A full complement of 24 participants was expected for this day at Rib Valley and the chilly, windy and overcast conditions were not looking good.

The field kitchen was up however and protected from the strong winds, so there was no danger to the breakfast rolls and the tea and coffee. Heaven forbid that this so vital element would be missing and that a proper welcome was not there for our willing band of casters.

Amongst the children that arrived, one school consisted almost entirely of wheelchair bound participants and it never seems to amaze me at the time it takes to unload a bus full of wheelchairs and the amount of patience and care that is needed from their carers. They had all come well prepared however, for the rather inclement weather and many capes and brollies were to be seen as the occasional shower rushed by us. In the coarse fishing contingent there were even a couple of tents (bivvies) that the fishermen had put up and the children made good use of them to shelter in.

The coarse fishing was very productive with lots of small fish caught which almost guarantees a great day for the participants but catches on the fly lake were not so good, but it did mean that a lot of casting and fishing help was given to the many participants there.

The day was sponsored by one of our casters who had sadly passed away at the later part of last year and had very kindly remembered us in his will and it was with great delight that we welcomed his wife, Betty and her daughter. They presented the certificates and medals to an excited bunch of children who were just glad to be in out of the wind, I think.

Another great day at Rib Valley and I even discovered the garden centre located on the site on the way out.

 

Please click here for further pictures from the event.