Lauriston is finding the ‘warrior’ inside following husband’s death - Nigel Duncan
Heather Lauriston immersed herself in fishing following the death of her husband six months ago, and she is achieving commendable results in doing so.
Victory in a recent club match was followed by second place in the Scottish Canal Championships, beaten by a mere 13 grams in a mixed field, and that result was followed by first place in the Scottish Ladies Championship.
And Lauriston, a member of the Edinburgh and Lothians Angling Club (ELCAC), wants more.
Her late husband Wullie bought her a Daiwa G90 pole before he passed away, her first new pole as her previous were all second-hand.
That piece of equipment goes everywhere with her, and Lauriston, project manager for Get Hooked On Fishing, an organisation targeting the recruitment of more young people into the sport, is devoting her spare time to prepare properly for her match fishing.
Lauriston is fully focused. So much so that she tempted 94 fish during a recent event at Strathclyde Park. They weighed a total of 3kg 189gr, and that was enough to edge great friend Rosalind Cassidy into second spot in the race for the ladies national title.
That triumph came soon after she landed 30lb 1oz to win matchday five of the ELCAC summer series at Drumtassie near Blackridge.
The next best haul was recorded by Darrin Ferguson, the club president, with 23lb 15oz.
Currently, 48-year-old Lauriston is fishing through the pain barrier with a damaged rotator cuff, but she is determined.
The shoulder injury flared up during a recent match at Magiscroft, near her home in Cumbernauld.
Previously, she sat out of the sport for 16 weeks to receive treatment for the same injury, and is aware of what needs to be done to ease the pain, but she is determined to persevere in the hunt for success on the water.
Lauriston recalled that the death of her husband was ’the hardest day of her life’ and she added: "Wullie had five years of chemo – that was a major part of our life. Now I am on my own.
"I've thrown myself into fishing and preparing to fish: making my rigs, doing my homework and really focusing when I am at the water.
"Now, I concentrate for an entire match. I'm in a zone, no distractions.
"Previously, my mind was wandering. Now I am thinking what I need to do to catch, all the time.”
She added: "Many people think of fishing as a peaceful sport, a sport for relaxation, but my work rate has significantly increased, and it needed to if I wanted success.”
Lauriston recalled an incident some time ago when one of Scotland’s leading coarse anglers, James Woodrow, wandered up behind her at a match.
He noted that Heather had watched a float for 15 minutes. Not good enough, he said.
The angler said: “Now, I stay alert, watching the water and making changes. I practice at match venues, the Forth and Clyde Canal, Strathclyde Park, Drumtassie and Magiscroft, and I leave no stone unturned.
"Now, I am being rewarded with results."
Lauriston also looks to improve her technique, knowledge and catch rate at waters she does not know. That is why she plans a trip to Ireland to fish various lochs with a lady member of the Irish coarse fishing team whom she got to know during an international at Strathclyde Park.
She is also heading for Western Pools Fishery near Oswestry, and has joined a second fishing club. That is to give her more experience and match practice.
There are, understandably, dark times for her. For example, after the match draw for the ladies championship at Strathclyde Park, she was down, believing she had a poor peg, given recent catch returns from the venue.
Her father Tommy was able to have a word, and so did fellow Scotland international, Derek Brady.
She recalled: "I had a pep talk with dad and Derek and re-focused. I went out determined and had 94 fish on the clicker."
Heads are being turned by her recent performances, in turning a negative, the tragic death of Wullie, into somewhat of a positive.
She added: "Big Wul won every round for five years and we made the most of his borrowed time.
"I’m now left living alone with a life I didn’t choose, and loneliness and emptiness I still can’t comprehend.
“I’m trying my best to become a warrior, too, and battle through without my person by my side.
"Wullie wanted me to focus on fishing, and I am."