Spey-o-rama 2009

[Glenburn Drift]

The boys busted over the wall today!

[Big K1]

I need a report!!! How did Brian, Greg and Whit do?

[Bob Pauli]

Mike,
Rich says hi.
Bob

[Bob Pauli]

Spey O Rama 2009 Report, Saturday April 18, 2009

What a day! Perfect weather reigned without adverse winds; the casting was sublime; four hours of championship performances without a hitch. OK no more adjectives, here are the numbers:
1. Gordon Armstrong: 649 feet total for four casts, with a long cast of 173 feet and a second longest of 171 feet. The shortest of Gordon’s four counted casts was 145 feet. Holy cow, Batman!
2. Ruari Costello: 591 feet; long 156
3. Brian Styskal: 589 feet; long 160
4. Gerard Downey: 587 feet; long 160
5. Andrew Toft: 574 feet; long 153
6. Simon Hsieh: 570 feet; long 157
Tied for 6th: James Chalmers: 570 feet;; long 147
7. Mariusz Wroblewski: 568 feet; long 146
8. Knut Syrstad: 567 feet: long 170
9. Doug Duncan: 561 feet; long 144
10. Gene Oswald: 559 feet; long 147

Other noteworthy long casts:
Lee Davidson 152 feet
Ian Gordon 150 feet
James Chalmers 147 feet
Greg Bencivenga 147 feet
Nobuo Nodera 145 feet
Tyler Kushnir 145 feet
Frank Chen 141 feet

The level of competition escalates every year. As an example, Doug Duncan, SOR 2008 Runner Up reported that his total today of 561 was his best score ever, and it earned him number nine slot today.

Tomorrow the women’s final begins at 9 AM. Looking strong are Siv Anita Eide of Mogreina, Norway, Mia Sheppard of Welches, Oregon, Whitney Gould of Portland, Oregon, Amy Hazel of Maupin, Oregon, and GGACC’s Donna O’Sullivan. The men’s final follows the women’s.

Some observations: I only saw one person use a spiral single spey today. Monofilament running lines are more popular than last year. Some competitors strip line in to both sides of their body. Loudest reel click belonged to Doug Duncan. A red-tailed hawk circling overhead center pool sounded its characteristic decending call as Lee Davidson stroked his 152 foot masterpiece!

A late discovered math error showed James Chalmers tied for sixth, so we will bring eleven men into the finals tomorrow.

[Bob Pauli]

When I get my video camera figured out, I hope to put up a clip of just how well Ian and Andy swivel their hips.

[beau purvis]

Bob,you posted at 4:30 am about being excited about a video of two guys swiveling their hips!!! Even though some things skip my brain, this post went straight to my brain!!!

Beau

[Bob Pauli]

Wait 'til you see the video, Beau!

[Bob Pauli]

WOMEN:
1. Whitney Gould
2. Amy Hazel
3. Siv Anita Eide
4. Mia Sheppard
5. Donna O'Sullivan

MEN:
1. Simon Hsieh
2. Rauri Costello
3. Brian Styskal
4. Gordon Armstrong
5. Knut Syrstad
6. James Chalmers
7. Doug Duncan
8. Gene Oswald
9. Gerard Downey
10. Mariusz Wroblewski
11. Andrew Toft

This is the short version. More to follow.

[Bob Pauli]

Following are details of today's championships in a PDF document you can print.

[Bob Pauli]

Results follow, poorly formatted.

SPEY O RAMA Spey Casting Championship
Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club, San Francisco, April 19, 2009

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
From Left to Right From Right to Left
L Shoulder R Shoulder L Shoulder R Shoulder Total
1 Whitney Gould 117 114 102 117 450
2 Amy Hazel 115 100 107 95 417
3 Siv Anita Eide 103 99 111 102 415
4 Mia Sheppard 99 84 107 104 394
5 Donna O'Sullivan 85 99 96 101 381


MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Simon Hsieh 144 139 140 140 563
2 Rauri Costello 117 145 149 145 556
3 Brian Styskal 129 148 129 145 551
4 Gordon Armstrong 137 160 135 115 547
5 Knut Syrstad 114 162 128 138 542
6 James Chalmers 115 151 130 135 531
7 Doug Duncan 121 153 121 135 530
8 Gene Oswald 128 152 127 117 524
9 Gerard Downey 124 147 129 123 523
10 Mariusz Wroblewski 111 135 120 140 506
11 Andrew Toft 0 137 114 130 381

[SSPey]

nice job to all, and especially to Whit and Simon - well done!

[Bob Pauli]

Men's Championship:
Spey O Rama results stunned us today. After a BOOMING qualifying round yesterday, today's numbers were modest. Some folks experienced poor turnover of leader and fly, flies being blown or bounced back, tangled running lines, self-flagellation by too-close anchor placement, and broken equipment.

Other explanations [excuses] were high air pressure, heavy air, humidity, downward air and...well, it was one of those days.

James Chalmers thought everyone overpowered their casts, and one competitor said, "After my two effortless warm-up casts practically hit the wall, I knew that I could win this thing if I just tried a little harder!"

In the end 2008 SOR Champion Simon Hsieh prevailed and is 2009 SOR King, which makes him a two-peat. Simon H. casting in position number 2 thinking that [based on yesterday] a HUGE number would be necessary to win, did not let his sub-150' casts shake him. Simon never had a bad cast and put up a number of 563-feet for the rest to beat. No one did. It is interesting that 563-feet yesterday would have placed a person ninth.

Women's Championship:
The women took no prisoners! Whitney Gould powered through with, I believe, a first ever women's performance with every cast over 100-feet! It was a masterful performance, but a necessary one as Amy Hazel, who cast just before Whitney, placed three of her four casts over 100-feet. Wow, Batman!

Siv Anita Eide of Norway also stroked three of her four casts above the century mark, so there were no “gimmes” in the women's division. Mia Sheppard placed two casts over 100-feet and Donna O'Sullivan cranked one. This is definitely the first time in SOR's history that every woman cast a distance above 100-feet. It was only two years ago [was it three?] that Amy Hazel was the first woman ever to cast 100-feet in this event!

Both Gals and Guys:
Performances are better every year. What was a "pop-your-buttons-cast" a couple of years ago won't buy a cup of coffee today. Even the Scotland-based Carron team, every member of which is stupendous at every event, every time, is so much better than the last time they graced us [2007] with their presence.


I'm tired folks, and have to grovel at the altar of commerce tomorrow, so I'll post more later. I do want to thank all our competitors for their fine performances, outstanding sportsmanship and respect for the GGACC.

MR. CHALMERS, please post some of your always terrific pictures and comments when you return home. Please thank Jimmy and Gwyneth Jack for sending the Carron Team to SOR.

To Nobuo Nodera and members of the Japan Casting Association. Many thanks for providing such outstanding competitors and products at this event.

To Knut Syrstad, our prayers are with you. Your skill and courage are invigorating.

To everyone: Post away !

[Bob Pauli]

Huge kudos to Donna O'Sullivan for managing SOR 2009. She spent a year coordinating dozens of volunteers to pull this off. Many thanks, Donna.

[SparseHairHackl]

Thanks for the great reporting, Bob.

Congrats to the winners and all the participants, and especially to the organizers for keeping this going. Sounds like it was a great time again, so WELL DONE to Donna and all the volunteers.

A special congrats to Whitney and Brian for their well-deserved, excellent performances.

And thanks to Whitney and Sandi for thinking of the ladies who couldn't be there this year, and also to Greg for giving them the opportunity to send the note. I'll make sure Olga sees your note.

Wish we were there. Thanks again for the report.

--Bill

[fredaevans]

"Spey O Rama results stunned us today. After a BOOMING qualifying round yesterday, today's numbers were modest. Some folks experienced poor turnover of leader and fly, flies being blown or bounced back, tangled running lines, self-flagellation by too-close anchor placement, and broken equipment."

Sounds like 'conditions' "went to hell in a hand-cart" for the casters on day two.