Chet Snouffer’s write-up of the 2004
Nationals
The following link will take you right to the 2004
Results held August 12-14 at
http://www.geocities.com/jesmucker/scores/2004_nationals_indie_scores.html
Perfect weather greeted 42 throwers from around the world at
the US Boomerang Association National Championships held at
Long Distance
Marx won the long distance competition with a throw of 109
meters out
and then back with a complete return.
Indies – Advanced Division
In Advanced Division individual competition, the ideal conditions
created a shoot-out for first place between defending tournament champion and
Delaware native Mark Legg, tournament founder and 12-time national champion
Chet Snouffer, and USA team member and number one ranked thrower Matt Golenor
of Nashville, TN.
Golenor seized the early lead after the second event with a
tremendous showing in the maximum time aloft event, pushing him past Vermont's
John Flynn, a veteran US Team member and former world record holder. With
Golenor running out front, and Legg, Snouffer, Flynn and Iizuka close behind,
the pack waited to see if Matt would leave the door open in one of the final
four events. The opening came quickly as Golenor scored a 36/50 in Accuracy and
all four scurried through it with scores above 36 to close the gap. The door
was swung wide open in Australian Round, as Golenor posted a 64/100. Again all
four throwers jumped on the opportunity with Flynn (72 points), Iizuka (73),
Snouffer (68), and Legg (84-1st place) closing further.
However, Golenor slammed the door shut on any hopes of
further insurgency by winning the last two events outright. In Fast Catch, he
posted an 18.25 while Snouffer went 19.26, and then won Endurance with 68
catches while Snouffer posted a 67, enough to secure the silver medal, just
edging Mark Legg who finished with the Bronze medal. Matt's throwing on the
entire day was outstanding, consistent, and especially in MTA, Fast Catch, and
Endurance, very hot! Congratulations!
In the overall standings, it was:
1. Matt Golenor,
2.
3. Mark Legg,
4. Nobu Iizuka,
5. John Flynn,
In the Senior Division, Mike Dickson came out of
semi-retirement at the ripe old age of 51 to upset an exciting dual between
past national champions and cousins Larry Ruhf (1985) and Barnaby Ruhe (1986).
Legendary founders of the sport, the two battled back and forth with Ruhf
finally holding sway to win the silver trophy for second, with Ruhe in third.
Dickson took home the First place trophy, also Silver, commemorating the
In the Intermediate Division, Nate Smucker threw extremely well
to win the division ahead of sister-in-law and new mom, Laura Smucker. Bart
Flynn put on a show for third in the Division ahead of long-time thrower
Kendall Davis and Aron Brown, tied for 4th.
SPECIAL THANKS
…to Fred Malmberg for heading up the Craftsmanship
Awards (results) and for co-hosting the
Thursday evening Q/A Session along with Gregg Snouffer, Jason Smucker for
serving as Head Judge for Long Distance, as well as serving as Head
Scorekeeper. Co-Director Gregg Snouffer ran the team day with the entirely
exciting and innovative Delaware Duals Pro-Am format a huge success! The Dead
Boomeranger's Memorial Throw was also Gregg's brainchild and was a smashing and
sentimental success with boomerangs by the Janetzki's, Herb Smith, Willy Davis,
Willi Urban, unknown Aboriginal makers, Jackie Byham, and more thrown and
caught in tribute. Kendall Davis single-handedly ran the booth for
demonstrating the art of boomerang craftsmanship and ran out to throw in the
events (often with no warm-up) in-between his gigs with the audience! Carmen
Snouffer hosted a killer cookout Sunday for the 20 or so throwers who remained
on, while Stephanie Frisch hosted the same on Friday night to kick things off.
Thanks to all I've failed to mention for their contributions which made this a
fantastic event.
Chet Snouffer
Leading Edge Enterprises
Three-time World Boomerang Champion
(740) 363-8332 / (740) 363-7552
www.Leadingedgeboomerangs.com
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