BACCHUS, the Greek god of wine and good times, would have fitted in well at the Lake Conjola Fishing Club 2014 presentation night knees-up.
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I heard on the grapevine that the big bugger was also a keen angler, so not entirely unlike many of the eighty members of Lake Conjola Fishing Club who gathered for the presentation night of good food, live music, dancing and liquid encouragement.
To be an angler you firstly have to be an optimist.
So the brightly festooned room at the Conjola Bowlo was bejewelled with 80 variously, garishly, absurdly and/or smartly dressed optimists out to applaud the most successful optimists among our membership.
The sparkling Pam Stockwell once again prevailed as 2014 Lake 60 plus section champion, with a close tussle behind her for second going to boat buddy Dick Stockwell, just ahead of the 2014 Lizard King (97.5cm – 7.2kg – Catch and Release) winner, Bob Farmilo.
Pam also took out the womens’ biggest fish and womens’ biggest dusky flathead with her 79cm (3.445kgs) specimen.
Not too many sub-juniors appeared this year.
Elara van der Haar popped up for second place, while Jas Cooper came third to big brother Blair Cooper, who is the 2014 sub-junior champion. 2014 junior champion goes to the talented Jake Franklin, with a keen Riley Greer going down by less than two points to Jake.
Isaac Martin filled third place.
After a sabbatical year, the dynamic Jane Dowling re-emerged for a fourth womens’ section championship.
Jane fished the lake and the beach and rock categories but had most success on her favourite surface, the Ulladulla ocean.
Last year’s champion, Cadi Hubbard was handicapped by a mostly-closed lake but still gained second place and Allison van der Haar rode the ocean on both boat and jet ski for her third placing.
The 2014 open section champion is Darren Ashforth, who picked up the majority of his points in the beach and rock category, with a third coming out of the lake.
Darren also mentored junior member Jake Franklin for much of the year, underwriting an excellent result for Jake.
Steve Wilson lured up all his points from the lake for a solid second and last year’s champ, Leigh Hubbard, was a close third.
Thanks to the Entrance Bistro at the Conjola Bowlo for the terrific food and service.
And a big thank you to Darryl, Sam and the Stewart family for their kind assistance.
“Time is Fish”
Mark Paloff – Prezo