CHAIRMANS REPORT 2003 SEASON

Once again we approach the end of another spearfishing season and look forward to the A.G.M. and prize giving dinner and dance.

Our national committee held five meetings during 2003, January through to October and these were well attended by club reps. I expressed a wish that in Mike Bradshaw’s absence, on honeymoon in New Zealand, that the London International Branch of the B.S.A. be better represented on committee. We therefore co-opted Clive Thomas and Paolo De Michelis from L.I.C. who stood in at short notice. My thanks to them and all committee members for their input and effort during the year

We completed, after much postponements and the moving of venues and dates, five nationals during 2003. I feel we must plan our season better next year with a more even spread of competitions throughout the year.

It was nice to see some new faces winning the various national comps this year. My congratulations to Steve Mullineaux, Dave Stephens and our new British Champion Dave Thomasson who came from twenty-seventh last year to take the championship, probably one of the most dramatic advancements ever.

A welcome addition to our calendar this year was the introduction of an Open Pairs Comp organized by Mick Veal to raise funds for the British Team. An enjoyable and well-attended day to kick-start the season.

I had some adverse comments and bad feeling from the public about two of our nationals held at the same venue, Thurlston in Devon, in successive weeks together with the shooting of wrasse.

We need to put our house in order regarding the taking of wrasse, if at all. If so, then not in certain sensitive areas for the 2004 season. We also need to look at Back Up areas for National Competition dates as an alternative to Back Up dates if bad weather threatens the original area.

Our financial position during 2003 was healthy and collectively the committee voted the sum of £2,000 towards financing the G.B. teams to attend international events, notably the European Championship in Portugal during September.

My thanks go out to Alan Mills who took the job of manager of the G.B. team in Portugal at short notice, and managed to transform basically a "A Bunch of Scuffs" into a smart well presented National Team. So important at International level.

Our 6^th place out of thirteen teams was not achieved without considerable effort. Our placing over two days were:

A total of 42 competitors competed in Portugal and the host nation organised a very well run competition.

We now have to plan for the World Championship in Chile in 2004, quite a challenge; we have not managed to get a team to South America for 25 years.

Finally my thanks go out to Eric Smith and Jamie Larter for producing yet another edition of Crystal Clear in time for the A.G.M.

Good Luck and Good Fishing.

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