The EWM - Emerald World Masters Casting Championships

The inaugural EWM Casting Championships - were held at the prestigious location of Carton House Estate in Maynooth, Co. Kildare. 
This highly publicised angling event was run in conjunction with the ICSF (International Casting Sport Federation) Championships 
and governed in accordance with the principles of ICSF rules. Competing countries included the USA, Japan, UK, Scotland, Norway, 
Poland and Australia. Most the world’s most famous casters participated, including Steve Rajeff who has won the American Casting 
Ass. Championship 35 consecutive times, Scott McKenzie (Scotland) who holds the World Spey-casting distance record and a host 
of other big names such as Eoin Fairgrieve, Ian Gordon, Gordon Armstrong & Grant MacKenzie.

The EWM website can be found on www.2006worldcastingchampionships.ie including the results.

Glenda competed for Ireland in two of the four Ladies events.

Practice session	Irish team & supporters pre-competition	Glenda winning the Overhead Competition
Medal Parade for the Overhead Comp.	The Presentation	Pride of place on the podium

Salmon Fly Distance
The first was held on Saturday in conditions far from ideal for fly-casting as there was a strong wind. The day’s competition timetable was also delayed for one hour due to heavy rain.  In this competition for the normal overhead-type cast, Glenda came away a clear winner, with the results as follows:

Glenda in action with the speycast

The Medal parade for the Speycast

One step away!

Salmon Spey Distance
This competition was held on Sunday, again in very tricky conditions. Glenda just missed out on achieving the double by a mere 3 centimetres, with the results as follows:

Had fate been a little kinder, the result might have been different. Glenda’s number one choice of rod for this very difficult event shattered in practice the day before she left Ballyduff for the competition. Being the only one in Europe & coming from Iceland, it was impossible to bring in a replacement in time. Glenda displayed superb technique in the event and consistent casting. Whilst the placing was decided only on the single longest cast achieved, the international judges recorded the two longest casts by each competitor, and Glenda’s second was 36.21 metres. The eventual winner only managed 34.38 metres for her second longest cast which meant that her total for the two was only 70.87 metres compared to Glenda’s 72.67 metres.

As a newcomer to the sport of tournament casting, Glenda was using a conventional rod whereas many of the competitors have the distinct advantage of using specially designed tournament tackle. Being crowned World Champion has opened many doors, and when she enters further competitions, she will be able to avail of such specially designed rods sponsored for her by the manufacturers.

Glenda arrives to a red carpet welcome!

Let the party begin!

Party time!

An arduous weekend was followed by a torturous journey back from Dublin on Sunday evening with very heavy traffic from a big match in Dublin. Arriving back to the Lodge at half past midnight, she received the red carpet treatment at the Lodge door welcomed back by about 50 friends, numerous bouquets & several bottles of champagne. An emotional Glenda was overwhelmed by the reception, but took the opportunity to thank everyone for being there. In particular, Connie Corcoran for his invaluable help & advice with her casting, Len Tomlinson for constructing a casting platform in the river to replicate the competition conditions, fishery owners Pat Gorman & Tony O’Brien of Kents beat for allowing the platform construction & vehicular access at all times for practice sessions and also the tireless Martina Salach at the Lodge for running the Lodge in Glenda’s many absences plus organising the celebration party which continued until the early hours of the morning.