Sport in Scotland is alive and well: from the Brigades of Highland and Islands and Grampian in...

With the majestic grandeur of the hills and mountains providing sport for walkers, climbers, skiers and boarders alike to the forests and valleys with their powerful rivers, tumbling streams and shimmering yet dark and moody lochs lending aquatic licence to the anglers, sailors, divers and swimmers.

Other disciplines exist which use the many mixed locations this land provides, disciplines such as:

Athletics: On track or field we cater for all.

Badminton: Like its counterpart squash, fast and furious, yet skilful.

Curling: The "Roaring Game" played on ice.

Cycling: If not road biking on tarmac, they're up and down rough terrain on those specialist machines.

Judo/Karate: For the exponents of the ancient arts.

Shooting: Sporting, skeet or trap whatever is your choice.

Strength/Endurance: For the strong of body and mind.

Table Tennis: Preferred by many of the older, more mature members.

Tennis: Both indoors and outdoors, remembering our Scottish weather.

Triathlon: Those hardy souls who run, cycle and swim in the one-day.

Volleyball: One of our longer running sections, still going strong.

As many of you will be aware these disciplines are not just for home territory but also those of our compatriots from England, Wales, Ireland, America and the European Nations--just send us an invitation and our members, be it for pleasure, points, prizes or charity, will be there.

We have amongst our numbers local, national and international award winners who have all worked hard, played hard and won, but winning is not the important thing, it is the taking part, and that taking part shows that sport in Scotland is alive and well--long may it continue.

Highlands and Islands focus

Although we have some 130 members in the Highlands and Islands branch of the Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association, our members are active and very competitive in a wide variety of sporting events. This last year has seen some notable achievements with our five-a-side football team winning both Scottish and British tournaments, and a Scottish champion at the triathlon. In cycling, one of our members has represented Scotland for the last 10 years in the British time trials and twice been in the British team. We have entered teams in the three peaks and Hebridean challenges consecutively over the last several years and all have performed with distinction. Outdoor sports feature prominently with our members' interests and our geographic location enables them to easily access their chosen passion. From rock climbers to surfers, skiers to fishers, we have a rich vein of sports enthusiasts running through our membership.

One of the most popular sports in Scotland is fishing, whether it be fly, coarse, angling, river or boat fishing. There follows reports from several of last years events:

To Hull and back for two days' fishing

Three Scots anglers namely Malcy Ward (BHQ), Henry Mullen (C06) both Strathclyde Fire Brigade accompanied by Andy Maxwell (Retired, Dumfries & Galloway) were selected by the FSSAA National Beach Angling Section to participate as part of the 15 angler UK Fire Service Squad in the 2003 Inter Services UK Beach (sea) Angling Challenge.

Although being accommodated in the extremely vibrant City of Hull the two days of competition were fished on the Holderness Coast beaches of Bridlington and Hornsea on Friday and Saturday October 24-25, 2003.

The Friday match was held between 1400-1900 on a high tide of 6.4 metres and into darkness and saw a number of fish--Flounder, Plaice, Dab and Whiting--coming to the baits on offer and saw Henry Mullen in his first year of selection take joint first place in zone A achieving some 42 points.

Malcy Ward could only muster 12 points for 13th place with Andy Maxwell catching no fish and getting full 20 points for his troubles.

Day two (Saturday) and fishing a rising tide after an overnight gale, most of the anglers could have weighed in tons of weed rather than fish but there were a few fortunate people who managed to catch the odd Whiting, Flatties and a solitary Codling.

Once again Henry gained 14th place with 15 points in his Zone whilst Malcy and Andy gained the maximum not having caught any fish. It's a good job that this is a team points event.

The presentation evening, presided over by ACO Dave Hall of Humberside, complete with some highly amusing anecdotes, once again saw the prestigious SAMF team captained by John Amery lift the Shield for winning team and saw the Fire Service beaten into 4th place (last) after having been 2nd since the Service's involvement with this competition started three years ago.

Ah well, there's always this year in Cardiff--providing we get selected.

Fur and feather fly competition 2003

Those prophets of doom and gloom, the weathermen, said "book out East Ayrshire--90 miles per hour winds, torrential rain, fallen trees on the roads and the emergency services are on stand-by" which did not bode well for this new competition which was being fished at Cowans Law, Moscow, Ayrshire on Friday November 14.

Although it was overcast, slightly breezy with occasional showers 18 stalwarts from Strathclyde, Lothian & Borders and Lancashire attended and from the word go were into fish with some beauties coming to the flies on offer.

Ian Campbell (B02 Govan) hit four fish in rapid succession leaving him with only one to get for his bag limit and time bonus before lunch--but alas this was not to be for the rest of the day. Graham Semple (B08 Calton) never saw a fish until moving pegs at 1515 caught three one after the other whilst Neil Sinclair (Retired) thought he was using rubber hooks, dropping more fish than the three he caught.

As with all Fur and Feather competitions, the competitors supply the prizes with everybody getting something, even those like myself who caught nothing.

In all 11 of the 18 rods picked up a total of 25 fish for a weight of 78 lbs 15 ozs.

The end result also marks the occasion of Ian Campbell (B02 Govan) winning the 2003 season's British and Strathclyde Fly Leagues with 85 and 38 points respectively finishing a clear 14 points ahead of both Dave Vose and Frank Bond of Lancs for the British and Jim Twaddle (F04 Cumbernauld) for the Strathclyde title.

This was the last match of the season so my thanks go to all who travelled and fished the many and varied venues and all those who supported the 'Nationals'. Thanks must also go to the management and staff of all the fisheries not forgetting those at Cowans Law who made the last day that bit more memorable.

The three top catches
fell to:

1. Dave Vose
Lancs          4 Fish   12 lbs.   9 ozs.

2. Ian Campbell
Strathclyde    4 Fish   11 lbs.   8 ozs.

3. Graham Semple
Strathclyde   3 Fish    10 lbs.   0 ozs.

Fish Appeal

Strathclyde used to have an extremely busy Sea Angling Section but for whatever reasons interest seems to have waned leaving only 4 or 5 members participating.

We have one or two outings a year with Lothian & Borders at various locations and we compete at FSSAA Nationals all over Britain but before I retire this year I would dearly love to get the Sea Angling back to a viable state and I can only do this with your help.

Don't let the word competition frighten you, if you fancy a go at any aspect of Sea Fishing, indeed any sort of fishing, give me or any of the other Anglers a call--this is your Section, use it. Malcy Ward Section Secretary