SANACC

2014 Scottish National River Championship

Scottish National River Championship
Final - River Don, 27th July


The Scottish Rivers National Championship final was held on the Aberdeen & District AA section of the River Don and provided some fantastic fishing conditions with 125 fish (rod average of 6.25) being caught and safely returned by the 20 anglers who were competing for a place in the 2015 rivers team.

The top 5 along with the 6th placed angler, who will take up the reserves position for the team, will compete at the International on the River Liffey (Ireland) in 2015.

Top angler on the day with a catch of 17 trout (5, 4, 4, and 4 fish in each session) was Simon Cocker representing D&B FF. His successful methods were a mixture of nymphs and dry fly tactics.

The runner up was local angler Richard McHattie also representing D&B FF who caught 14 trout (5, 2, 4, and 3 fish in his sessions) and his successful methods again were a mixture of nymphs and dry fly. Third place was another local angler Mike Cordiner ADAA who managed to catch 11 fish (4,2,1,and 4 during his sessions) mostly caught using dry fly methods. Close on his heals was Dick Logan of Coldstream and District AA who caught 4,2,1,and 1 fish for a total of 8 for his sessions to finish fourth. Fifth place went to Grant Gibson of St Boswells, Newton & District who managed to catch 12 fish (5,6,1, 0). The blank in his last session proving to be costly. Dick and Grant were fishing nymph and dry fly methods. The sixth and final place went to new comer Martin Stewart of Earlston AA whose catch of 4,2,2,0 for a total of 8 fish using nymphing methods saw him take the reserves place.

The rivers committee would like to thank Pitlochry AC and Aberdeen & District Angling Association for supporting the 2014 National Rivers championship and a special thank you to all the controllers throughout the heats and especially during the final for their much needed support without them we would not have been able to run this competition.

photo:
Simon receiving the trophy
from SANACC Chairman
Campbell Morgan

photo from left to right:
SANACC Chairman Campbell Morgan, Richard McHattie
Simon Cocker, Mike Cordiner, Derick Logan and Martin Stewart

Heat 4 - 25th May

At the final heat the day started off quite cool with the threat of rain from some very dark, ominous clouds in the surrounding sky.
It warmed up and there were a few fish showing on the upper stretch with a few olives, yellow mays and even less march browns.
There was a heavy shower towards the end of the second session and reports were of some quite good catches.
A stiff wind appeared for the afternoon and it got a bit cooler

The winner Davie Downie caught on dries in the two morning sessions and it was wetfliy and nymphs in the afternoon.
2nd place Martin Stewart caught 8 of his fish on nymphs with 2 on dryfly.
3rd place Calum Crosbie was the opposite and caught on wet fly in the morning sessions and dries in the afternoon.

photo:
David, Calum and Martin

Heat 3 - 18th May

Heat 2 - 4th May


Eight competitors turned out for the second heat on the River Tummel on 4th May and the top three are guaranteed a place in the final.

Derick Logan of Coldstream & District AA was the top rod with 7 place points. Derick won the first session with four fish to take an early lead and with two firsts a second and a third he held that lead throughout the day.

In seond place was Richard McHattie of D & B FF. Richard won the second session with four fish and pulled level with Derick. He finished up with two firsts a second and a fifth for 10 place points. John Watson of Rainbow Warriors took the third place with a second, third, fourth and eighth for 17 place points.

photos:
Richard, Derick and John

Heat 1 - 27th April

Seven anglers took part in the first of the 2014 heats with the top three qualifying for the final. The river was running 2ft6in above summer level. Conditions were warm with very little wind and fish were caught on a mixture of wets , dries and bugging methods. A total of 48 fish were caught and returned of which 47 were trout. The largest, measuring 42cm, was caught by Jim Litster of Neilston FF. Only one grayling was caught which measured 30.2 cm and was caught by Simon Cocker of D & B FF. Simon landed 13 fish for second place behind winner James Mackie of Dalzell AC whose 12 fish were slightly larger earning him first place overall. Mike Cordiner of Aberdeen & District AA was third with 10 fish.

Heat 2 is on Sunday 4th May

photo:
Mike Cordiner, Jim Mackie and SImon Cocker