Reports
[Previous
page]
World
Tuscany Open Fly Tying Competition
21-23
September 2007
To
put it as simply as I possibly can, the World Tuscany
Flytying Open was amazing. From the outside looking
in there was not a hitch to be seen, it was just so
well organised. It truly is a credit to those who spent
so much time and effort putting this show together.
No wonder they only run the event every second year.
The
story for me began with an invitation to be one of the
judges at the WTO and how could you refuse an opportunity
to visit Tuscany and enjoy some of the world's finest
wines and unbelievable food? Not to mention the social
blending with our hosts and other invited guests.
My
wife Alaine and I left early with the plan to stay in
Rome for a few days which was nothing but exhilarating;
history, art, food, wine and fashion belong to Italy.
Roberto and Maurizio picked us up from Rome and we drove
for the next two hours up to Sansepolcro in Tuscany.
We were booked into the Borgo Palace , a 4.5 star hotel,
just ashort stroll to the heart of the town.
|
 |
The
Borgo Palace in Sansepolcro Tuscany |
The
first night and the first feast (wow) saw us mingling
and meeting the other guests but the next day it was
work and judging the flies that had been entered from
around the world. There were six categories, Realistic,
Ephemera Male Spinner, Realistic Sedge, Salmon Fly fully
dressed with the theme being Piero della Francesca's
painting of the Madonna del parto (1467), Saltwater Sardina
pilchardus and finally, an open class.
The
rules for judging were simple, the highest score that you'd
give a fly was 90 and you graded down from there. That
is not to say that in each category there was only one
fly that was allowed to receive full marks. The fact was
that if there were five flies that were good enough in
any category and deserved full marks, they got it and let
the computer sort the final scores. The old magnifying
glass sorts out a few of the wrinkles and helps make the
job a little easier. |
L
to R: Nadica Stancev, Igor Stancev,
Al Caucci,Hans
van Klinken,
John Randolph, A.K. Best |
|
 |
The
flies that were entered in the various categories were
all mounted on large fly boards and each fly was given
a number. As judges we did not know who tied the fly
or from what country it came from. All the flies were
judged solely on their merits. To my mind this, without
argument, is the fairest way of judging a fly tying competition.
Salmon
fly -1-R
|
Salmon
fly-R
Two
samples of the artistry and skill shown in the Salmon
fly category.
|
|
 |
From
the Realistic category; you could just about eat it |
Each
of the judges was asked to sign a certificate and these
were given to all of those, who sent in entries in each
division. From what I am told, these certificates are
much sought after. I can understand that, especially
when you realise that some of the world's best known
fly tyers/fly fishermen's signatures are on that document.
|
WTO
file WTO Certificate-R
The
signed Certificate issued to all contributors and
judges is very much regarded as a collector's piece |
|
After
the judging a few quiet beers and a chat went down well
and that evening we were treated to another great feast,
as only the Italians can do. Love that Italian food!
If
you wish to see who won, click onto the WTO website
and follow the links - www.moscaclubaltotevere.it
|
 |
The
President ,Mauro Raspini, dressed for the River Test? |
The
following day was Bamboo Day. We met at the club rooms
and all of the guests were allotted a guide and given
a 7' 6”cane rod to use for the day, courtesy of
the Italian Bamboo Rod-makers Association. You know what
the Italians are like with craftsmanship and that artistic
flair they are so famous for; well that is reflected
in their work. These cane fly rods are amongst the best
I have seen. As you can imagine, they feature various
styles and actions but it is the workmanship that got
to me; simply superb.
The
club rooms are terrific, accommodation, café and
bar restaurant, fly tying room, meeting rooms, outdoor
barbecue area, swimming pool and it is close to the
river, Tail Water Tevere, with around four or more
kilometres of catch and release water under their management
and supervision. |
Centre
,Giuliano, the world's most dedicated River Warden |
|
 |
WTO
file Cane day
Hans
van Klinken,,John Randolph & Steve Thornton getting
ready for Bamboo Day |
The
fishing is hard, as the Browns, many of which are in
the 18 to 20 inch mark, are very streetwise and often
rise to your fly, only to turn away sharply at the last
second. Talk about survivors! There is Grayling everywhere
and if the trout are tough, well the freely rising grayling
keep you on your toes. |
That
night another feast at the Borgo Palace and again, great
food and wine that just kept on coming and coming until
around midnight, when we joyfully retired to our rooms.
The
Saturday was a big day. The organisers had erected
a number of marquees in the Piazza della Liberta (town
square) up in an ancient walled town of Arezzo, about
twenty minutes by coach from the Borgo Palace at Sansepolcro.
Invited fly tyers from all over Italy and various parts
of Europe and USA were busy showing their skills and
various tying styles. It was a time to watch, meet
these great tyers and just savour the environment.
There was an area set aside for the Judges to take
turns tying a couple of flies and then let another
in the chair to do his or her bit. |
Top
left Agostino Roncallo Italy, top right Antonio Rinaldi
Italy
Bottom
left, Gregory Vervier Belgium and Herman Broers Netherlands
|
On
the first floor of the town hall was a large, open area
and this was the scene for lunch. Not one but two Sommeliers
were in attendance to serve and give advice on the fine
wine selection from the district. That lined the first
table which was followed by a selection of breads and
cheese and finally a huge selection of preserved meats.
One of the most common phrases being heard around the
crowd was, “have you tasted that?”
|
The
Sommelier in action |
What
a lunch that was |
The
Italian lifestyle dictates that lunch can last for a
couple of hours or more. Some shops close around midday
and open again around 3 or 4pm. I believe there are no
real trading hours; you can suit yourself as to how you
operate your business. What a great way of life. The
afternoon was again all about chatting and watching some
great talent.
|
|
The
Scuola Italiana di Pesca a Mosca (SIM) stand, Italy's
leading fly casting/fishing school..
Alfeo
Busilacchio standing and the President Osvaldo
Galizia in front of stand. I didn't meet the fly
tyer. |
La
Pesca magazine is one of Italy 's leading publications L-R
ClaudioTosti, yours truly and Federico Renzi, who has
a regular fly tying column in this very popular magazine. |
|
The
guys from SIM were there supporting the WTO and showing
their casting skills ( see
SIM Report on Mick's site ) and it was great
to see Italy 's best casters in action. I even had
the opportunity to meet the great Roberto Pragliola who
is highly regarded as the best of the best.
|
 |
Marino
Di Luca, Roberto Pragliola, Al Caucci and Mick Hall |
The
great Roberto Pragliola in action
|
|
 |
The
Gala Dinner that night was packed. Some 300 people were
seated and I believe another 200 plus tried to book in
but sadly missed out.
Hans
Van Klinken and a happy Steve Thornton at the Gala
dinner
|
As
with all gala dinners, there is a heap of thankyous
and announcements. The winners of the World Tuscany
Open were announced (see website www.moscaclubaltotevere.it ) |
and
the guests and Judges were individually thanked and called
up from the floor to receive a silver statuette of a
fly fisher playing a trout. |
|
|
At
the end of all the formal announcements, the President,
Mauro Raspini, disappeared only to return dressed in flowing
robes and wearing an ancient traditional head piece, the
kind that they use for formal celebrations, etc., at Italian
Universities. |
An
announcement was made in Italian and then Hans van Klinken
(Klinkhamer fame) and yours truly were called up front.
We each had to place our hands on a copy of the Isaac
Walton's “Compleat Angler ” whilst
a declaration was being made that both Hans and I were
now officially honorary life members of Mosca Club Altotevere
and that we were now both President of the club for one
hour!
|
The
Swearing in and what an ordeal it was, lots of pomp
and pageantry
as one would expect. All good stuff
|
L.
The President Mauro Raspini and Federico Renzi reading
the decree
This
decree was sealed by dubbing a cane fly rod on our
shoulders and the sipping of Italian red wine from
a special silver tasting dish. What an honour. It was
3 am when we got to bed.
|
Sunday
saw us back up at Arezzo , blending with the fly tiers
and the various exhibition stands which featured a number
of clubs and some commercial stands.
For
me it was a bit of a problem trying to find any semblance
of intelligence, or what was left of it, after the
night before! The lunch was back up on the mezzanine
and those that were there the day before knew what
they were in for.
That
night it was another feast at the Borgo Palace and it
was a time to say goodbye and thankyou to our hosts.
To
the President, Mauro Raspini, Federico Renzi, Luca Castellani
and all of the team behind the scenes, I congratulate
you and both Alaine and I thank you for your hospitality
and friendship.
Ciao
my friends,
Mick
Hall |
[Previous
page] |
|
