Me!!!!!..lol
I can claim it as far back as when Hardy brought out the Elite range of rods
I was talking to Andy Murray having just broken a 9 weight prototype that he had taken to Farlows and I suggested that the blank would look better firstly in one piece
and secondly with blue whipping.
When the production model came out, it was whipped in dark blue
Note to salesmen, do not hand me a rod and then tell me to "bend into it" if you are holding the tip...coz I will