AMFC Secretaries Report

Firstly I’d like to say a great big “Thank you” to all club reps, the Committee and all the participants in our matches of the 2007. Without your unstinting enthusiasm my job would be a lot more difficult.

At the last AGM we made a few minor changes to our rules and procedures and I think these were successful – we had none of the controversies that marred the 2006 season.

The Spring Association match at Chew went well although sadly the Army teams were rather depleted. Crawley were a man short as a result of the sudden illness of John Clark. We learnt at the end of the season that he passed away shortly before our Autumn match – he will be fondly remembered by the Association.

The season went very well for some teams, not so for others. In Group 1, Bewl ‘A’ recorded four first places and two seconds which meant that Rutland and Soldier Palmers ‘A’ were quite a way back in second and third places. In Group 2, Invicta went the other way recording four fifth places and two fourth places so were well out of contention long before the Autumn match. Bristol on the other hand managed three wins and Queen Mother two so Bristol topped the group with QM just a couple of points behind in second place. In Group 3, Fish Hawks ‘B’ had five first places and a second while Royal Navy Royal Marines had five second places and one first so ended up first and second respectively. However most of these matches were very close and decided by mere ounces. Indeed if RN/RM had won the Autumn match with Fish Hawks coming last then RN/RM would have topped the group with a better overall weight.

In total, 214 anglers fished, catching 1390 fish. This was down on the 2006 season, partly through a reduced number of teams, partly through teams being incomplete but mainly because of some indifferent fishing with bag limits being hard to come by for much of the season. Seventeen anglers bagged up in the Spring match and 19 in the Autumn match but rounds 3, 4 and 5 provided only 10 between them. Round 2 (all three groups on Bewl) was strange in that there were 25 limits in Group 2 but only 6 shared by Groups 1 and 3 who fished on a different day.

The only real problems this year concerned post-match meals. It seems increasingly difficult to find a simple sustaining repast at a reasonable price and in recognition of this we decided at last January’s AGM that £8.00 should be regarded as a guide price rather than a maximum. Two match organisers were surprised to find the meal costing rather more than they thought they’d agreed and in the case of the buffet at Eyebrook, the quality was poor and the quantity inadequate. We won’t be using those caterers again!

And lastly the Fun day. The change of venue from Hanningfield to Eyebrook was a success and meant that the prizes did not all end up with the home side. Many thanks to Mike Clark for his efforts with this event.

Once again, many thanks for all your efforts throughout the season.

J.R.Caldwell - Secretary, AMFC