Sandie Bevan is living proof that sport is available for ladies of all ages, as she says from 17 to 97, because at 67 years of age she can proudly claim to be the Welsh National Ladies Fly Fishing Champion.
 
As a result Sandie will be guaranteed her tenth ‘cap’ in the Home International Championships against lady fly fishing exponents from Scotland, Ireland and England, who will play host to the event at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire.
 

Travelling in good company

 
Sandie travelled up to the trials with fellow international fly fisher Rhian Taylor and both will be travelling to the big event together as they did for the Welsh Fly Fishing competition held at Llyn Brenig, near Bala.
 
“Normally, I talk non-stop most of the way to a competition,” admitted Sandie, “and sleep all the way home – but after winning  this superb trophy I was too excited to sleep and spent the long journey home chatting non-stop too.”
 
“And she clutched her trophy as if her life depended upon it,” Rhian told us with a chuckle, “and everyone was really delighted for her since she is a great character who loves her fly fishing as much as anyone I know.”

 
Fishing for a long time

 
Rhian is absolutely right but it is worth recording the fact that Sandie has been involved in fishing since she was a nipper and went along to watch her dad, the late Jim Bevan, who was a trawler man out of Milford Haven and so fishing is in her blood.
 
She used to go with him and she really enjoyed sea fishing but had to be warned about fishing off the rocks around her favourite Martin’s Haven coast line because of the dangers involved.
As well as a few dogfish and pollock her main catch was mackerel, which made her popular with friends because she caught so many.
 
“In those days I would throw out a line with six feathered hooks and pull in six mackerel,” Sandie told us, “but if I went now I might only use two feathers because I am not as strong as I used to be!
 

Started by accident

 

 
Sandie set out in fly fishing almost by accident when a good friend called Norman Calveley had a severe stroke and she used to take him to watch anglers at Llys y Fran. She used to throw worms into the water and when a rainbow trout leapt out to catch one she was captivated.
 

“On one visit I bumped into Adrian Jones, who is from Llys y Fran and was fly fishing that day, and after chatting to him for a while he asked me if she would like to have a go . . . and I was well and truly hooked!
 
As she gained in confidence and her natural angling skills kicked in, Sandie was encouraged to think about going for a trial for the Welsh Ladies’ team by Nica Pritchard, who has done so much in Pembrokeshire, a

 

nd encountered Gwilym Henry Hughes, a North Walian who has done so much for lady anglers as a coach.
 

Nervous start but five years of Welsh selection

 
“I was very nervous going up to Llyn Trawsfynnydd, in the shadow of the huge power station,” said Sandie, “but I managed to make it into the Welsh squad, albeit as the final member of the 12 chosen.
 
“It was the start of five successive years, from 2001 to 2005, where I was proud to play for my country in the Home Internationals against England, Scotland and Ireland but then I didn’t go again for five years because of the huge commitment to travel and the cost, since it is all paid for by team members.
 

Huge highlight – and other sports

 
“A huge highlight came in 2012 when I was selected to captain the team at the Lake of Monteith in Scotland the same year as Wales won the Grand Slam – so I led Wales the same year as Sam Warburton!”
 
Sandie played hockey in school.
“I didn’t have all that much skill and was a bit of an ankle tapper - and the other girls nicknamed me ‘Basher Bevan’,” chuckled Sandie.
 
She enjoys watching rugby and in her lengthy time spent in the WRENS she competed in small-bore rifle shooting with such success that she was selected to shoot for them against the Army, Air Force, Navy and Police.
“The Queen Mother was in attendance,” Sandie told us, “and the trophies were presented by Princess Margaret, which was very exciting at the time!”
 

Five years back in the Welsh team

 
Back on the fly fishing front, Sandie has been back in the Welsh team for the most recent five years and is already looking forward to next year’s Home Countries competition at Grafham Water and aims to build on her best previous position of fourth.
 
“There will be 40 competitors in our category,” explained Sandie,” and we fish off 20 boats after our names are drawn out in pairs.
 
“Every two hours one of us decides where to take the boat next and in which seat she sits so there is an element of tactics to it, albeit with a little luck thrown in as well.
 

Nervous moments

 
When the weigh-in took place at the recent Welsh Championships, Sandie was last but one to have her fish weighed in so it meant a bit of a nervy wait – which became even more of a torment when the results are read out in reverse order.
 
“I kept thinking my name would be out next and suddenly there were only three when my Pembrokeshire pal Rhian Taylor was announced as third and I was thrilled for her.
 
“I couldn’t believe it when the second-placed angler was called and it wasn’t me – so I knew then that I was champion!
 

And finally . . .

 
“I know I get teased by the rest for being emotional and they were right on this occasion because I am 67 years old and had a tear or two to think that a little old girl from Haverfordwest could beat everyone else!”
 
“Fly fishing is a secret that men have kept from us women for 500 years but we are on to it now so they have to look to their laurels.”
 
There is a throaty laugh to go with it but we fellers who are fly fisherman had better look out with ladies of the calibre and character of Sandie Bevan having taken up the sport in earnest!
 
It was a real pleasure to chat to a genuinely nice sporting lady like Sandie and we wish her every success next year- and whether she wins or loses they will certainly know the ‘Haverfordwest Girl’ has been giving it her very best shot!