By Susan Monteleone
TUSTEN — May 3, 2002 – With a cool breeze whipping accross Lake LaBarr in the Town of Tusten on Saturday afternoon, The Beaver Brook Rod and Gun Club hosted its first annual Bassmaster Casting Kids competition.
Over 50 children participated in the event, which was divided into two age groups: 7 to 10 and 11 to 14.
The event is similar to the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick event. But instead of kicking and throwing a football, participants in the Bassmaster Casting Kids competition are challanged to cast, pitch and flip – which are three of the essentials of successful fishing.
The scoring for the event is based on a point system and the child with the most points is declared the winner and can possibly go on to compete in the 2002 Bassmasters Classic, where 10 national finalists compete for two $5,000 scholarships.
The competition turned out to be a huge success according to Beaverbrook Rod and Gun Club members – who are already planning next year’s event.
“Today’s world is surrounded by the computer and the video games and children are not getting out anymore and enjoying all that is out there,” said Jim Hanson, one of the event chairpersons. “So, we came up with the concept of hosting the Bassmaster Competition and Beaverbrook loves to get children of all ages involved in the great outdoors. Today was truly a great day and a great day for families to come out and spend the day with a little competition going on and some family time fishing and relaxing by the lake. What could be a better day?”
Also on hand was Terry Tenbus, another chairperson of the event.
“The kids coming out here today have done a great job and the competition was tough,” Tenbus said. “All the kids are true fisherman and have really enjoyed themselves. The event was a true success today. The kids were able to have a hot dog or hamburger and compete a bit and then go fish in the lake and everyone was catching a fish. It is truly a great day for the kids and families and hopefully next year more families will come out and spend the day with us.”
After the day of competition, 13-year-old J.C. Summers of Narrowsburg was declared the winner in the 11-14 age group and eight-year-old Vincent Riina of Barryville was the winner of the 7-10 age group. Riina and Summers each received a gold medal, Zebco Fishing Pole and Reel and a certificate of competition.
For times and dates of future Beaverbrook events, visit the club’s Web site – BeaverbrookRodandGun Club.com.