2009 Christmas Message from the Chairman

When I think back to this time last year I remember completing my Christmas message and thinking, ‘after all the hard work at least 2009 will gives us the opportunity to sit back a bit and  take stock before starting any new projects’!  How wrong I was.  2009 if anything has been even busier than 2008 and yet, despite the enormous workload the Executive Committee has coped admirably and continued to drive the Federation forwards.  Again there have been challenges to overcome, and there have inevitably been some disappointments along the way, but all in all 2009 has been another very good year with membership, particularly junior membership, continuing to grow and more success on the international stage to celebrate.

2009 saw the consultation process and then publication of the River Basin Management Plans for the Scotland River Basin and that of the Solway Tweed, followed by the individuals Plans for each of the Fisheries Trusts.  During the last week in March I remember sitting down for three hours every night for a week reading through over 1500 A4 pages of the Solway Tweed Plan while Ron Woods was doing the same on the Scotland Plan in order to meet an unrealistically tight timeline for consultation. 

The SFCA has reinforced its commitment to the growth of angling in Scotland and by working with the other two SGBs (SFSA and SANA) and Sport Scotland in the Angling Development Board of Scotland (ADBoS), a great deal has been achieved during the year.  The post of Angling Business Development Officer, created after the three governing bodies agreed to move to a joint funding application last year, has now been filled and the new incumbent, Eric Dawes, has hit the ground running driving progress towards the implementation of the UKCC.  After some delay I am pleased to be able to announce that a number of our current coaches will be undergoing training in February 2010 to gain the new qualification whilst simultaneously training to become Tutors and Assessors.  This will hopefully provide ADBoS with a pool of Coarse, Sea and Game Angling Tutors and Assessors to enable us to begin to independently deliver UKCC courses in Scotland, and ensure that more young Scots have the opportunity to take up fishing and access to professionally trained and licensed coaches.  We are now actively seeking to identify suitable individuals who have the desire to become coaches.  If that sounds like you please keep your eye on the website, www.sfca.co.uk, as we hope to be able to publish course dates early in the new year.

The SFCA continues to be heavily committed to giving children the opportunity to try angling and, through the Professional Anglers’ Association (Scotland) and our Centre of Excellence at the Barony College over 1200 children have been given the opportunity to learn about and try coarse angling supported by licensed coaches.  This activity continues to be mainly confined to the South West but, with the UKCC coming on line in 2010 it is hoped to that we can increase the number of coaches and widen to program to other areas across Scotland.

On the competitive side 2009 has been another hectic year!  Sun 24^th May saw the final of the Ayrstrike competition which was held at Springwater Fisheries at Dalrymple near Ayr.  Sixteen qualifiers again battled it out to claim the biggest cash prize in Scottish angling history.  The event, hosted jointly by the SFCA and the Liz Hobbs Group as part of the ‘Burns An’ A’ That’ Festival, and kindly supported by Daiwa, again generated huge interest.  With live commentary by ex Great Britain Water Skier Liz Hobbs the final was a very special occasion for competitors and spectators alike.  Ian Fewtrell from Wigan lifted the title and walked away with a cheque for £3,000.  Qualifying rounds for the 2010 final are already underway.  For your chance to qualify visit www.fishpal.com/Scotland/CoarseFishingInScotland.

August saw Scotland retain the Celtic Cup with a fantastic performance on Lough Muckno at Castleblaney in Ireland.  Having been lying in second place at the end of day one, 3 points behind the hosts, a few inspired tactical changes resulted in the squad winning the second day by 5 points to retain the title in emphatic style.   

Despite fielding a very young squad Scotland’s Juniors put in a tremendous performance in the Celtic Cup at Magiscroft, Nr Cumbernauld and were only narrowly beaten by a very strong Welsh squad.  I know that they were all bitterly disappointed not to retain their title for the forth year in succession and that they are determined to regain the Cup in Wales in 2010.

Consistency is everything in the Scottish league championship and Monklands ‘A’ team proved yet again that they are them most consistent team on the circuit, lifting the team Championship title for a second year running.  Magiscroft ‘A’ at least had the consolation of team member and Scotland’s International Manager Chris Paton lifting the individual league trophy.

In September the senior squad travelled to Holland for the World Championships on the Large Vaart Canal at Almere and consolidate their position on the world stage finishing the two day competition in 13^th place, under the new scoring system.  Had the old system still been in place the team would have matched their 2008 placing of 11^th.  It is testimony to how far the team has come in the past 5 years that to a man they were bitterly disappointed not to have been in the top 10.  Jamie Masson again proved that he is a real medal contender ending 6^th in the world overall.

29^th August saw another big field for the Junior National Championship which was again held at Magiscroft Fisheries near Cumbernauld.  16 year old Ben McGuire put in an impressive performance to lift the over 14 year old title with 19lb 12oz in front of a very competitive field, with 13 year old James O’Neill  winning the 13 years and under title with 11lb 9oz.

The 27^th September saw Steve Grimshaw from Chroley lift the Individual title in Scottish National Championship from the Big Point at Glenlaggon on Loch Ken with Monklands taking the Team title.

2009 has also been another extremely busy year for the Executive Committee as they have sought continue the modernisation of the Federation and meet its obligations to its members, clubs and Sport Scotland in its capacity as Governing Body.

In July the Federation signed a landmark agreement with British Waterways to take control of all fishing on the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals.  The Federation aims to use this unique facility, which spans the central belt, to promote coarse angling in Scotland and offer the opportunity for young Scots to access FREE fishing in a productive and safe environment.

The Federation has now fully implemented its Child Protection Policy which was published last year and has managed to achieve over 90% of the targets set in its Annual Business Plan for 2009/10.  The draft Business Plan and Risk Register for 2010/11 will be published on the website prior to Christmas for consultation, with the final plan will being published at the AGM in March.  Clubs and Individual members are encouraged to get involved by reading it and having their say by engaging with the Executive Committee.  Alternatively, if you would like me to come along and speak to your members at your AGM please don’t hesitate to contact me at gus@gbmsscotland.fsnet.co.uk.

The Federation continues to be actively involved with the Freshwater Fisheries Forum Steering Group and many of its sub committees and working groups.  As the working groups set up to deal with the Priorities For Action (PFAs) under the Strategic Framework for Scottish Freshwater Fisheries began their work we found ourselves increasingly committed ensuring that coarse angling had a voice and was involved at every level.   We have been heavily involved in fighting to protect the rights of coarse anglers and fishery owners in Scotland, and have engaged with Scottish Government on numerous occasions, to assist clubs and fisheries with their stocking applications.   As you may remember from my last Christmas Message, the Federation was given the lead as Steering Group champion for two key Priority for Action Projects; Project 4.1 – Education and Project 4.2 – Junior Coaching.   I am pleased to announce that with the help of our partners in the ADBoS we have established a very firm base for the Coaching Working Group and have agreed the way ahead for coaching, coach education and coach licensing for all disciplines within angling in Scotland.  With delivery of the new UKCC qualification due to begin in February 2010 it is hoped to be able to implement a single national licensing scheme in the near future. Anyone interested in becoming a coach, or wanting more information, should contact the Coaching & Development Officer, Martin Mitchell, at M-mitchell14@sky.com.

In summary another exceptionally busy year which has seen the Executive Committee involved with a multitude of projects and working groups and dealing with external agencies on a weekly basis.  On behalf of all of the members I would like to offer them all our sincere thanks for the tireless effort that they have put in, often at their own expense, to represent all of us and protect our right to coarse fish in Scotland.  2010 will I am sure be no different and will undoubtedly present plenty of challenges for us to overcome.  In particular the Federation needs to achieve the Foundation Level of ‘Equity in Sport’ and to do this we will need to appoint another member to the Executive Committee to take the lead for this work.  If you feel that you would be able to fill the post of Equity Officer or simply offer some time to support the Executive Committee please contact me. 

In closing I would like to wish all of our members, and indeed all coarse anglers in Scotland, a very Merry Christmas and Tight Lines for 2010.

Gus Brindle

Chairman

Address for correspondence:

The Cottage,
6 The Pleasance
HALBEATH
Fife  KY12 0TT

e-mail:  gus@gbmsscotland.fsnet.co.uk

Telephone: Daytime:   0131 310 4767  Evening:  01383 724768   Mobile:  07812 241816