Thanks to the organisational skills of Neil Mundy, one of our co-directors, the FFF Cast & Blast this year was exceptional. With 45 competitors and numerous guests, among them several members of 10 QOGLR Gurhkas, Chris Tarrant (Captain Chaos) and his lady Jane the day was a very memorable one.
The day started with the competitors chomping at the bit up to the shooting stands, or off to a ‘fly in’ start on the lakes as soon as the whistle went. To the lovely sound of wind passing casting rods, previous discussions on what fly, method and other possibly nefarious techniques went in the bin as fish were soon bending rods.
The banter was superb with advice being passed across the water at Meon Spring with some rather ribald replies from both angling sexes, concerning parts of one’s anatomy, made you pleased there were no children present. It warmed up rapidly and fish got wiser by the hour so we had to start hunting for our quarry in the lakes or slow our adrenalin at the gun cages, chasing the clays.
Lunch was outstanding, supplied by the ladies at Meon, served by Greg, Tim & Co and was followed by Jane Bird (Chris’s lovely partner) calling the raffle, closely followed by Chris auctioneering many lots donated by supporters and friends of FFF. If Chris decides to give up his celeb status he would do splendidly as an auctioneer, as those who were slow to bid he shamed in to doing so, laced with waves of laughter. He raised a phenomenal sum and practically gave himself a coronary along the way. I was exhausted just watching him.
The staff at Meon did a superb job before, during and after the event ensuring nothing was too much trouble and I cannot thank them enough.
Special thanks must go to all the competitors and guests ,the Mundy family the JLP Partnership for sponsoring the day and Pauline Pendle for superb pictures and of course Chris & Jane for making it such a superb day and raising close to £8,640.00.
Trophies were presented to:
Mick Heasman TWFFS for SMALLEST FISH (Hah): 1lb 11oz
Bill Bishop JLP Pshp for Heaviest Fish: 6lb 11oz
Paul Robinson (Definite ringer) for Heaviest Bag: 12lb11oz
Hank Di Mond (A wild card) Best Shot on clays: 19 out of 20 clays
No prizes given if you spot the picture of us looking at the floor and a hundred pieces of glass when I dropped Hank’s shooting trophy with a “I thought you had it and no I thought you had it”.
Please put Saturday July 13th 2019 in your diary for the next Cast & Blast.
My personal and most sincere thanks to all for such sterling support.
Bill Howell FFF Founder.
Meon Springs’ Fishery in Petersfield, Hampshire, is holding its annual Cast & Blast Fundraising Day – combining fly fishing and clay shooting – on Saturday 16th July 2016 with the aim of raising money for Fishing for Forces.