[Presentation Night Speech 25/09/2009]

“Whilst there are many of the ‘old regulars’, it is always good to see some new faces and to those of you at The Pairs for the first time – a very special welcome.

It never ceases to amaze just how fast the days pass during Pairs week; bait collecting, looking at the venues, trying new spots, notching up a new species or two, trying some new tactics or just chilling in the bar; the week just roars by!

It is noticeable many of you are now taking a few extra days to compensate, but there is simply never enough time and with The Week again at a close, more’s a pity, it is another 50 or so before we do the whole thing again!

Looking back through the 2008 Report, it seems we are only a few Pairs down on last year. Against a backcloth of a weak Stirling against the Euro, and a pretty severe recession, The Pairs has faired much better than I had feared back in the Spring, when entries were only a trickle. Whilst I always try and make room for late entries, I do have to close the books and sort the draw, in reasonable time to close affairs and prepare to leave for Ireland. This year it was clear from entry levels the draw would be best set at 60 – i.e.: 6 even zones of 20. With the draw completed, Mick Dixon, rang in at the end of August to see if there was room for another Pair. No problem: that made Pair 58 of 60. A few days later, a letter addressed to the Pairs Organiser drops through the letterbox: two late entries: Dave Hutchinson, Steve Nicholson, Ian Joyce, Graham Stones. The draw had been closed: What if Mick had rang and booked 2 or 3 pairs? I day say our regulars would not have been best pleased if I had no room!!!!

A Narrow Escape I fancy! Next year please, don’t leave it too late.

Whilst, I would never wish to disappoint, please understand I do not have limitless time on my hands to do unnecessary tasks concerning Pairs administration and event preparation; I certainly would not be very happy to have to re-do the Draw at such a late stage! Grumble over!

You may recall last that in my report last year I reported that having kicked some ideas around with Jim, Ian, Darren and Alan, we were strongly of the view the Pairs needs it’s own web site. This would have a number of significant gains for the competition, by way of providing information, promotion and advertising. It would also give something back to our sponsors, by way of our promotion of their involvement [with, of course, links to there own sites]. It would also give us the ability to post pictures and material relating to specimen catches and match reports.

I am pleased to report Darren got the web site up and running by Xmas 2008, and to date it has had some 5000 hits. I am sure most of you have visited the site and I hope you share my view that Darren has done a first class job! We would like you observations and thoughts and we would like some new pictures of your specimen catches. So if you have any ideas or suggestions please get in touch or grab any of the Committee at the bar!

As a footnote, I would add, the creation of the web site has made the circulation of competition Info, much easier at my end. Thanks Darren.

Before I move on to my annual story and round up of the week, I would like to take a few moments out and invite you all to raise your glasses and remember a few past entrants of The Pairs no longer with us: I’ll mention a few, but by no means is this an exhaustive list:

Alistair Craig, Nigel Robinson, John Browning, Mick Tierney,

Terry Rothery …

Toast:                   ‘To Passed Pairs’:

Tales of foolishness and tomfoolery have, again, been in short supply [or more likely kept under wraps and well away from my ears], but as usual there is always some-one prepared to drop themselves into the mire for the sake of a yarn.

For the purposes of my story I have tried to keep only loosely to the facts and any similarities to persons or facts known or unknown are merely co-incidental:

A Narrow Escape

Lurking about in a supermarket car park without intent to shop is indeed questionable activity.

Two men behaving suspiciously in a supermarket car park around waste bins would seem an even more questionable activity.

It is worrying that suspicious and odd behaviour may only be a stones throw away and is potentially lurking just around the next corner and with

Terrorism and the threat of terror splashed all over the media, no wonder we all have become vigilant.

In this tale, local mother of 4, Martha Righteousness, spotted some very suspicious activity and extremely odd behaviour, in her local supermarket car park!

…

What started out as the usual exiting start of another great holiday week soon spiralled into a bleak and worrying start for Burgess ‘the Hunter’, Peter ‘Crackshot’ and their comrades the ‘NotsoWellfares’?

We all know about not carrying penknives or sharp instruments or indeed flammable material on planes, so why should ferries be any different?

Burgess ‘the Hunter’ never gave it a thought:

What harm is a fistful of used shotgun casings going to be in a cargo hold full of fuel-laden vehicles! 

Unlike ‘the Hunter’, Comrade ‘Crackshot’ and the ‘NotsoWellfares’ were somewhat uncomfortable with the prospect of booking in to the ferry terminal with used gun cartridges and its residue of gunpowder on-board! 

A solution needed to be found and fast!

A quick left turn before the terminal and a dash into the supermarket car park to off-load the explosive cargo into the nearest bin was considered as their only alternative!

—-

Now, Martha Righteousness had just finished her weekly shop at Tesco’s for her 4 lovely children, Matt, Mark, Luke and Cornelius and as she was loading her car, she saw a Land Rover draw into the car park and pull up to a waste bin, engine left running. Out stepped a couple of unsavoury and somewhat rough-looking characters who seemed to be gathering up what looked to be shotgun cartridges.

What were they doing, she thought?

Careful not to be spotted she watched as the men put the cartridges into a bag, then look around to see that nobody was looking; the bag was placed carefully and discreetly into the waste bin. Odd, Martha Righteousness thought, and the men climbed back into the Land Rover and sped away…but not before Martha had made note of the number plate.

—

Consciences cleared and their journey back on track and Ireland bound, the Hunter, Crackshot and the NotsoWellfares felt much better and headed enthusiastically to the Ferry Terminal.

—

There seemed to be a lot of security activity at the Ferry Port…’strange’?

The Hunter said to Crackshot, ‘must be a terrorist alert’…

…’Crackshot’, why is that security guard pointing his gun at us’.

…The Pairs week had started!

And 4 Dick’s already!

Just a couple of points about the week in general:

Day 1 saw more dogs over the match length than we have had for a number of years at Ventry, even though the conditions seemed almost too fair and the Harbour seemed to drain very quickly on the extremely large tide. As expected, the flood did not produce as well as the ebb and gars were very much in short supply. Cappa was dropped due to weed issues and Brandon Strands: Gowlane and Stradbally were used as the replacement venues. Brandon fished well with a mixture of fish including a fair smattering of rays from the lower numbers.

Day 2: The stiff SW winds which moved in overnight Sunday and Monday caused the Match Committee to rethink Tuesday. After much consideration of potential venues and various weather forecasts, RossBeigh and Cappa were selected. Disappointingly, both venues held much of a head of fish and it proved a very tricky and frustrating day for many with the odd bonus fish influencing substantially the overall outcome and Day 2 result.

Day 3: Finally this year, we got on Inch and conditions were near perfect for the day 3 Match, which included the John Browning Memorial Trophy and Teams of 4 event. 120 anglers in one long match stretch covering the best part of 2 miles – it is always a great sight. We left plenty of room for the other beach users and at 25 paces between Peg 1 just made it round the corner to the first lagoon. There was a reasonable head of flatfish right through the beach and there were only one blank amongst some pretty respectable bags of fish.

Pegs and Match Cards.

Whilst the majority of you do make every effort to hand in your match cards at the end of the match there are still a small minority of you who simply forget. Please remember if we have no card we can do little other to assume a blank. Pegs are a problem and around 10% are lost or left in tackle boxes at the end of every match.

For 2010 we will be accepting match cards only with accompanying peg returns. 

On the subject of match cards, whilst in the minority it never ceases to amaze me just how far some anglers go to keep the cards clean and blemish free. Two of our Irish friends and regular attendees at the Pairs even went as far as not writing any fish on the cards; probably because they didn’t catch any! But they did write a note:

Mick Dixon’s and Tony Byrne’s match Cards:

MD – “The biggest fish so far is the piece of cod I got in the Dingle chipper!”

TB – “Very sad; some angler took my fish from my peg. Enjoyed the day; the sun was shining”

In response I have a little limerick for our Match Card Comedians:

Two keen fisherman from Dublin,

Caught now’t, so were never to win,

Tony’s pair: Michael Dixon,

Suffered the same affliction,

And did threat to throw his rods in the bin!

Dick Award.

Most Species in Pegged Matches:

This has caused The Committee increasing problems over the last few years caused primarily by questionable fish identification. Subsequently, we will be dropping this prize from next year’s event. We will replace the prize with: Organisers selected Specimen Fish caught in the 3 Pegged Matches. This may or may not be a species nominated in the existing Specimen Competition.

As usual before I get to the actual presentation of prizes there are a few thanks to individuals, organisations and businesses who assist in making the Pairs a great week.

Firstly, our main sponsors Daiwa, who supply a considerable amount of tackle for the Prize Table – this year, we have from Daiwa Sports over £8,000 retail value of quality tackle and prizes.

Dingle Harbour Lodge and the Courtyard, through Trident Homes provide us quality accommodation at very favourable rates.- again we pass on much of this discount to the anglers and the rest is donated to the prize fund. Whilst on the subject of accommodation: it is important for me to fill the block bookings, so if you can please book Harbour Lodge and the Courtyard through me – you will get it cheaper and it does enable additional funds to be channelled into the prize fund.

SAMF again have sponsored £300 worth of prizes and provide the Insurance for the event.

This year, as the average entry age becomes ever higher, we see the introduction of a veteran’s prize or better [and now commonly known] as ‘The Old Git’s Comp. And was sponsored, not surprisingly, by an Old Git [presumably in the hope of increasing his chances of winning a prize]. Seriously, thanks to Dave Himsworth for putting up two rods for the best performance for the Best Veteran Pair with an aggregate age of 115 or greater.

Many of you I know have been enjoying the hospitality at our Headquarters Paudies and Kathleen and crew have done a fabulous job in keeping anglers fed and watered or allowing them to drown their sorrows as the case maybe – thanks Kathleen and everyone at Paudies.

A special thanks for duties above and beyond to SAMF’s own ‘Knight in shining white armour and Vehicle Recovery Unit’ Mr. Paul Molyneaux, for his stirling efforts pulling cars out of the beach and running those less able to theirs pegs and back!

Thanks also to John and Jean Amery for their general help during the week and to John who helped with the draw preparation over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Moving on to your all-important Match Committee: Jim, Ian, Alan and Darren; they do give up a lot of their week to vet the week’s venues and to ensure the beaches are pegged. The results are sorted and posted.

Make no mistake: they are indeed a first class team.

Thanks lads – without your help the week would simply not happen.

Lastly, on a personal note I would like to thank my wife Susan for her support throughout the year and the competition week for simply keeping my back free and putting up with my often frazzled temperament!

Thank you Sus’l

——————

Moving on to the formal Presentation:

SECTION POOLS

See sheets on Full Results Tables.

As is customary we have some special prizes to give away in the form of some more phallic sweeties for those of you who seem to take conservation in matches to the limit by not catching fish. This year I am awarding the dicks only to the ‘favoured’ and the only double blanker: Justin Hawksley!

—–

Thanks to Bob Sherman for donating the Dicks…and to the Scots for awarding yet another dick or two to their brethren!

SAMF Qualifiers:

Dave Hutchinson [2009/2010?], Graham Stones [2009/2010?],

Steve Nicholson [2009/2010?], Richard Burrows [2010],

Andy Young [2009/2010?], Alan Smith [2010]

PAIRS DAY WINNERS:

Trophy plus £200 for winners, £150 for Runners-up & £100 for 3^rd. placing

DAY 1

                                                          Pts.    Ozs.            No.Fish

3^rd.     Nick Haward/Dave Wright      8        274             17

2^nd.    Alan & Darren Smith              6        363             12

1^st.     Darren Bond/Colin Carey       6        424             18

DAY 2

3^rd.     Baz Barrett/Ray Foster           4        187.5          19

2^nd.    Darren Bond/Colin Carey       3        243.5          19

1^st.     Eamonn Foggerty/Paul Whelan        2        277.5          16

DAY 3

3^rd.     Paul Stevens/Chris Snow                           6        160             24

2^nd.    John Dixon/Mark Armstrong           6        165             23

1^st.     Dave Hutchinson/Steve Nicholson    5        215.5          21

JOHN BROWNING TROPHY

For the best individual performance at Inch:

Steve Nicholson   133.5 points – 10 fish             wins Memorial Shield

MOST SPECIES IN PEGGED MATCHES collects £100 donated by SAMF

10 species – Jason Wellfare

LONGEST FISH CAUGHT IN THE PEGGED MATCHES collects £100 cheque donated by SAMF

Noel Foggerty – Conger – 95cm Ventry

BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE, sponsored by, Trident Homes and DAIWA Sports. Prize table for top five placings.

                                      Pts.    Ozs.   Fish   Prize

5^th.     Colin Carey                   10      453.5 30      Surf Carrying System Bag

4^th.     Darren Smith       9        343.5 21      Grandwave Surf 1403M

3^rd.     Steve McAdam     8        358    27      TDXS129PM

2^nd.    Nev Charlesworth          6        371.5 24      TDXS133PM      

Overall Winner: Jason Wellfare – 5pts  – 240 – 25 fish

wins free cottage for 1 week for 2010 event sponsored by Trident Homes

OLD GITS’ COMPETITION – or the ‘115+ Club’ for the best veteran performance: Each wins Isla Cougar Grange 3 piece 13’ spinning rod

Ray Hornby & Barry Critchley 36 points and 634 ozs, narrowly beating Billy Lindfield and Gordon Thornes on countback of fish points.

TEAMS OF 4 – Inch

4^th.     John Williams, Richard Burrows, Bill Lindfield            24 points

          & Gordon Thornes wins 160 euros                               238.5

3^rd.     Jim Gross, Ian Hewitt, Darren & Alan Smith                         24 points

          wins 320 euros                                                              283.5

2^nd.    Darren Bond, Colin Carey, Paul Stevens &                            22 points

          Chris Snow wins 480 euros

1^st.     Nick Haward, Dave Wright, Dave Himsworth &          13 points

          John Amery wins 660 euros

DAIWA SPECIMEN COMPETITION

Most Species – Tony Royall – 4 species on countback on average %                                                                                               94.7%

Collects £100 donated by SAMF

SPECIMEN COMPETITION  Each wins either 7HT or SL20SH

Dab                                30cm                    Tony Royall, Gary Falk

Pollack                           77cm                    Andy Young

Flounder                        45cm                    Eugene Farrelly,

Tony Royall, Derek Jackson

Mullet                            63cm                    Darren Bond

Wrasse                           50cm                    Gary Calderwood

Bass                               63cm                    Kevin Barber

Bullhuss                         106cm                  Colin Carey

Thornback Ray              59cm                    Scott McNicol

Painted Ray                             62cm                    Ken Williamson

Conger                           157cm                  Pete Cracknell

Best Flatfish of Week – wins STS 115 bass rod

Flounder 47cm [104.4%] to Paul Stevens

———————

Best Roundfish of Week – wins STS 115 bass rod

52cm Wrasse to Alec Bell [115.6%]

———————

Organisers Fish of the Week

Wins a STS 115 bass rod and Caldia Plus 3000X Specialist FS reel

Wrasse 56cm [124.4%] to Neil Tyrell

MAIN EVENT – SAMF DAIWA IRISH PAIRS top 25 placings

                                                          Pts.    Ozs.   Fish   Daiwa Prizes

                                                                                      [in pairs]

20^th    Bill Newham/John Grey          51      314.5 33      Jackets/Caps

19^th.   John Williams/Richard Burrows 51  355.5 43      Smocks/Caps

18^th.   Peter McGroary/K. Barber      51      509.5 30      Smocks/Caps

17^th    Nev Charlesworth/Simon Drayton 50        450    30      Brollies/Caps

16^th.   Tom Whitehead/Steve Smith   50      517    40      R’sacks/Rig W.

15^th.   Paul Tuck/Tony Lewthwaite   46      393.5 27      7HT/Rig W.

14^th.   Steve MaAdam/Gary Lawson 45      486.5 39      SL20SH/Rig W

13^th.   Paul Molyneaux/Dave Roe      44      446    45      7HT/Rig W.

12^th.   Nick Haward/Dave Wright      44      479.5 46      SL20SH/Rig W.

11^th.   Peter Cracknell/Jason Wellfare         40      362.5 41      WS Jackets/Rig W.

10^th.   Dave Hutchinson/Steve Nicholson 39        471.5 41      GW Surf Rods

9^th.     Paul Stevens/Chris Snow                  38      494.5 52      7HT Mags/Line

8^th.     John Dixon/Mark Armstrong  36      401.5 45      STS13M/Quiv

7^th.     Ian Hewitt/Jim Gross              36      515    52      STS13PM/Quiv

6^th.     Bill Lindfield/Gordon Thornes          36      570.5 49      TDXS133PM/Quiv

5^th.     Ray Hornby/Barry Critchley   36      634    50      £700 Sw.Shirts

4^th.     Baz Barrett/Ray Foster           33      490.5 47      £800  Polos

3^rd.     Alan & Darren Smith              29      559    37      £900 Cool Bags

2^nd.    Darren Bond/Colin Carey       25      777.5 53      £1200 Cool Bags

This years winners:

Winning £2000 plus TDXS133PM/Caps plus as a special prize for this years winners The Dingle Bay Hotel has also donated 2 nights B&B and a complimentary meal. 

1^st      Eamonn Foggerty/Paul Whelan 23   647.5 41     

Next years dates:

Tides will be around one hour later next year, so you can look forward to some comfortable match times!

Sunday 26^th. September – Friday 1st. October 2010, limited to 72 pairs and as usual I will be taking entries and requirements on a first come-first served basis.

Safe Journey Home”