Rachid and Dave Levy who is working for Ridge Monkey

First time Rachid met Dave Levy (British Carp Angler of the year 2022) was in 2019 at Carp Zwolle. He was helpful and friendly, and I did an interview with him for the Danish newspaper I work for.
The following year we met him again, and he showed Rachid how to tie a multi reverse rig and gave him a copy of his book "Fallen Kings".
In 2023 Carp Zwolle became Carp den Bosch, and thankfully RidgeMonkey was present, so Rachid met Dave again, as always friendly, and forthcoming.

Rachid with Lewis Read, Team Thinking Anglers

2020 on Carp Zwolle near closing time on the Saturday, Rachid thought he needed just one more thing.
I waited outside the stand, when I suddenly recognized the voice of the person Rachid was talking to.
It was Lewis Read. Back then he worked for Gardner Tackle. I turned to him and explained, that he had been to supper with us several times, because Rachid had been watching many of his films and explainer when we were eating.
The polite carp angler apologized, but he was all forgiven.

Rachid with a giant hero: Steve Briggs from Nash Tackle

Steve Briggs is one of the old boys. He and his wife Joan represent Nash Tackle, but that's not what have made them well-known.
It is their devotion for each other and the carp angling.
The couple has fished a lot in one specific French lake, Lac de Saint-Cassien, where also Rod Hutchinson has tested several products. They have even celebrated Christmas in a bivy, and Steve, but also Joan, have caught several monster carp all over Europe.

Rachid with the allways friendly Ben Francis

Rachid met Ben Francis back in 2016, when he was fishing in a lake in southern Denmark. He had set up his camp when he suddenly heard voices outside the bivy. Three English guys stood and admired his Taska Rod pod.
It turned out it was Team Taska on their European tour, shooting a new movie, and Rachid got a little part in the movie.
A few years later they met at Carp Zwolle, and it was Ben Francis who introduced Rachid to Dave Levy.
A small world, huge fish, and great personalities.

Rachid with the skilled podcast and live host Hassan Khan

First time we attended a European carp show was in 2019. Prior to the show Rachid had seen several films with Hassan Khan, media presenter from Nash Tackle.
Hassan has done a lot of great interviews with the some of the legendary carp anglers of all times, and he has executed a lot of live sessions, where people could ask questions about carp angling.
Hassan was the first "carb celebrity" Rachid got a picture with on the Carp Show. And you know what? He was a nice guy.

Rachid with Michael Chilcott from Century Rods

Back in 2016, Rachid was a VERY regular customer at Tackle Fanatic, where he bought a set of custom-build Century Rods. They are the Royal Royce of rods.
When he saw Centurys stand at Carp Zwolle in 2019, he went to have a chat with Michael Chillcott who is third generation of the 40-year-old company.
The company story was so interesting, that I included it in an article I wrote for the newspapers I work for. Today Rachid got himself an even better set of Century Rods, and he loves them.

Rachid meets with Joan Jacobi, Steve Briggs better half

Joan Jacobi is a very special lady, if you ask Rachid, or any other carp angler for that matter.
Joan has followed her husband Steve Briggs for centuries, sleeping in bivies, netting lots of carp, shooting pictures and just being around. She herself is a very skilled carp angler.
Rachid was therefore thrilled, when he met her in 2019 and on the show in 2020, they sat on a bedchair and had a long chat - they were on the same wave. When they met again in 2023, it was a very happy reunion.

Rachid got a bag like Nash's pro-angler Alan Blair

All the young anglers (and quite a few of the more mature) are crazy about Alan Blair. He is a very forthcoming and happy guy, who takes his time to the visitors at the Nash Tackle Stand. In 2019 I saw his crossover bag and bought one for Rachid. He has carried the bag every day ever since. It holds all his insulin gear, which is life essential for him. This year, 2023, I just took a picture of his shoes, camou-coloured Nike Air. I think he was a bit surprised, but shoes are "my thing".