Kenmore 2008: Spring Gathering - full report
AAPGAI – The Association of Advanced
Professional Game Angling Instructors was formed in April 2003. The membership
initially consisted of original APGAI qualification holders. At that time
AAPGAI came under the auspices of GAIA but in 2004 the membership decided
that the best way to maintain standards and protect the good name of the
APGAI qualification holders was to become an autonomous organisation.
New
syllabi were written and field tested and a Constitution, Rules and a Code
of Conduct were compiled and democratically adopted to reflect the status
of the “new” Association. To help us write a completely new
updated casting syllabi we used as our benchmark, some of the old APGAI
syllabus but introduced for the first time to the UK, measurements into
the old and the newly added casts thus aligning us with the FFF tests in
the USA. We introduced for the first time three levels of achievement, “Provisional”,
“Advanced” and “Masters” all based on the core syllabus
“Advanced”.
All original APGAI qualification holders who formed AAPGAI and were active at that time only, were issued with the “Advanced” Certificates by AAPGAI. Several members also sat the new “Masters” exam and were assessed by peer review and the successful candidates then formed the foundation of the AAPGAI “Assessor Team”.
Recently AAPGAI have under the expert tutelage of Paul Little revised and rewritten tests for the AAPGAI Fly Dressing qualification and these tests at all levels will be available for the first time at our Kenmore assessment meeting in April 2008.
The “Provisional” qualification was introduced for those interested in instruction to climb onto the ladder. AAPGAI were mindful that it could not expect candidates to pass the “Advanced” test without good prior experience of instructing which could only happen if they were adequately insured for which this qualification entitles them. The “Provisional” qualification therefore is a starting point, and to become full members of AAPGAI these “Provisional” associate members have to complete their “Advanced” Tests within two years. AAPGAI has a very successful mentoring scheme in place to help these members to train, improve and prepare for the next step to become full members of AAPGAI by successfully completing the “Advanced” tests.
The AAPGAI “Advanced” qualification is the core qualification required by every full member of AAPGAI and is therefore the fundamental focal basis of our membership. It reflects a high standard of ability in either Trout, Salmon or Fly Dressing disciplines. All candidates successful at this level will have worked hard and will feel a real sense of achievement. After all they are a “one stop shop” for any client in need of first class instruction either for fishing or casting.
The “Masters” qualification was introduced initially to provide our assessors, and secondly for any other member who wished to tackle a new challenge. All our Senior Assessors need to have this qualification in both “Trout” and “Salmon” disciplines and five assessors also have the “Masters” Fly Dressing qualification. The AAPGAI Assessor Team are all systematically externally examined for L20 City of Guilds Qualification to ensure that our assessment procedures are not only fair but fully standardised.
All assessments are undertaken by a minimum of two assessors for “Provisional” and three for “Advanced” and ”Masters” tests, one at least of whom will be a Senior Assessor L20. Some of our Senior Assessors are also FFF Masters and the standards we examine do align with the FFF system but with a very definite UK flavour. The AAPGAI syllabi are constantly reviewed and revised to ensure that they reflect current thinking.
Our Assessment, Workshop, and Professional Development weekends are held twice yearly usually in the Spring in Scotland and in the Autumn in Wales, these are extremely popular and very well attended and are great fun as well as being instructional. We introduced last year Open Days on the Saturdays of these weekends for budding instructors and fishermen to come to see demonstrations and to have some individual tuition. These have been very well received and will be continued in the future.
AAPGAI is a healthy, vibrant, young association of 110
professional members who are all passionate about both fishing and instruction.
AAPGAI’,s reputation annually attracts a large number of candidates
from both the UK and overseas to undergo our tests as some of the testimonials
below will indicate. Our aim is to continue to attract anglers and instructors
with high aspirations, who are willing to undergo a robust, very fair and
challenging but ultimately fulfilling testing procedure to become members
of what we believe is by far the best game angling instructor association.
The Association whose members are already recognised as being amongst the best game angling instructors in the World is delighted to be able to offer a new Master Instructors qualification to its members. The examinations are available to those who wish to attempt them and have held an AAPGAI recognised qualification for at least one year.
Candidates will have their depth and breadth of fly fishing knowledge and skills tested on a measurable basis in fine detail to parallel examinations for Masters Qualifications available in other countries. Full details of the new examination fly casting syllabuses are included on the AAPGAI website www.aapgai.co.uk
To ensure the highest standards only Master Instructors will in future be appointed as assessors for all instructors' examinations administered by AAPGAI.
Quote from Gary Coxon - Chairman of AAPGAI.:
"I welcome the development of the AAPGAI "Masters" programme,
it is in line with AAPGAI's on going objectives to maintain and improve
the highest standards of the technical and teaching skills of game angling
instruction in the UK"
Quote from Bob Wellard -
Standards and Practices Committee Chairman of AAPGAI :
"AAPGAI is dedicated solely to maintaining and improving the standards
of the technical skills and instructional abilities of its members. My committee
will continue to work with all our members to achieve these aims thus ensuring
that any person seeking the services of a AAPGAI instructor receives only
the best game angling instruction available."
| Association of Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors hold regular training weekends to keep up to date on all the latest techniques and products available. At a recent AAPGAI weekend, shown right, members got together to discuss the different styles and techniques used in teaching and fishing. |
|
 |
Derek Turner, left, puts a newcomer to the sport through her paces at a recent Casting Course in North Wales. |