Saitama, Japan October 2011 JCA Anglers Class Masters
10/10/2011
Carron sent 3 men to compete in the prestigious JCA Class Masters International overhead and Speycasting competitions in Japan last week, Ruairi Costello, Gerard Downey and James Chalmers headed to Tokyo full of anticipation. The competitions took place over two days with overhead and single handed on Saturday and the Speycasting 16 foot and 18 foot taking place on the Sunday. The Carron boys arrived a few days earlier in Japan to be met by our Carron Japan stockist Sansui who had organised magazine interviews and a video shoot coupled with some educational casting clinics for the enthusiastic Japanese Speycasters, this proved to be a resounding success. I would like to say a big thank you to Toshihiro Sato for organising this for us and Kazu Koshimizu for his perfect interpreting skills which kept the very tight schedule running like clockwork. The specialist "Advanced Incline Casting” technique devised by the Carron Team with a heavy West of Ireland influence which has taken distance Speycasting to the next level , was well received by the enthusiastic Japanese Speycasting public. Every pupil in all the classes improved their distances dramatically after attending the clinics, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the future competitions given time to hone and perfect this new Speycasting technique.
Saturday 1st October was a special day for Ruairi Costello in the singlehanded and overhead events, he won 4 medals and a longest cast trophy by smashing the record in the 6# singlehanded with a new record of 52 metres with a wind speed of 1.2 m.p.s. a remarkable achievement.
Ruari Costello shows his medal and trophy haul over both days after creating a new record.
Sunday was Speycasting day, with both 16 and 18 foot competitions running all day with a military precision, with around 120 competitors attempting to get to the grand final at 3pm, JCA Speycasting competitions rules dictate that your two best casts are totalled for your score which eliminates the "lucky cast”. The 16 foot distance was first to go and all 3 Carron team members qualified for the 3 pm final. This final proved to be a remarkable spectacle, conditions were not ideal with a slight headwind, Gerard Downey of Carron gave a magnificent display of Speycasting into wind, showing the assembled crowd why he is the undisputed Worlds no.1 , he finished his 4 minutes with best casts of 56.50 metres and 55 metres totalling 111.50 metres to take gold closely followed by Ruairi Costello taking silver.
16 foot final scores
Gerard Downey takes Gold in the 16 foot Speycasting, along with longest cast trophy
This final was closely followed by the thrilling 18 foot Speycasting final, Gerad Downey cast 8th and set a great score to take the lead which he held until the last man took to the platform, this was Ruairi Costello , with two good scoring casts required to win the event Ruairi delivered a flawless display to take the gold with the longest cast as well, Gerard Downey took silver. Seiitch Kanya and Toshiro Sato casting for Carron showed everyone how they had improved, with Seitchi taking 3rd place and Toshihiro taking 6th, in the qualifiers Toshiro Sato had a magnificent cast of 51.5 metres Congratulations to all.
Ruairi Costello takes gold in the 18 foot Speycasting ,along with the longest cast trophy
This competition has improved dramatically since our first visit to Japan, with the Japanese casting technique being far more technically minded, compared to years past when sheer strength and heavy lines were used to the detriment of the casters overall distance. The sheer enthusiasm and friendly nature of the Japanese Speycasting community is absolutely infectious, with every person involved trying to help each other. Over the years we have met some remarkable characters whilst visiting Japan, some of them have taken it so seriously that they even have a special Speycasting diet to keep their bodies in shape.
The two clear winners in the body building competition were Masanori Yamane and Masayuki Ono.
The Japanese muscle men waited patiently for Ruairi to get all his photos and related camera interviews completed , then they got their own back on him with a magnificent display of stealth and a well rehearsed pincer movement completed their weekends ambition.
The Carron boys congratulate Toshihiro Sato
after a fantastic display in the 18 foot Speycasting .
Top Japanese Carron line salesman gets in on the act "The President”
Sansui Store proved a good
spot to show the angling public the rewards of the weekend.
A final visit to the temple finished the wonderful week in Japan for the Carron boys.
The JCA Anglers Class Masters runs with the utmost efficiency and professionalism, no other country could organise 120 competitors to qualify and finish ahead of schedule without a hitch, well done. I would like to thank Toshihiro Sato of Sansui, Carron premier stockist in Japan , Kazu Koshimizu and Hiroshi Yazaki of the JCA for hosting us on a memorable trip to Japan.
Looking forward to returning in 2012