2018 COMMONWEALTH CHAMPIONSHIPS

For details on the champs visit www.tafi-ni-cffc-2018.com 

Neil Hirtzel : Captain 

I started fly-fishing in 1970 when I returned to NZ after travelling around the world for 8 1/2 years. I had always been interested in fishing but never had the opportunity to really take it up as sport. I first entered competitions in late 1990s. My first attempt was a complete disaster finishing last! But I kept at it and practised at every opportunity, continuing to enter more competitions until I eventually made the NZ team in 2005. I have been a regular member of the Silver Flies team since then, competing in World, Commonwealth and Oceania international competitions. I was selected as captain on three of those occasions. I have won team gold and bronze medals and a silver individual medal in Wales. I’m looking forward to leading the NZ team as captain for the Commonwealth Championships in Omagh, Northern Ireland. We hope to do well amongst 16 other competing nations. I am retired from the building trade and now I’m enjoying my semi-retirement keeping busy doing rod custom-design work and repairs and trout fly-fishing guiding under the name Trout scout. 

Johannes Krill 

Johannes first held a fly rod in his hands in 1981. Ever since he has difficulties letting go of one, once it is in his hand. Emigrating to NZ fuelled the desire to fly fish even further with the opportunities abound. Pleasure fishing New Zealand rivers and lakes became his passion for more than 3 decades. About 15 years ago he expanded his fly fishing activities into the salt water. Since then he has fly fished many rivers, lakes and flats in New Zealand, Australia, North, South and Central America, Europe and Russia. His interest in competition fishing was first spawned as a controller in the 2008 

World Championship held in NZ. Since then he has competed in many competitions at home in NZ and overseas. Today most of his fishing activities are competition fishing related. 

Johannes Venter 

Johannes spent many years salt water fishing for pelagic fish in the city of Durban South Africa. Immigrating to New Zealand 20 years ago was introduced to fresh water fly fishing by Johannes Krill and he has been my mentor ever since. Johannes asked me to 8 years ago to do some controlling for him at the national river competition. That was the year the competition bug bit me. I have since represent NZ in the 2017 Oceania completion and look forward to competing in Northern Ireland Common Wealth 2018.  

Craig Gutry 

Craig Gutry is from Paraparaumu and was first introduced to fly fishing in 2012. He has always been competitive in sports from hockey, sailing, karate, ballroom dancing and was a national champion in water-skiing. Now a chef who shares time with his wife and five children and competing on the fly fishing circuit. Craig’s philosophy is “In my world all things are possible”. 

After only four months of being introduced to fly fishing he won a regional fly tying competition. He spends a lot of his fishing time in the Wellington region and Taupo. From last in his first fishing competition to consistent placings over the last two years, he has earned a position the Commonwealth fly fishing team. Thanks to coaching from international competitors Cory Scott, John Gummer, Paul Dewar and Paul Baker, Craig is improving in all aspects of fly fishing. 

Peter Scott 

Peter is the President of NZ sports fly fishing New Zealand’s and one of the most capped fly fisherman, ex. NZ national fly fishing champion, and well know fly fishing personality. He currently works at Rod&Reel Tackle in New Market Auckland.