I was very disappointed to learn today that, despite being defending champions, my team (Change Homes) are not being offered a place in this year's competition.

The four-man team event is run to raise money for WaterAid and is billed as a corporate event, charity fundraiser and fly-fishing competition. Our guys who fished it last year had a very enjoyable day and made a significant contribution to the total amount raised, donating several prizes in addition to the £350 entry fee.

It seems however, that the organisers have taken exception to the fact that we won the competition by a significant margin and have taken the decision to deny us the opportunity to defend our title.

Our non-participation only came to light when the organiser of the event contacted Kevin McCabe, the Managing Director of Change Homes to ask for the trophies from last year to be returned. Kevin is well known for raising significant amounts of money for various charities and he was understandably annoyed that we have been effectively 'black-balled' from this years event.

Note to Organisers - If you want to hold a corporate get together, have a ****-up and a barbecue and raise some money then that's great but don't call it a 'competition' or 'challenge'. If you are going to continue calling it a 'competition' or 'challenge', then don't detract from what is a very worthy cause by preventing competent anglers from taking part.

Note 2 to Organisers - Would it not be better to allow 'competition' anglers to take part and do a draw for boat partners. That way, instead of fishing with someone from you own team, some of the 'pleasure' anglers would have a chance of fishing with an internationalist and would perhaps learn something? I know if I was a 'pleasure' angler and I got drawn with someone like Kevin or Jock Kettles or James Litster, that would certainly make it a day to remember for me.

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Tight Lines, Troutbum

Thanks very much Martin i can't understand (waters aid) they what your money one year and because we won we get kicked out the next year i offered to fish with some of there guys last year so they learn how to fish the lake and they said NO? i just hope they dont get boats next year, the Lake can do with out poeple like this?

welcome to the forum X22FLY it's not kevin is it.?

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Yes Thanks

Troutbum, this is realy a poor show from the organisers, I know Kevin does a power of work for charity so to be denied a chance and defending the trophy your team won last year must feel like a real snub.............



Is the whole idea not about raising money for charity rather than a full on serious comp...........these organisers need to have a look at themselves.......did they give you a specific reason as to no invite this year?

The competition will be pooerer this year without your team..........

Gus

Thanks Gus they said "it was fully booked and we where 5th in line for a canceltion" out of order?

Kev, dont let it get to you , just concentrate on the Big Comp`s...........

hows those hair extension coming along.........

see you soon

Gus

Well someone has made a balls up with this comp ,last years winners not invited to defend the title,a bit dodgey me thinks the pleasure anglers have taken fright ,This is a poor show when you consider what the Change guys raised and donated last year,I just hope the people that run the Wateraid comp reconsider and let the change guys compete this year,it may wear them down for the other more important comps and give other teams a chance

Cheers wee man!

As part of the winning team last year I was furious to find out that the organizers are not going to allow us in this year, as Kevin said we offered to fish with some of the other less knowledgeable anglers in the comp to make their day more enjoyable,we also donated stuff to them as well as buying over a £150 worth of raffle tickets between the four of us.
We had a great day last year the banter at the meal was great with some of the competitors at our table and when the raffle was being drawn with us having bought as many raffle tickets we gave other guys at our table the winning tickets to go and pick a prize.
We as a team (CHANGE) were there to have a fun day out and give to the cause, as most charities are aware, a lot of work goes into an event like this and the object is to raise as much as possible and if it is an annual event you try to please the participants so you can fill the places again the following year. Well, it seems to me and my fellow team mates that this is not the case with "WATER AID", they don't want our money! so for the organizers not to allow us in the this year is their loss.