HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Welcome to the first coach’s blog of 2023.
I hope that you all had a relaxing Christmas and had fun at any new year’s celebrations.
I’m looking forward to seeing all the nice new fishing equipment that Santa brought to you!
Christmas day was nice for M’Lady and I because we actually went out for the day to my sister-in-law’s house for chrimble munchies, and very nice it was too. It was the first time in 13 years that I have not had to cook anything, and it was bliss… I got to play with lots of toys too because I’m only 53.
I got a couple of unexpected prezzies from a few juniors, thank you for those. I also treated myself to heart palpitations and chest pains. A visit to the local witch doctor suggested that it was down to stress and depression from the events (not just juniors) of the year and that I should have a blood test and ECG to be safe. I hate needles and it took everything I had not to make a cartoon like hole in the wall of the surgery when the nice nurse speared me! Of course, there is nothing to be afraid of, and it was all rather painless. But that’s the trouble with phobias, they tend to be irrational.
It took Trudie an entire week to recover from the nine hours that we were out, which was stressful too. But at least I could blame her for any chest pains this time… It was all worth it though, even if I missed out on the chance to spend some quality time with the Red Fox.
All the above is why it has been a little quiet on the Facebook page/website lately…
But we’re back now and ready to start preparing for another year of junior fishing.
I have had a few requests for fixtures for 2023 which have not been finalised yet. As soon as I have final confirmation from the respective fisheries where necessary, I will post them on the website.
I don’t like to predict events too much but, here’s a bit of what I would like to offer our juniors this year.
River Sessions – On the Blandford stretches of the river Stour. Maybe as early as March.
New venues – I hope to be able to take you to the much-awaited Silverlake complex this year, and maybe back to Mangerton as well as one or two other venues.
More competitive events – After talking to everyone in the latter half of the year, the consensus was a want for more matches. There will be the usual opt out for those that do not want to compete.
Focused coaching – Short bite sized sessions where we will focus on a particular subject, a bit like we did last year.
I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am…
I wish you all a very happy and healthy new year.
Juniors Sec…