McLaren hockey stars reach finals
Hockey players at McLaern High have a national tournament finals day to look forward to in 2022 after winning their qualifier last week.
The Callander schoolboys were unbeaten against Jordanhill, Aberdeen Grammar and Grove Academy at Glenalmond College, winning two and drawing one.
They will now play in the Aspire Cup finals on March 18, 2022 at Peffermill, Edinburgh.
McLaren started their first game against Jordanhill at a frantic speed and after a calming half time team talk and a few tactical changes, they started to dominate and scored a great team goal passing right round the goalkeeper. A second goal near the end sealed the win.
A tight 1-0 win followed against Aberdeen Grammar meaning a draw against Grove would take McLaren through. It was a cagey affair with Grove scoring first by pouncing on some defensive mistakes.
But after a stirring half time team talk from Jim Frail the boys came out all guns blazing and end to end play resulted in some good chances before a series of dramatic events by Grove unravelled their winning position.
A late tackle on the sideline meant one of their key players was sent off and on the next attack after that, the Grove goalkeeper stepped outside the D to intercept a pass with his feet, resulting in him being sin binned and a penalty corner awarde from which McLaren scored.
Grove defended deeply but a good passing move resulted in a second goal for McLaren but shortly after that Grove’s keeper returned and they rallied to score from a penalty corner.
McLaren, however, held out to qualify for the national finals in March next year.
A spokesperson said: “Well done to the boys, Jim and team, who have worked hard over many years up at McLaren, Trossachs Tigers and social hockey in Callander.”
FISHING SWANSWATER
There was some excellent fishing this week at Swanswater despite the changeable weather. There was some heavy rain with more than 3.5 inches falling, resulting in a rise in the water level and a slight tinge of colour in the water.
Water temperature remains around 9-10oC and the fish are still active.
At the start of the week they were in the top two to three feet of the water but they went a bit deeper later in the week and were to be found anywhere between one and five feet down on Saturday.
The Island, the Far Bay, the Dam area and the boats were all doing well this week. Plenty of Golds are still featuring in the catch returns from all three ponds with a lovely 7lb Gold taken from the Millpond on Sunday.
The usual wide variety of flies were taking with the favourite patterns including Woolly Bugger, Yellow Dancer, Damsel, Hare’s Ear, Buzzer, Gold Head Daddy and Bibio, and black being the most popular colour. On the bait pond black power bait, maggots and worms were all working well.
Now that the clocks have changed the fishery opening hours are 8am to 4.30pm every day except Thursday when it closes at 2.30pm.
Some of the best bags taken on the fly this week included Tam Baillie five for 16lb 8oz including 6lb Rainbow and a Gold plus four returned including 4lb Brown and a Gold; Barry Lee three for 12lb including 7lb Gold from the Millpond; Robert Watt five for 15lb; George Johnston, fishing the Meadow Pond on two separate days, five for 10lb including four Golds, plus two Golds returned and three for 6lb 8oz including two Golds.
Garry McLachlan four for 11lb plus 10 returned; John Park four for 11lb plus two returned; Ralph Anderson four for 10lb including a Gold plus 11 returned including two Browns; William Cumming four for 10lb; Billy Weir three for 8lb 8oz plus three returned; Callum McMillan three for 8lb 8oz plus one returned; David Cunningham two for 6lb.
Alex Campbell two for 5lb 8oz plus three returned; Stuart Cameron two for 5lb 8oz plus 8lb Brown returned; Ryan Burns returned 15; Calan McLachlan and Stuart Hay each returned nine; Chris Brennan returned eight including a Gold and Ian Whitfield returned eight in two visits; Frank Barr, Andrew Townsley and John Thomson each returned seven; Nicky Capavanni returned five.
Amongst those catching on the bait pond were Fraser Cooper five for 9lb 12oz including a Gold; Andrew Clinton three for 6lb 12oz; Graeme McCurdie three for 7lb and Robert Smith two for 3lb 12oz.
LAKE OF MENTEITH
It’s the end of the main season at the lake. Angling numbers will drop off rapidly as the cold intensifies but it will remain open all winter for the hardy anglers - and for when the nice weather windows are here.
There are no plans to stock any more trout until just befor the main season arrives on March 19 opening day but boats will be available all winter with the exception of the Christmas and New Year period and for the week before opening day when there will be restocking.
Catches can be good over the winter and anglers will be guaranteed more solitude – having fishers at the lake is good for helping to deter cormorants.
The season ended on a high with a week which included a Scottish Police v English Police and a UK Police v UK Armed Forces event. Thanks to the organisers for their time and effort – especially retired policeman Calum Fraser.
The final weekend saw two charity events. The first on Saturday organised by Rothes Oak AC and co-ordinated by Willie Simpson saw 12 six-man teams taking part in a fundraiser and collecting a fantastic £3864 for their local mental health charity “Men Ask Now”.
All the anglers were fed a hearty breakfast and lunch and the day finished with a raffle and auction. The winning team was incidentally Good Guys AC, second were MFF Caradean and third were Costa Ecosse.
On the Sunday the fishery board donated all boat hire takings (£1567) to the Port Kirk and Primary and all 35 boats were booked for the day.
It was a scaled down event with only anglers and no children/parents - a further £180 had been donated during the season and £277 was made in what was a great raffle.
The school parent council provided a great barbecue and lovely soups for the anglers as they came in.
After cost of food etc the total amount collected was £1685. Thanks to Grant East from the parent council who organised the food. Thanks also to the children of the Port School for their cheery fish paintings/howff wallpaper.