Spring 2005

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Spring 2005 Newsletter

April 2005

Social and Prize Giving Evening

This year’s social evening will be held on Saturday 30^th April 2005 at the Q-Ball Club in Seaside. Proceedings kick-off at 7.30pm. There will be a buffet, a raffle and the opportunity to meet the Association management team of officers and committee to discuss any issues. During the evening, approximately at 9pm, prize giving for the preceding year will take place.

Are you a winner?? See the listing below. If you are not there in person to pick up the cup/trophy you will not be getting it! Which brings us on to reminding anyone who is still in possession of cups/trophies from last year that they should have been returned by 1^st February having first been cleaned.

Also during the evening, there will be the opportunity to renew subscriptions. As in previous years there is a 10% discount available for those present.

Prize winners are listed below:

Competition Awards

Evening Cup – best 5 out of 6 – 51 points winner, 50 second etc. - Roger Izzard – 248 points

Southdown Challenge – 1 match – best weight - Trevor White – 16-6-0

Pole Shield – 1 match – best weight - Geoff France – 4-14-0

Knock-Out Cup - Trevor White

Marsh Shield – 5 match series – all count – 51 points to winner etc. - Stephen Davey – 236 points

Waggler Only – 4 match series – all count – 51 points to winner etc. - Patrick Newman – 202 points

Cuckmere Cup – 3 match series – all count – 51 points to winner etc. - Sedley Underdown – 150 points

Christmas Comp – 3 match series – all count – 51 points to winner etc - Peter Gabbitas – 147 points

New Year Challenge - Brian Nesbit – 10-0-8

Percy Baron – 4 match series – all count – 51 points to winner etc - Peter Gabbitas – 147 points

Bill Walder – 1 match – weight - Roger Izzard – 5-0-0

Aggregate weight cup – total weight of all matches - Roger Izzard - 215-4-0

Specimen Fish Awards

Best Fish, R Allchin, Pike 27-12-0 [New Record]

Most Specimens, J Cowley, Roach, Chub, Carp, Bream & Crucian Carp

2^nd Most Specimens, Patrick Newman & Brian Lee, Chub, Bream & Tench

New Record Fish

Apart from R Allchin’s impressive pike record, there were two further new marks set during last year. M Skinner tamed a 4-0-0 Eel from the Cuckmere at Shermans (makes me shudder just thinking about it!) and J Cowley a nice roach of 1-11-0 from Glyndley. Well done to you all. A full listing of all specimen fish weighed in during last year will appear on our website shortly [www.southdown-angling.org].

Hastings Model Flying Club

As you probably know by now, HMFC use the field opposite the upstream section of the Wallers Haven at Middle Bridge for air shows and regular model aircraft flying, mostly at weekends. Unfortunately for us, this means there is a risk of accident or injury to our members resulting from “out of control” model aircraft. The consequences of such an event are very serious and through negotiations with HMFC we have done as much as we can to minimise the risk. All members should read and follow the important guidance given in the Year Book about the use of this section of water. In particular members are advised not to fish at this venue on the following dates: -

18^th June, 19^th June, 13^th August, 14^th August, 10^th September, 11^th September, 24^th September and 25^th September 2005.

Subscriptions

As was intimated at the AGM (were you there?) the management committee had decided in principle that we must increase revenue this year to take account of known rent rises and to reduce reliance on water share partners. Without such a measure we would start to erode the relatively small reserve we have managed to accumulate over the past few years.

The decision to raise subscriptions has not been taken lightly. The management committee have thoroughly considered other avenues, including the release of some less popular waters and some more popular ones that have inherent problems with weed growth and water levels, but have concluded that it is best to raise subscription levels. Of course, the management committee realise that raising subscriptions may push the cost beyond the reach of some, but at the same time something had to be done and in mitigation, we may offer discretionary membership to anyone demonstrating particular hardship as we have done in the past. We also understand that, in a number of cases, those who currently pay the least have the most disposable income and the greater opportunity to use the facilities available.

The current membership structure remains unchanged but the subscription rates effective from 1st May 2005 will be as follows:

Full Membership (for members over the age of 18 on the 1^st May 2005)	£60
Senior Citizen Membership (for members qualifying for the DSS Retirement Pension)	£40
Young Person Membership (for members aged over 12 and under 18 on the 1^st May 2005)	£20
Disabled Membership (for registered disabled members who through the nature of their disability have restricted access to the available SAA waters)	£40
Spouse Membership (for the spouse of a Full member)	£20

The joining fee for new members will remain unchanged at £10 but may be increased next year. The Guest Permit rate of £5/day will also remain unchanged.

Membership Renewals

A reminder as to the benefits of membership: -

Waters open for fishing 365 days a year,

Access to some of the highest regarded natural fisheries for tench, carp and pike in the south-east. The bream and roach fishing aren’t bad either!

Exchange permits, that allow you to fish other clubs waters as well,

Guest Permits, that allow you to take an occasional visitor fishing with you,

Regular club competitions most weekends during the river open season,

Social evening, newsletters and much much more……..

Renewals fall due on the 1^st May each year and all the usual arrangements are available for payment this year: -

Via post using the prepaid envelope included with this newsletter (the preferred method),

In person, by visiting any of our Agents; Polegate Angling Centre, Anglers Den, Tony’s Tackle, Sidley Pets and the Angler’s Cabin in Hailsham (membership forms only available),

At the Social Evening, see separate article.

All you need to do is to fully complete the membership form, (enabling us to update our membership database,) and make out your cheque to Southdown Angling Association (or SAA will do) and either forward the form and payment (not cash) in the prepaid envelope or take it along to one of our agents. You will get your Year Book in return.

The usual post dated cheque arrangement is available for those who cannot afford to pay the full amount in one go. A maximum of 3 cheques are acceptable and the minimum value of any cheque has to be £10.

Also, please complete the questionnaire on the reverse of the membership form.

This provides valuable information on the usage of our waters.

Early Fixtures

As always, there are a few early fixtures in the club match calendar that may take place before the Year Books are available. These are all to be held at Ripe on the following Sundays: -

24^th April 2005, 8^th May 2005 and 22^nd May 2005

Fishing times are between 10am and 3pm, with the draw being held at 9am. The venue will be closed to all members not competing in the competition from 6am until 4pm on these days.

Water Maintenance

There were a few gripes at the AGM this year about an apparent lack of water maintenance carried out during last year. Do you share this view? If you do, then do read on.

The responsibility for water maintenance is a collective one, so if you would like to see something done, you will need to help do it. Fred Clews is our Maintenance Manager and wants to hear from you if you are willing to help. Please give him a call on 01323 846127 and Fred will take a note of your details. Please call again, even if you have registered with Fred or someone else previously. Fred will give you a call when your help is needed. Maintenance is provisionally planned on the following dates and venues for 2005: -
Sunday 1st May at Ripe, Saturday 7th May at Hempstead Ponds, Wednesday 25th May at Glyndley and Wednesday 8th June at Ironbridge

Check with Fred before turning up (and for times) on any of the above dates, as arrangements may need to be changed.

Thanks in anticipation

A reminder to you, Hempstead Ponds are now OPEN

Finally, having found a friendly supplier (Pond and Lake Management) who was prepared to fulfil our relatively small order and obtain the necessary consents from the Environment Agency, we are pleased to announce that Ponds 2 and 3 are now open for fishing with immediate effect!

Initial stocking was completed just before Xmas and both these ponds are now stocked with a large number of mainly tench and carp of all sizes to 4lbs plus. More stocks will be added at a later date subject to usage and the growth rate of those fish already stocked.

These ponds are relatively small and will each accommodate 4 to 5 anglers at one time. They will augment our other lakes and ponds that are particularly popular in the river close season.

Details of the fishery and specific water regulations are included in the current year book. In addition, please note the following: -

Close the double gates behind you after entry and exit.
You must not drive vehicles beyond the parking area towards the ponds. Anyone discovered or reported doing so will be expelled from the Association with immediate effect,
If you open any gates, be sure that they are secured after you pass through. It is preferable that you don’t open gates at all,
Leave no litter of any kind and pick up any litter you should come across. The farmer keeps livestock in the surrounding fields,
Park considerately in the available space and keep to the hardstanding area; the adjacent ground is very soft when wet. Be mindful that the farmer may want to get past your vehicle in a tractor or similar,
No digging of swims or removal of vegetation is permitted. Any required “accommodation” works will be carried out under the supervision of the water maintenance manager in due course,
Be courteous to any passers by; you never know - you might be speaking to the landowner!

Pond 1 requires further maintenance and stocking and will thus remain closed for the time being. We hope you will enjoy fishing at this new water.

www.southdown-angling.org

New Webmaster

Welcome to Steve Sims who has kindly taken on the role of managing our website. Steve needs your help to keep the website topical, interesting and up to date. In his own words, Steve has outlined below how he sees the site developing and the help he needs from members. Please give him your support.

Your Website

You have a website! For those of you who have access to the Internet, the Association have a website at www.southdown-angling.org, which was administered by Eric Gales. Eric was unable to continue with the task and the site was last updated in October 2003. For my sins, I opened my mouth at the 2005 A.G.M. and have now taken on the task of site maintenance. Subject to discussions with the Management Committee, I shall be updating the content of the site, and making it look a little different. This will be a progressive task, so keep an eye on it, (add it to your favourites) and please e-mail me with any suggestions for changes or additions at website.saa@gmail.com . The existing content will largely remain, but Members must remember it is their site, and it needs your ownership.

Already earmarked for consideration are: -

Pictures of all of the Association waters, and perhaps too some of the shared and exchange ticket waters that we have access to;

Pictures, habit and habitat details and successful baits for the species in our waters;

A page of knots (can never have enough knots!);

Some pages on baits (grow your own maggots perhaps?);

Hints and tips from you, the Members;

Details of all competitions, courtesy of Kevin Morgan, who reports for the press, perhaps with photos too?

All competition details;

A special page giving details of water maintenance parties, and carrying ongoing reports on water conditions from Members;

Links to beginners sites (the old links are unavailable) and to the sites of our local tackle shops and to our surrounding Societies’ sites;

Current specimen fish details and

A downloadable submission form and your pictures of your catches.

Photos can be submitted to me digitally or I can scan prints, slides or negatives, which must be submitted with an s.a.e. if you want them back.

Notice how many times the word YOU appears above. Only with your participation can the site remain current, relevant and interesting, and act as our ambassador to potential new members, and, indeed, the world!

Tight lines,

Steve Sims, Tel (01323) 723003

IMPORTANT

Don’t forget that you need to have purchased an

Environment Agency Rod Licence

in order to be allowed to fish in any of our waters.