We were at the picturesque Perthshire village of Kenmore, on the 15^th January 2011 working alongside the Kenmore Hotel to bring a little entertainment to the fishing public and for those who just wanted to watch the grand salmon fishing season opening  proceedings.  The morning started with a wonderful opening ceremony of the full Vale of Atholl Junior Pipe Band piping the eager anglers with their rods to the Tay waterside by the old seven arch bridge.  The first cast into the water was given to a Ghillie called Rob McIntrye, Rob is a 63 year local man who knows the waters like the back of his hand, he was rowed out into the river and the Master of Ceremony announces “The river is open”

After just 10 minutes huge excitement erupts as Lee Conway nets the first salmon of the season and he was the proudest man on the bank, later during lunch we had a chance to hear the story first hand and it was like being their in person.  During the afternoon we kept everyone not on the water or celebrating Lees catch with some Laser Clay Pigeon Shooting.  It was a very competitive event with General Manager Norma getting her name on the leader board but sadly it was at Number 10!  Hotshot John got knocked off the top spot by Jason In the last shot of the afternoon…what a competition!

The day was rounded off with a fantastic black tie gala dinner in the Taymouth Suite and fund raising event where generosity was on the menu and over £150K was raised for three fabulous charities, we were left shell shocked at the auction when a two piece suit went for over £6K and the biggest battle was for the Take That tickets.

Congratulations to Norma and all the Team at the Kenmore Hotel for playing host to such a fantastic traditional and well organised event, next year we will be bringing our rods so watch out Tay Salmon… Team Challenge Company is coming in 2012…Tight Lines !