Distance Casting

Report from Casting Convenor – July 2002

DISTANCE CASTING

On Saturday the 29^th.June a new concept in NZACA Casting was introduced.

A small group of Pania Surfcasting Club Members along with Jeff Murray (Bethells C & A.C.), George Maunder (Rotorua F & C.C.), Vince Iwikau (Feilding S.C.) and myself (non-caster) gathered at the Rotorua Racecourse in extremely wet conditions to participate in this inaugural event.

The idea has been borrowed from the UKSF (United Kingdom Surfcasting Federation) where on the 14^th. April this year a Jason Willicombe, competing in the British Championship, cast a 150gm weight 247.85 metres with a following wind of 0-5 mph. Now this is quite a distance when you realise that the NZACA NZ Record for the same weight is 222.75 metres.

The concept is distance casting only. On Saturday all who cast (except Jeff) did personal best with James Parahi (Pania) casting over 200 metres for the first time.

There will be more of these Casting Days held, the next being on 14^th.December commencing at 10.30am again at the Rotorua Racecourse. All interested members of the Association are invited and are most welcome to attend. There will be some assistance with techniques and equipment available for those who require such. At the end of the days casting a discussion will be held to organise rules and regulations for this additional contest in the Association’s Casting Program.

The following rules have been decided in the interim and will be ratified by the Executive at their next meeting :-

All Casting Days will be held in Rotorua (central location)

There will be a maximum of six (6) practice casts

There will be a maximum of six (6) casts that will be measured.

Casts that exceed NZACA National Records will be recognised as new records

All other rules pertaining to NZACA Casting ie Postal and National, will be adhered to as applicable with no exceptions.