James is tops at prestigious race festival
Forth Valley Orienteers were in splendid form at one of the UK’S biggest events as the Jan Kjellstrom International Festival took place in Wales over the Easter weekend, winning 29 medals including seven overall titles.
James Hammond was named Athlete of the Championship as he extended his unbeaten run to 19 events over seven months, winning all three of his races by a combined margin of more than 12 minutes.
The victories have come at an opportune time, as six of the races made up the qualifiers for this summer’s European Youth Championships in Hungary, where James is sure to feature.
Peter Molloy came close to joining James as a three-time winner, winning both forest Middle and Long distance races but was overtaken by 12 seconds by the last runner in the Sprint while Hannah Inman and Eilidh Connor both made a big mark in their first major championships, topping the standings in W10 and W12 classes.
There was more success in the shorter courses for FVO competitors with Lucy Hensman (W18), Ben Polwart (M20) and Grace Polwart (W14) all heading their class with two forest wins while Scarlett Kelly notched a full set of championship medals on her debut, bronze in the Sprint, silver in the Long, and a memorable gold in the Middle where she took the lead after the third control and ran on to victory.
After years of frustration, Rachel Kirkland finally topped a JK medal podium, as she headed the W50 Sprint classification, to add to her 2021 British Sprint crown and Grace Molloy was second in both Middle and Long distance races which also served as international trial events - but she was denied a third silver in the Sprint by a mispunch while Andy Llewellyn tasted success with gold in the Middle and silver in the Long for overall silver.
Will Hensman was prominent in the early races to secure the bronze medal in both Sprint and Middle disciplines, but pulled up early in the Long to protect an Achilles injury and there was more success for Vicky Thornton (silver in the W60 Middle) and Rona Molloy (bronze in the W50 Long), while Janine Inman put together a fine series of events that culminated in overall W45 bronze.
The weather was overcast for much of the week and there was a cool east or south-east breeze most days.
Despite this the water temperature rose a couple of degrees and finished the week at 9oc with water clarity remaining excellent.
Plenty of fish were seen moving on or just below the surface, but they were taking a bit deeper and most were caught between two and four feet down. They were moving around the main pond according to variations in water temperature and were to be found in the far bay and behind the island as well as in the dam area.
When they were higher in the water, nymphs, wets, and the occasional dry fly were taking, with lures and buzzers needed when the fish went deeper.
Favourite fly patterns included Blob, Egg, Cat’s Whisker, Ally Mccoist, Cormorant, Diawl Bach, Black Pennel, Kate Mclaren and Yellow Owl.
On the bait pond, the fish were anything between two and six feet down and were being caught on a variety of colours of power bait, maggots, or spinners.
The fishery is open from 8am to 7pm every day except Thursday when it closes at 2.30pm.
Some of the good bags landed on the fly this week included Stewart Speed two for 9lb 8oz including 6lb 10oz Rainbow; James Mcinnes three for 10lb 12oz including 5lb Brown and a Gold plus five caught and released (C&R).
Ryan Curry three for 10lb 8oz from the Millpond including 6lb 4oz Rainbow; Donald Mcmurchy five for 13lb 12oz including three Golds; Danny Doherty four for 9lb 12oz including a Gold; Frank Barr three for 10lb plus three C&R; Nan Morrison three for 8lb 12oz;
Andrew Henderson three for 8lb 8oz including a Gold and a Blue; James Mcalister three for 8lb 4oz including a Gold; Barry Lee three for 8lb including a Gold;.
Ben Mcinnes three for 7lb including a Blue; George Johnson three for 6lb 8oz from the Meadow Pond including two Golds plus five C&R.
Kieran Lydon two Golds for 6lb plus two C&R; Robert Smith two for 6lb including a Tiger; Charles Price two for 5lb 12oz including a Gold plus three C&R; Justin Brake 4lb 8oz Rainbow; Calen Mclachlan 10 C&R; Frank Barr eight C&R.
Rosinski and Paul Cavanagh both six C&R; Paul Christie, Jack Hepburn, Scott Christie and Russell Ferguson all four C&R; John Cooke four C&R including a double-figure Rainbow; Willie Macfadyen three C&R including a Gold.
On the bait pond, those doing well included Kyle Forrester two for 8lb 12oz including 5lb 12oz Rainbow; Gilbert Donnachie two for 7lb 2oz including 4lb 14oz Rainbow and a Blue; David Comrie two for 6lb 8oz including 4lb 8oz Rainbow and a Blue; Archie Donnachie two for 4lb 8oz including a Gold.
Sam Parker three for 6lb; Eddie Mckenna 3lb 4oz Gold; Archie Mckinnon two for 4lb 8oz including a Gold; Michael More two for 4lb 4oz including a Blue; James Witherspoon, on two tickets, seven for 12lb 8oz including two Golds.
Alistair Smith two for 4lb including a Blue; Jamie Mclaughlin three for 8lb including two Golds, bigger one at 3lb 8oz; David Livingston and Owen Purdie shared three for 10lb.
Connor Mcdonald three for 5lb 10oz including a Blue; Kieran Miller four for 9lb 4oz including a Gold; Scott Forrester three for 6lb 4oz including a Gold; Lewis Forrester three for 8lb including two Golds
LAKE OF MENTEITH
The main fleet headed for the buzzer beds at Lochend/tod Hole and the Butts with bungs selling well in the shop. It being a bright day the best method might be the vertical buzzer but we will find out shortly.
There is quite a lot of interest in the new Boat League set up – which will be fished to Scottish club rules (also available on the SANACC website). Fly measures have been provided by tackle dealer Neil at Angus angling.
The Fario Boot League is an evening competition and new members are invited. It kicks off at 6pm on Wednesday, May 11.
Boat partners are randomly allocated and it is a great way to meet folk and learn more. If you are interested in joining – get in touch with the fishery.
The fishing has been very good over the last week with some great catches in terms of numbers and fish quality.
Buzzers on a sink tip washing line have produced the biggest catches - in the Butts, Lochend and roadshore areas – also out in the middle in areas of the eastern basin and east of the gap.
Glasgow Post Office netted 44 trout with five anglers; Colin Smith and Craig Cowan had 40 plus to the boat; Davie Downie was out guiding and the boat had 24; Neil Duff netted 31; A Mclachlan 20; Gus Armour and Willie Brash recorded 36.
Please remember to mark in your catches including released fish at the end of your session.
Neil Ward from Adrishaig/ Lochgilphead recently left us and he will be very much missed by his friends at lake of Menteith Fisheries.