Wheelchair curlers back

FRANDY

Fishing from the boat Gordon Graham from Kilmarnock caught and released nine and included in the angling club returns was the Perthshire West Annual Fishing Competition who kept 15 fish weighing 33lb 8oz – including specimen brown trout that tipped the scales at 5lb 4oz and 3lb 12oz.

Prinlaws AC kept 10 fish weighing 18lb 8oz, Bothwell and Blantyre AC six for 12lb and 13 released; Phoenix AC two brown trout weighing 3lb and 11 released 11 whilst Rannoch and District AC kept seven fish weighing 11lb 12oz.

The best flies have been the Kate Mclaren, Sedgehog and Cats Whisker and the best fishing area has been on the south shore.

ORCHILL

It has been good to see the fish moving on the surface again after the heavy rain where they have been taking on the surface with both dries and lures. As always there is an abundance of natural life on the water and that is the challenge for the anglers.

Top catches: Taylor Grant (Bearsden) one weighing 6lbs 8oz on a Black and Green Goldhead; Ron Anderson (Auchterarder) two for 5lbs on a Loch Ordie; Dave Lawson (Methven) three for 10lbs 8oz – best 5lbs 8oz on a Gizmo; Donald Blyth (Doune) two for 7lbs 8oz – best 5lbs on a Damsel; John Score (Alloa) used a Damsel to bag three for 10lbs; Barty Stirling (Buchany) nine released on Buzzers; Kevin Haughton (Stirling) used a Snake to take four for 13lbs 8oz; G and M Brownrigg (Callander) shared four for 16lbs on a HH Damsel; J Bryan (Bo’ness) three for 10lbs on a Damsel; A Graham (Kinross) caught three weighing 8lbs on a Pink Buzzer and an Orange Nymph; Frank Malkiewich (Tullibody) had a brace for 6lbs on a Damsel, E Mcmeechan (Fallin) four for 11lbs on Buzzers and Angus Inglis (Callander) two for 6lbs on a Diawl Bach.

SWANSWATER

Plenty of fish are being seen moving around the ponds at Swanswater, with the Golds in particular being very visible. This sometimes leads to a bit of frustration as anglers can see the fish following their fly but turning away at the last moment.

For most of the week the fish were just below the surface and could be found all round the main pond with the Dam, the Island and the Bridge area all fishing well at different times.

Some superb Rainbows and Golds in the 5lb to 8lb range were landed this week along with a good number of Blues around 2lb to 3lb and a few Tigers. A large selection of flies was catching with the favourites being Ally Mccoist, Dancer, Cat’s Whisker, Hare’s Ear, Cormorant, Kate Mclaren, Buzzer and Daddy.

On the bait pond maggots, yellow power bait and mouse tails were all successful.

The fishery is open 8am to 8.30pm every day apart from Thursday it closes at 2.30pm. Please remember to wear a face mask in reception. Booking is advisable especially at weekends and card/contactless is the preferred method of payment.

Some of the best bags taken on the fly included Ricky Goodwin three for 14lb including 7lb Rainbow and a Tiger, plus three released; Barry Hamilton three for 13lb including 7lb 10oz Gold and a Blue; Paul Bainbridge two for 10lb 4oz including 7lb 8oz

Gold and a Blue; Steven Scott 7lb 4oz Gold; Steven Bryant three for 12lb 8oz including 7lb Gold; William Smillie two for 8lb 4oz including 6lb Rainbow; Gary Sibena two for 8lb 8oz including 6lb Gold; Alan Weir five for 16lb 4oz including 5lb 5oz Gold and a Blue; David Pratt two for 7lb 8oz including 5lb 8oz Gold; Ross Martin two Golds for 8lb 8oz from the Millpond, bigger one at 5lb; George Dobbie four for 12lb, plus two released including a Gold estimated at 6lb; Andy Brown four for 11lb plus five released; Robert Watt four for 11lb 4oz; Alec Peachey three for 10lb; Jim Spiers three for 8lb 4oz; Alex Fisher three for 8lb 2oz; Jay Mcaloon released four; Mark Willis released three as did Lewis Stewart, whose catch including a Rainbow estimated at 9lb and a Blue.

Amongst those catching on the bait pond were Elijah Holleran two for 4lb; James Muir three for 6lb 8oz; Craig Symon and Caroline Mclennan shared six for 12lb 8oz;

Stuart Cowan two for 4lb 4oz; Barry Douglas two for 4lb; Conor Mcnair two for 4lb 4oz; James Brand three for 6lb; Eddie Blair 5lb 12oz Gold and Daniel Dimitrov two for 4lb 12oz including a Gold.

LAKE OF MENTEITH

It’s a big seasonal marker when the swallows leave especially when the north wind is blowing at the end of August.

The lake is fishing all over on dries at the moment but also the lures are working, Di 7 in Gateside Bay, but perhaps glass lines elsewhere.

Peter Lee and Bill Greer had 18 to the boat on Monday, August 31 (16 on yellow owl and hare’s ear shuttlecock).

British Curling’s wheelchair squad have returned to on ice training at the National Curling Academy (NCA) at The PEAK, Stirling.

The squad played in the World Championips in Switzerland just before lockdown and the players were keen to get back on the ice.

Gary Smith and his programme squad mates have been training in isolation at home and he is relishing the chance to get used to training again, although initially this will only take place in pairs.

“There will be lots to get used to with the health diaries, temperature checks and socially distanced training and coaching,” he said.

“For our squad we will have a new feature in our training and will the standard of the teams on the programme, will enable us to have good quality competition to keep our progress on track,” he said.

Eve Muirhead echoed his sentiments in vowing to ensure that they remain focused and resolute in targeting their goals.

“We’re not overly surprised, but seeing the cancellation in black and white does make it sink in,” said the veteran of three Winter Olympics.

“We’re very fortunate as a be getting used to the new buddy pole instead of holding each other’s chairs during stone delivery, but again it will all become part of our regular routine and we will get used to this. It is all part of a new socially distanced culture that we are all having to get used to. “

Colleague Charlotte Mckenna also expressed her excitement at getting back to on ice training.

“I returned to work a few weeks ago and quickly adjusted to the new protocols there, so I am sure this will be no different in time,” said Mckenna, who is based in Bridge of Allan and works at the Macrobert Arts Centre.

Along with Gary, Charlotte made her debut in the World

Championships. “We feel very fortunate to be getting back on ice again. We usually clean our wheels after entering the NCA and we have to do additional protocols and clean the rims of the wheels as well, so everyone is being extra careful.

“It has all been very detailed and we know that the staff and support staff at sportscotland and Active Stirling have gone to great lengths behind the scenes to make this as safe as possible for our return and for that we are all really grateful.”

Sochi Paralympic bronze medallist and 2019 World silver medallist Robert Mcpherson and fellow World medallist Gary Logan, have both decided to withdraw from the programme.