3 trout for 7lb 13.8 oz.

5th place to Allan Caisley Butcher Boy with 4 trout for 7lb 13.5 oz.

Heaviest trout on the night was a rainbow of 3lb 7.5oz caught by Ian Preston of Farmers & Assoiciates. The captain of the winning team, captain of runners up team, captor of best basket and heaviest fish all received bottles of commemorative bottles of Lake of Menteith whisky and beer.

Bye the end of the night 144 trout had been caught, with 79 being released. Total weight of trout was 298lb 6.9oz Three rainbow trout over 4 lbs were weighed-in, with a lovely trout coming to the scales at 7lb 6.9oz. Again this weeks heat was closely contested with 2 clubs running neck and neck, but top team on the night were the Alba Orvis Fly Fishers team of David Bonnington, Paul Garner and James Gardiner with 20 trout for 44lb 1oz. Runners up with 21 trout for 41lb 10oz were the Lintrathen Fly Fishers trio of Tyler Hay, Barry Robertson and Alan Ramshaw. Third place went to Heriot AC with 15 trout for 30lb 11oz.

1. Paul Garner, Alba Orvis with 12 trout for 26lb 2oz

2. Tyler Hay Lintrathen FF with 10 trout 20lb 7oz

3. Derek Kilgour, Heriot AC with 9 trout 18lb 4oz

4. Dugald MacGilp Lochgilphead AC with 8 trout for 16lb 5oz

5. David Bonnington Alba Orvis with 6 trout for 14lb 10oz.

Heaviest trout on the night was a cracking rainbow of 7lb 6.3oz captured by David Bonnington Alba Orvis. (capped at 4lbs in team weight).

Captain of the top team was presented with Lake of Menteith commemorative bottles of whisky and beer. Captain of team runners-up, captor of most fish on the night, and captor of heaviest fish all received bottles of commemorative beer.   

1. Jim Hay, Dunfermline Artisans with 9 trout for 19lb 2.1 oz

....photo Luggiebank FD: Jim Twaddle, Gary McGinlay and David Bowie................................................................photo:  Jim Hay.....

Rothes Oak were a close second with 18 trout for 35lb 6.8oz and Perth RASC were third with 13 trout for 27lb 1.9oz. These teams go through to the 1st semi final on 19th August.

1. Michael Ward, Johnstone FF 9 trout 17lb 15.8oz 

2. Gary Ormiston Rothes Oak 8 trout 16lb 2 oz 

3. Bill Ramage Tillicoultry AC 8 trout 16lb 1.6oz 

4. Paul Cushnie Rothes Oak, 7 trout 13lb 11.2oz 

5. Sandy Boag RASC with 5 trout for 12lb 3.6oz.

Twelve clubs turned out for the 6th heat and although it had cooled quite a bit from earlier in the week the fishing was not easy.  There was an easterly breeze and light rain throughout the session and by 11pm it was chilly.  At the start of the evening almost all of the boats headed for the Lochend/Butts area and as to be expected the good bags of fish came from that area.  A total of 112 trout for 228lbs 7ozs were caught.

Lintrathen FF "A" represented by Kevin Neri, Neil Anderson and Chris McAllister were the clear winners with 27 fish for 53lbs 15.625ozs. All three team members between them fished the area from the chalets through Loch End to Tods Hole and concentrated on a mix of suspender buzzers, crunchers and dries on floating lines. Kevin had 10 fish for 20lbs 4.5ozs; Neil had 11 fish for 22lbs 8.125ozs and Chris had 6 fish for 11lbs 3ozs.

There were 14 teams in heat 4 and the conditions were bright sunshine with a light easterly breeze which made the fishing hard for some of the clubs.  The best areas where the Heronry, Loch End and the Gravel Pits.  Best methods was dry's .....Yellow owls and Sedges on a floating line.  The top team received a bottle of commemorative malt to mark the Lake of Menteith's 50th anniversary. The top 2 teams, top bag and captor of the heaviest fish received commemorative bottles of beer.

1. Calumn Crosbie of Alba Orvis with 13 fish for 26lb 1oz

2. Bob Robertson of Balfron Piscatorials with 11 fish for 22lb 3.5oz

3. Gregor Fleming of Alba Orvis with 9 fish for 18lb 11.5oz

4. Bruce Chisholm of Tweed Tanglers with 9 fish for 18lb 2.5oz

5. Steven Welsh of Alba Orvis with 8 fish for 16lb 1oz

The heaviest fish was caught by Keith Logan of North Berwick AC and weighed 3lb 9.5oz

Thirteen clubs turned out for heat 3 and between them they caught 116 trout for 233lbs 13.5ozs.  The competitors started the session in a brisk westerly which gradually eased as the evening progressed.  It was a good bit milder than it has been and it stayed dry.  Trout were moving in many areas for most of the evening but they proved hard to catch and most competitors found it hard going.  Only 15 of the 39 anglers caught more than two trout.

The captain of the top team received received a commemorative flask of malt with the top two teams, heaviest basket and heaviest fish receiving commemorative bottles of beer provided by the Lake of Menteith to mark their 50th anniversary.

The second placed team was Kinross AC "A" represented by Allan Smith (9 fish),  Andy Menmuir (2 fish) and Ally Middlemass (1 fish) for a total of 12 trout for 23lbs 11.75ozs.  Just 0.125ozs behind them in third was the Harrow AC "B" team of William Yuill (4 fish), Jamie Ferrier (5 fish) and Andrew Ferrier (3 fish) with a total of 12 trout for 23lbs 11.625ozs.  These three teams go through to the semi final on 19th August.

The top five individuals that qualified for the final of the Champions of Champions on 7th October were:-

1.  Paul O'Neill of Househillmuir FF with 12 trout for 24lbs 11.75ozs

2.  Allan Smith of Kinross AC "A" with 9 trout for 18lbs 11.25ozs

3.  Jim Tuck of Glencorse Rsv "A" with 8 trout for 16lbs 7ozs

4.  Peter Cameron of Househillmuir FF with 7 trout for 14lbs 13.5ozs

The Scottish Club Championship got under way at the Lake of Menteith on Saturday 7th May and to commemorate their 50th anniversary the Lake management provided an engraved bottle of whisky to the top rod and commemorative bottles of beer to the top three teams and the captor of the heaviest fish.

Greg McLaren of Granite City FF caught the heaviest fish of the night which went to the scales at 3lbs 3ozs which fell to a black buzzer at Sandy Bay.