Police S port UK

Devon and Cornwall 2019 National shore championships

Tuesday 12th - Thursday 14th November 2019

The beaches of Dunster, Blue Anchor, Golf Links, Minehead and Town Beach, Minehead, Somerset

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Hello fellow anglers,

Team D&C have been asked to host the Nationals in 2019, in my last 8 years or so taking part in the great tradition of PSUK Shore Angling comps no-one appears to know if or when D&C have hosted! We are a very small section but we hope to provide a successful championships in what is a stunning part of the country.

Although in D&C we have a massive expanse of coast line, more than any other police force, hosting a competition of this type is not as simple as we first thought!

The access to our beaches is often very steep or a distant walk and not suitable for all PSUK participants. Accommodation of a suitable standard is rarely available near to beaches that could host up to 120 anglers especially in inclement weather that often effects the Southwest in the autumn period.

So after a lot of thought and research we have decided to host our competition in the far western area of the Bristol Channel which is just a few miles from our force border.

We consider that the lower risk of weather hampering the event due to location, access to beaches, very good parking available and good accommodation within twenty minutes of the beaches are all excellent reasons to use the Bristol Channel as our preferred venue.

Finally the fishing in the Bristol Channel in November can be outstanding.

Expected catch species for the competition will be whiting, pouting, dog fish, various rays, conger and cod. The channel is infamous for its sea monsters and we are very excited to see what 120 anglers can bring ashore over two days. It is likely that somebody will be lucky enough to land something very special and the winner of the coveted Mustad trophy will have landed something rather spectacular or so we hope!

There will be a range of tactics available for anglers at our comp. You could target the larger species or the whiting, pouting and dog fish using normal match tactics. Matches have been won by various anglers using different approaches and not always those with the most expensive kit or the furthest

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cast. The plentiful conger eels can lurk closely to the shoreline as can the late season bass! Each of the beaches we are in close proximity to each other and unique, they will throw up different species.

The main reason we attend the National events is to catch fish, represent our forces and have a drink with colleagues from around the UK. With fishing being the first reason we have taken the unusual decision to change the normal set programme of the National Events and will be hosting two evening matches followed by a less formal breakfast presentation the morning after prior to departure.

The reason for this is the fishing sessions in the evening are generally more productive and the Channel has one of the highest rise and fall tides in the world. Catering for 120 anglers on a low tide venue in the channel with a flooding tide is all but impossible and potentially dangerous. We wanted our two matches to be of equal quality with an opportunity to fish two different beaches from afternoon into evening.

Spaces for our competition are limited! We can only take 120 anglers at 30 per zone. In light of this every force will be given fair opportunity to enter at least one team then places remaining will be available to those forces who wish to enter a second or third team etc. When sending back team details please advise order of team preferences and number of teams required.

The fabulous competition in Suffolk 2018 had 120 anglers and we don’t think the limited number will cause much of an issue as several forces had more than one team.

As we stated at the start of this competition summary we are a very small team with varying levels of angling experience and we would appreciate your understanding and enthusiasm with our competition.

We hope our champs will be very enjoyable for you all.

Thanks

Nik Mortimore

D&C Police

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TRAVEL AND ACCOMODATION

Travel details and directions to St Audries Bay Accommodation:

St Audries Bay is a very pro angler accommodation site and has a variation of accommodations options from single, twin, family chalets, static caravans that can sleep 3, 5 and 7 persons. Feel free to take a look online. https://www.staudriesbay.co.uk

We have been very lucky in securing them as an enthusiastic provider of our accommodation and they have a licensed bar for late nigh socialising whilst talk of the one that got away dominates the conversation! Plus you don’t have to get up and on a beach by 9am for the day match.

The providers are willing and able to offer accommodation at the same rate for any teams wishing to stay longer than the competition and make the most of the channel fishing but food needs to be discussed directly or provided by yourselves.

Please note our matches will be on a Tuesday and Wednesday evening to assist with return travel or extended stays.

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HOW TO FIND US:

By Car:

Leave the M5 motorway at either Junction 23 or 25.From Junction 23 follow the A39 through Bridgwater towards Minehead, and St. Audries will be posted on the right, about 15 miles from Bridgwater.From Junction 25 follow the A358 through Taunton to Williton, then follow the A39 towards Bridgwater. After about 3 miles, St. Audries Bay will be signposted on your left.St Audries Bay Holiday Club West QuantoxheadNr MineheadSomersetTA4 4DY

Our closest airports are Bristol and Exeter International both of which are in the region of just over an hour’s drive from the accommodation.

AWARDS

The individual, team trophies and the Mustad trophy for the biggest fish be brought to the event inscribed accordingly and in clean condition.

As many of you will know the presentation of prizes, funded from the entry cost, has been discontinued by PSUK Council and this decision has been supported by the PSUK National Sea Angling Committee.

However it is planned to present prizes which will be funded by competitors, for competitors on a in it to win it basis.

Suitable Trophies for the winning teams and individuals will be presented.

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ITINERARY

Monday 11 th November

18:00 – 20:00hrs registration

Tuesday 12th November

09:00 – 11:00 registration

11:30 – captain’s meeting (*in depth questions from this pack to be raised in advance please, see below)

16:00hrs – 20:30hrs Evening Match 1

21:00 onwards – evening buffet

Bar open till 01:00hrs

Wednesday 13 th November

07:30-09:00hrs – breakfast

16:30hrs – 21:00hrs Evening Match 2

21:30hrs – buffet meal

Bar open till 01:00hrs

Thursday 14 th November

08:30 – Breakfast presentation of awards and raffle (pre drawn prizes for collection)

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THE VENUES:

RED ZONE – TOWN BEACH, MINEHEAD (easy access)

GREEN ZONE – GOLF LINKS, MINHEAD (furthest walk approx. 10-15mins)

YELLOW ZONE – DUNSTER (easy access)

BLUE ZONE – BLUE ANCHOR (easy access)

The Town Beach provides shallow fairly shallow water fishing onto sand in front of the famous Butlin’s holiday centre and has been productive in matches recently.

The other venues offer fishing from pebbles or slightly larger rocks onto mainly sand/mud patches and broken ground. The area is not notorious for large tackle losses although the odd snag is to be expected in the natural landscape of the Bristol Channel. With the broken ground often come the quality fish!

The tidal current is strong and we can only hope that the weed and wind will be favourable to us on the day, we have carefully chosen tides to assist us. The majority of the time a 5 or 6oz lead will be sufficient to hold bottom. We will be fishing approximately 2 ¼ hrs of the flood and 2 ¼ hrs on the ebb for both matches. The whole area faces north/north east and therefore it is the best protected area from our prevailing SW wind. Again we just have to hope the weather Gods are kind to us! A reserve venue is not going to help along that coast but in all circumstances we will try to get the fishing in no matter where we need to do it. *prior notice will be provided.

Recommended rigs are the usual three hook flappers, clip down rigs for distance and pulley rigs for broken ground areas or larger fish with larger strong hooks and big smelly baits!

Please keep in mind the venues are dark and there will be almost 4hrs of darkness fishing. A good fishing night light is essential plus a spare.

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BAIT PACKS:

Bait packs will be used at our competition in accordance with new rulings from the PSUK National Sea Angling Committee *

All team members will be provided with lugworm and ragworm, 1 packet of mackerel and 1 packet of unwashed squid.

Please note that our matches will be, due to tide constraints 4.5hrs in duration.

There will be no bait carry over from day one to day two. A good fishing beach can be found 200 metres from your accommodation, it is a steep walk and care needed but if you are really keen it is a possibility at your own organisation to fish there on the morning tides whilst at the accommodation.

SCORING SYSTEMS*

In what appears to be the year of change there is a new team scoring system in place. This is a system that has been decided by the PSUK National Sea Angling Committee and therefore please direct questions regarding it to them.

We will also be disseminating information of the biggest fish scoring system in advance of the match. If scoring systems are a major factor to your team’s participation please speak to us and the PSUK National Sea Angling Committee in advance of entry. I am sure the system will fair and applied to all in the hope of determining the worthy winners. The team competition is a really prestigious award and you will be made fully aware of how it will be calculated in advance. I have the following advice from PSUK that I have made available to you all.

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SCORING RULES (FROM PSUK National Sea Angling Committee)

‘Competitors will continue to score points in the usual way in terms of the species and size of the fish caught. Boat and Zone winners - It is the point’s score that will be used to determine the respective individual positions of competitors on a particular boat or within a specified zone. In determining the respective positions of the teams competing; the team with the highest aggregate percentage score after combining the percentage (not points) scores of their members will be considered to be the winning team. The individual who scores the most points in his or her boat/ zone will be awarded 100 percentage points. All other competitors in that boat/ zone would be scored in terms of what percentage their individual score is in terms of a percentage of the winning individuals points score.’

*Please email any questions or queries to the organising committee well in advance of the competition so that we are not left with numerous questions to answer at the captains meeting on the day of the first match especially given this is our first mass participation competition! Thank you

DISPUTES

Any dispute arising from either match must be submitted in writing to a member of the Organising Committee within 1 hour and 30 mins from the end of the match.

A £10.00 charge will be made for this non-returnable in the event of the dispute being overruled.

The decision of the Organising Committee in conjunction with the Match Referee will be final.

Although not in the National PSUK Rules, in the interests of conservation and to give fish the optimum chance of survival it is a condition that all fish will be placed in a bucket containing sea water until recorded and returned to the water. ***THE NEXT CAST CANNOT BE RETRIEVED UNTIL THIS ACTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED***

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STEWARDS AND ASSISTANTS:

There will be a Steward for each Zone who will be identified at the captains Meeting as will the Referee for the event.

Stewards are being brought down to us by assisting forces as we don’t have capacity for this and are included in costings. We do however have a team of helpers one of which will be in each zone and will have pegged the zones, be there to collect cards and offer general assistance if required and overview safety, they will be clearly identifiable. The helpers are not necessarily anglers so please bare this in mind, they are there to assist and can help measure large fish etc. (oh so we hope!!), the Zone Steward has the final word.

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TEAM COSTS: ( closing date 1 st July 2019 )

Costs based on a team of 4:

2 night package 12 th -14 th November:

£30 per person per night total: £240

£9 per person per meal total: £144

(2 evening meals and 2 breakfasts)

Printing, admin, stewards, £13 per person total £52

Bait: £45 per person total £180

Grand total: £ 616

Plus £10 per angler for prizes as always.

3 night Package 11 th - 14 th November:

£30 per person per night total: £360

£9 per person per meal total: £216

(3 evening meals and 3 breakfasts)

Printing, admin, stewards, £13 per person total £52

Bait: £45 per person total £180

Grand total: £ 808

Plus £10 per angler for prizes as always.

Payments for accommodation and food directly to the hotel please ask for Ali or Paul,

01984 632515

Payments for admin, bait packs and prizes to:

MR NP Mortimore; Barclays: sort: 20-50-40 account: 53365794

£232 + £40 = £272 per team (USE YOUR TEAM/ FORCE AS REF PLZ)

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ENTRY FORM

Force:-

Team names:-

A Team

1. ......................................................... 2. ……………………………………………………….

3. ……………………………………………………… 4. ……………………………………………………..

B Team

1. …………………………………………………….. 2. …………………………………………………….. 3. …………………………………………………….. 4. ……………………………………………………..

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NATIONAL PSUK SEA ANGLING SHORE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017

Safety and Risk Assessment Statement

It is the duty of the Organising Committee to familiarise all participants with the principals of safety and risk assessment. All PSUK members, officials and visiting anglers should make themselves aware of the risks they face in the surroundings they find themselves and carry out their own risk assessment which generally amounts to common sense and take appropriate action to ensure their own safety and that of others. However, it is a requirement that all anglers read, understand and accept this Safety & Risk Assessment Statement.

Angling can be dangerous; the Organising Committee has therefore compiled this Safety & Risk Assessment Statement for all participants which must be adhered to at all times.

Exclusion of Liability The Organising Committee shall not be liable for any damage to property, loss, death or injury caused to any person arising from their participation in this event

Insurance It is a recommendation that all participants shall insure themselves against damage, loss, death or injury arising from the sport of Angling

Hazards The following is a non-exhaustive list of the hazards:-

Falling off or down a cliff face

Falling rocks and debris if fishing at the foot of a cliff

Slipping on unstable beaches and access paths

Getting cut off by the tide

Being washed off the shore by heavy waves

Sudden change in weather conditions

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Cold and hypothermia

Dehydration

Injury caused by, fish hooks, gaffes, knives and other sharp objects

These hazards can cause injury, temporary or permanent disablement or even death! It is therefore a condition of entry that all participants fully comply with the Safety Requirements set out below.

Safety Requirements General

All participants should be aware of basic First Aid procedures.

A First Aid Kit will be available at each venue.

In addition, all members MUST:-

Cast Safely: - to avoid line breakage always use a suitable shock leader, a minimum of 10lb line strength to 1oz of lead weight. Always check before casting to ensure area is clear of other anglers and members of the public whether on shore, swimming or aboard water craft.

Check the condition of their fishing gear before participating in any competition

Always check weather and tide conditions before fishing and take adequate clothing and refreshment.

If conditions deteriorate beyond safe limits fishing should be abandoned; no fish is worth an angler's life.

Litter: - danger to wildlife, domestic animals and members of the public. Members must ensure that their area is clear of litter, bait and tackle even if it does not belong to them before leaving the venue.

Use a suitable light / headlight if fishing when dark and always carry a backup light source.

Be aware of cliff conditions, do not stand immediately beneath unstable cliffs and consider wearing a safety helmet if fishing at the foot of a cliff.

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Watch out for and be aware of rogue waves.

Wear suitable footwear and take care when walking over unstable beaches and access paths.

Competitions:

If in doubt due to weather conditions, always check with the match steward that the competition is going ahead.

Any angler arriving late/leaving early must inform the match steward or a committee member before fishing/departing. If any entrant is unaccounted for and cannot be contacted the emergency services will be informed.

Summary:

Angling is an extremely varied and dynamic sport in which participants experience varying conditions and changing environments on an almost continuous basis; members must continue to evaluate these changing conditions and decide whether or not it is safe to start/continue fishing.

It is advisable to carry a mobile phone at all times. In an emergency dial 999 and ask for the appropriate emergency service.

With reference to this Safety and Risk Assessment Statement, if any participants feel that any issues need to be raised they should contact the appointed Health and Safety Officer immediately.

Health and Safety Officer: Nik Mortimore 07875575179

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