Spey O Rama Fly Casting World Championship, Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club, San Francisco, April 15th-17th
12/05/2011
World Champion Gerard Downey, Carron takes top honours in San Francisco, winning
The Jimmy Green Trophy with a historic final score of 621 feet.
This was a magnificent achievement from Gerard. Well Done!
The Spey O Rama has grown in stature from its humble beginnings in 2004 and is now recognised as the most prestigious and difficult competition in the World today. It demands multi casting disciplines, 40° angle changes all whilst wading deep and trying to beat the clock.
Carron held a strong presence at this year’s Spey O Rama and took pleasure in introducing three new members of the Carron team - Travis Johnson, Bruce Kruk and Mia Sheppard joined James Chalmers, Ruairi Costello and Gerard Downey for what turned out to be a momentus weekend.
All six Carron team members participated in the GGACC member’s day training session, sharing their knowledge and expertise with the people who had travelled from all corners of the globe to share this weekend – it all seemed to go well and the team were made aware that this gesture was much appreciated by the club membership.
James Chalmers gets the ball rolling for the GGACC membership, with a casting display.
The class of 2011 GGACC membership with their instructors for the day
The main competition got underway on the Saturday with the qualifying round taking place in the morning. Conditions were perfect throughout the event and three Carron casters qualified for a place in Sunday’s Men’s final. Mia had already qualified to be in the Ladies final. With this event attracting the finest and best casters in the world it was quite an achievement to have four Carron members placed in the finals in such a difficult contest.
Sunday’s Ladies and Men’s finals proved to be a magnificent display of superb and memorable casting from some of the best casters in the world today. However, Gerard Downey’s immaculate, smooth and precise casting proved the highlight and gave him a record breaking victory of 621 feet.
The new scoring system proved to be a great success and with thanks to Tom Keelin and Bob Pauli of Fly Fishing Research, the scores were beamed live around the world.
Travis Johnson and Ruairi Costello finished in a creditable fifth and sixth place respectively.
Mia Sheppard took third place in the ladies competition.
Well done to you all, each and every one of you - we are very proud of your amazing achievements particularly in such a demanding World Class field. Thank you.
Carron Team flush with success.
From the left, Bruce Kruk, Ruairi Costello, Mia Sheppard, Marty Sheppard, Gerard Downey, Travis Johnson and James Chalmers.