CHELMSFORD ANGLING ASSOCIATION
OPEN DAY 2003

…The CAA Open Day is partly to support UK National Fishing Week and although the actual Festival Week is the period 16^th August to 25^th August 2003, the event is always held prior to this in order to avoid clashing with the Chelmsford Highlands Park music festival which takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend. 

 The other reason we hold the event is to carry out one of our stated aims which is to promote the sport of angling (coarse, sea and game) within the local community and districts of Chelmsford.  The Annual Open Day, together with a couple of coaching days each year, is we feel the best way of making a contribution to the sport given that the majority of our volunteers have professional day jobs. 

 The event was promoted by printing posters and leaflets and writing to the Essex Angling Consultative Association, local newspapers and sixty local schools.  Local radio stations were also contacted and this year our general secretary, Trevor Wilson, was invited by BBC Radio Essex to appear with a celebrity angler on the Steve Scruton weekday show for his twenty minute ‘Tea at Three’ slot.  Trevor invited along Dave Vincent who is a former National and International angling champion. 

 Dave is currently coaching the NFA Disabled Team England, who go to Italy later this year for the disabled peoples world angling championship.  The CAA is extremely grateful to Dave for taking timeout to appear on the show and we are also indebted to BBC Radio Essex for giving the Chelmsford Angling Association an opportunity to promote the Open Day and talk about the world of angling in general.

 The CAA also received tremendous support from the Environment Agency, National Federation of Anglers, Shimano, Anglers Mail and Mainline Baits.  Additionally, the CAA’s Boreham Mere fishery neighbours, Chelmer Marquees and Service on Site, must be thanked for providing additional car parking space.  

 The free entry Open Day was held on Sunday, 10^th August and turned out to be a very hot one for the estimated three hundred visitors.  It was the day a new high temperature record was set in the UK – 100.6F (38.1C)!  Despite the heat the day was a huge success and plenty of fish were caught!

 The Anglers Mail and Environment Agency very kindly donated ‘goodies’ for the kids Goody Bags which every young visitor received on arrival at our reception.  Also included in the bag was a copy of the National Anglers Alliance/Specialist Anglers Alliance ‘Angling Code of Conduct for Coarse Anglers’.  Each visitor was handed one raffle ticket for entry into the free prize draw.  For the adults there were three free CAA memberships to be won.  The children also had a chance to win free membership of the CAA, plus the opportunity to win additional prizes donated by various supporting organisations.

 The Environment Agency who have been so supportive, very kindly donated a full set of fishing equipment as the first prize; tackle manufacturer Shimano provided a match rod plus a reel and line for the second prize and the Anglers Mail supplied a reel and hooks for the third prize.  Other prizes included a whip donated by NFA coach Harry Shearman and pellet/boilie baits supplied by Mainline Baits.

 Four qualified NFA angling coaches attended the event and as the stars of the event, they again proved to be very popular with the children.  Every youngster who ‘had-a-go’ caught fish and at the end of their session they were issued with a certificate as a permanent record of their achievement.  In addition to the NFA angling coaches, CAA experienced members demonstrated different disciplines within the sport, so visitors were able to learn about waggler, pole, whip, feeder, carp and pike fishing.

 Visitors were also encouraged to participate in the casting competition where three further senior and junior CAA membership prizes were up for grabs.  The competition proved to be a great hit with visitors, young and old, so the CAA steward was kept busy all day.

 CAA Sea and Trout sections put on static displays and a BBQ (which did not catch fire this year!) served up sizzling hotdogs and burgers – next year by popular demand bacon rolls will be added to the menu.  The CAA apologies for the fact that there was no mustard this year - it has been noted!

 One of the highlights of the day has to be the mother who accompanied her son and sat patiently watching him catch roach and rudd, ably assisted by one of the NFA coaches.  As luck would have it, they both won a year’s free membership of the CAA.  So after the prize draw they went back to the coach and the mother had ago using a short pole only to connect with a monster carp!  Unfortunately they eventually parted company but it was clear to see the mother had been hooked.

 Visitors clearly enjoyed themselves - our treasurer was approached by one delighted visitor who was so impressed by the event that he wanted to make a financial donation to the CAA!…