The trip north looked like turning into an adventure with trees down across the road and enough wind to stop the big Nissan in its tracks. Neil had a free ride from one side of the road to the other and followed a guy in a van towing a trailer with rafts on it stunt driving on one wheel across the desert road.
As for the casting I would like to thank Grant and Leslie from Western Bays Surfcasting Club for their hard work making the day happen. Jock for giving up his casting to run the day. Gary W for carting his measuring gear around and sorting out our accommodation and Karen for taking a million photos standing out in the weather and putting up with my driving going to these things .
There were 17 casters competing with Pete, Paul and Grant coming down from the far north. Neil, Gary, Jock and myself from down this way. The rest were Western Bays, I believe they have gained a new member Robo the Alvey man.
The wind was blowing on an angle from our right which meant you had to cast into it and let the wind blow you weight to the left dragging about another 100mtrs of line out.
We were casting 100gm and 125gm which is lighter than most would cast. Some very impressive distances were achieved .
Neil set a new NewZealand record for 100gm at 226.327mtrs.
Pete's new record for 125gm of 216.08mtrs.
For me as Neil said I achieved a personal best of 203mtrs with a 100gm. This was achieved using a Abu Veritas a Tica Dolphin reel .28 Duraflex and a Ultima 15/50 tapered leader with an OTG cast . The use of flash rods wasn't an option this time around but that's another story.
Thanks to all those who had a go , I believe everyone had fun.