January Newsletter 2004

Shaun's Report (Fishery Manager)

A happy New Year to all of you. A very unseasonal January with very mild and settled weather. Fishermen taking advantage of this spell and being rewarded with good sport. Fish are a lot deeper with cold nights but still feeding freely during the day on small lures, also with a bit of colour (orange, white and yellow).

Your committee meet in January to arrange your events schedule for this year. A copy is enclosed so keep this safe and enter it into your diary. Don’t say you didn’t know dates for your competitions.

Boxing Day Brace Results
A very encouraging turnout of 18 anglers. All caught fish on a cold day. Congratulations to Steve James and Chris Bush with a dead heat, nothing between them with a weight of 10lb 4oz for two fish.

Thanks to all who supported your Chairman’s competition, Mike Lawrence.

New Year’s Day Result
Our best turnout ever and yes we actually fished it this year, no ice or flooding.
Best Brace was Steve Standen.
Best Fish was Sam Koski.

A good day’s sport with many achieving limits. Thanks to all who managed to get out after New Year’s Eve and made this event a good social gathering.

Forthcoming Events

Jim Jaycock Memorial Team Trophy - 6th, 7th March
A team event drawn by your committee at random at the February committee meeting. A chance for 20 anglers to enter each day with 5 teams of 4 anglers doing battle. Your committee will seed and make 5 captains for each day. The other 3 team members will be drawn from a hat. Teams will be posted after the 1st March for any anglers eager to see whose team they are in.

Best trophies for each day and overall winner over the two days. Bacon rolls and coffee will split the morning session with a welcome retreat to the Lodge for which is normally a cold and inclement event. Booking sheets are attached and must be returned before 27th February – no verbal bookings. Booking forms and full payment only. Book early for this social and team event.

Trophy Returns
Last chance for these few trophies and save the embarrassment of being named in next month’s newsletters!
Greene King
April Member and Guest
December Member and Guest.

A fairly quiet month but remember to keep safe your events schedule for reference and take heed of the dates in place for next season. Look forward to seeing you all in the Lodge.

Tight lines

Shaun
Fishery Manager

Secretary’s Report

A happy new year to all. The festive season saw good turnouts for both the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Brace. Our thanks to Mike and Wayne for providing sustenance on Boxing Day. This event was a first as it was declared a dead heat between Chris Bush and Steve James even after a reweigh! Congratulations also to Steve Standen who took the honours on New Year’s day. I have to admit that my performance at both events proved that my old headmaster was a man of great foresight when he noted in my school report that “Mutch sets himself consistently low standards which he continuously fails to achieve”. My contribution on both days was a fish of 1lb 10oz! That sets the benchmark – beat it and a bottle of bubbly awaits you.

An early gathering of your committee brings a lot to report:

Singles and Pairs
Probably due to seasonal distractions the first round was not concluded by the end of December. You now have until the end of January to fish your matches otherwise we will have no chance of getting the competition finished by the end of March.

Events Calendar
This is attached for 2004 and I would draw your attention to the AGM and prize giving which will be held in the marquee on 5th April at 7.30pm. Can I ask that those who have not returned their trophies do so as soon as possible as they are to be engraved prior to the AGM.

On the subject of trophies, your committee have decided that these will be retained in the clubhouse for all to see. I hope all will agree that a full trophy cabinet creates a good impression to visiting anglers and is a good advert for our club.

Membership
Membership renewal packs will be sent in the next newsletter. At present we have 33 people on a waiting list to become members. Clearly our priority is to our existing members, however we have come to the difficult decision that if existing members fail to renew their membership by 8th April this will be deemed to have lapsed and places will be offered to those on the waiting list. If you have not renewed by that date your club card will be void and all member’s benefits withdrawn. Membership can of course be renewed at the AGM so all the more reason to attend.

Committee
I am sorry to announce that after many years’ loyal service to your club Malcolm Hunt and Robin Vallins will be standing down from the committee with effect from our year end to pursue other interests and on behalf of all members can I thank them for all their help over the years and wish them well in their future endeavours. Malcolm as you all know is our Treasurer and we therefore have two places on the committee to fill – one as Treasurer. If any members are interested in joining the committee and are keen to take on the role as treasurer can they please submit their application in writing to me at:

201 Stafford Road
Caterham
Surrey
CR3 6JN

Applications must be received by 20th February, as these will be considered at our next meeting.

On the subject of the committee I would remind you that any member is welcome to attend our meetings, which are held on the last Thursday of each month in the clubhouse at 7pm. It is your club and members’ views are always welcome.

Enough from me….good fishing to you all.

G Mutch
Hon. Secretary