MR & MRS ROD GUN

Exploring our connections with Scotland Summer 2021

£5.95 ISSUE 3

Ben Nevis Summer 1957. Artist Catherine King. From Highlands to Island. The Watermill Gallery. Us & our Dogs. Gamekeeping & Crofting on Skye. The Cottage Argyll. Upland Deer Management. Summer Fishing. Life on Pait. Wild Venison Recipe. Travelling Auctioneer. Highland Hiddle, My Outdoors and much more inside....

Images: Leopold Amory

By Cara Hutchens (formerly Richardson)

“Never did I imagine that the question ''do you fish?'' at the end of a business phone call would have the potential to be life-changing. The question was posed to me in the first week of 2017 by Brian Lile; one of the organisers of the annual 'Scottish Deer Stalking Fair' which until that year had always been held in Kelso in the Scottish Borders. Brian had a notion to hold the fair in the highlands at the Black Isle Showground and cold called to quiz me about possible exhibitors for a northern venue. Must find out how he got my number!?! Both being blethers, we chatted for a very long time about all things fieldsports until the fishing question came up. My reply: ''yes, I go fishing...'' and thus a few weeks later, I joined Brian and a group of lovely folks for a March fishing adventure to the River Thurso in Caithness. In January this year, almost 4 years later, I married Brian's pal Alistair (Ali) Hutchens, who was the trip leader! That Spring 2017 trip to the Ulbster Arms Hotel in Halkirk and River Thurso was very much a return to a part of my past. Resident on sporting estates in Caithness for nearly 13 years until the autumn of 2008 I'd fished a fair few of the Caithness and Sutherland rivers in my time there. It was nice to be 'home' to the land of big sky where my daughter was born. The gang on the trip was a composite bunch of 12 which included 4 ladies. A few were known to each other, but most had never met before. The group did gel quickly; made all the easier by copious amounts of alcohol, great food, after dinner games, fishy tales, and mad angler banter. Despite the occasional sleet shower, the fishing trip was both fun and productive; Brian Lile caught a beautiful springer which, estimated at 28lbs (no weigh net to hand!) was thought to be the largest Thurso fish landed (and safely returned) that season. A lady fisher of renown in the group, Ally Bremner, landed a couple of fresh springers too. There were also a few kelts, a puckle of trout and the obligatory stories of that 'one that got away'. New friendships forged, we all vowed to keep in touch. In fact, many members of that original group went on to repeat that same spring week on the Thurso in 2018 and 2019. Sadly the scheduled first day of fishing was the first day of lockdown in 2020, so it was a no go. Ali Hutchens and I hardly chatted during that first ever trip, but we did briefly discuss the idea of organising a charity fund-raiser fishing and shooting (rod & gun) event for ladies. We kept in touch, but it wasn't until some months later that we eventually met for lunch to discuss the idea further... The rest they say is history; it was 'catch and keep'! At the time of that tide-turning lunch 'date', Ali was living and working in the Scottish Borders and I was based in the Cairngorm National Park operating a Sporting Agency which utilises venues throughout Scotland, the UK and beyond. A long distance relationship grew and quite swiftly the conclusion was reached that one of us would consider moving to be with the other. Educated in both Tain and Aberdeen, Ali decided that a move back up north was just the ticket.

In addition to each being raised an only child and headstrong as hell, we found that we had a great deal in common with real parallels in our interests. Though it must be said that Ali's exploits were mostly with a fishing rod and mine with shotgun or rifle. We've both been fortunate enough to enjoy many adventures across the globe in a variety of locations from outback Australia to the Arctic Circle. Our 'us' evolved...we went Facebook official!, bought a dog, then a Quattro, then another dog. Things were getting serious. And on Christmas Day 2019, Ali popped the question, and I said 'yes!'. How lovely...then as we returned from our romantic walk to the vehicle, one of the aforementioned fur babies ran away, and we spent the next 2.5 hours tracking our sounding tracker dog. By the time the darling pup was located in the darkness and we made it back to HQ, we'd missed the Queen's speech and our Christmas dinner so simply opened (another) bottle of fizz and celebrated. Our wedding day just over a year later was a very simple affair made perfect by a cloudless sky. The permitted gathering of 5 from within our postcode area included one of our 3 daughters, a very best friend, the Registrar, and ourselves. Like so many, our plans for nuptials in 2020 were scuppered and so for a list of reasons, we decided to crack on with the official bit; there will be a blessing and big party some fine day. In a professional capacity, both are familiar with public facing roles and also attending hunting and fishing Expos in the UK and further afield. Our first foreign trip together was a jaunt to Salzburg for the annual Hohejagd & Fischerei exhibition. For anyone that has taken part in such shows, they will know that exhibiting may look glamorous, but is often tediously hard work and extremely long hours. However, these shows are a great opportunity to promote all that is fabulous about bonny Scotland, meet up with friends, and share a dram with clients and outfitter colleagues from around the world. Everyone has been impacted in some way by the C19 restrictions. Both Ali and I sincerely hope that both the home market and visiting clients will be able to properly enjoy the fine fishing and great sport which Scotland has to offer in the not too distant future. We are both passionate about a range of rural topics including fly fishing and tying, rural employment, field-sports and countryside education for our youngsters and sensible conservation. We are both thrilled that Linda has invited us to be regular columnists in this fantastic quarterly.”

Photo by Linda Mellor

International Hunting Scotland is a long-established and reliable hunting, shooting and fishing agency based in the Highlands of Scotland. They offer bespoke packages which can include sporting activities, accommodation, cultural tours, transfers and all hospitality services. Facilities are utilised throughout Scotland, the rest of the UK and various fantastic locations around the world. They have many international outfitter partners and a varied global client base of satisfied customers, many of whom return year after year. See us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook