5th Annual 2-Fly Tournament
Rose River Farm, VA
May 1, 2011
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) held its 5th Annual 2-Fly Tournament at the Rose River Farm in Madison County Virginia near Syria on April 30 and May 1, 2011. The tournament raised over $165,000 and featured fly fishing competition among 12 pro-guide/veteran teams and 18 two-man teams, in addition to fly fishing, casting, fly tying and knot tying demonstrations by fly fishing experts.
Fly fishing experts “Lefty” Kreh, Joe Humphreys and Ed Jaworowski shared stories along with their special skills and provided personalized instruction to the veterans The three also shared their secrets of success with over 200 participants, volunteers and spectators who were in attendance.
“The 2-Fly is an important event,” stated Craig Peterson, “and the money raised supports our ability to resource our rehabilitative programs and ensures that materials, equipment and fly fishing outings are fully funded - and, at no expense to our participants.”
On Saturday evening CACI hosted a 2-Fly kick-off dinner catered by Gentry Catering that was enjoyed by over 200 guests. A brief program commenced with remarks from Major General Ross of the National Guard Bureau, followed by four program participants/alumni: Robert Bartlett, Jacob Goodine, Wesley Hodges and Josh Williams, who shared their personal experiences about what Project Healing Waters has done for them. Douglas Dear, Ed Nicholson and Craig Peterson followed with a special presentation of the Patriot Award – the coveted and most prestigious award given by PHWFF – to Ed Felker for significant contributions and commitment to Project Healing Waters.
Douglas Dear, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and his wife Jennifer, own the 200 acre Rose River Farm and have hosted the 2-Fly event each year at no cost to PHWFF. “We are very grateful to the Dears for allowing us use of their trout stream and bass ponds for the 2-Fly and other fly fishing outings throughout the year,” stated Ed Nicholson, Founder and Vice Chairman. “Fly fishing at the Rose River Farm gives recovering soldiers and veterans a chance to forget about their challenges and enjoy life’s little pleasures surrounded by nature.”
Pro guides and veterans came from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Tennessee to participate in the 2-Fly Tournament. Congratulations to all the winners: Mike Hatfield, pro guide with Virginia Small Stream Trout Guide and competition caster, paired with veteran Tony Howe from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, captured first place in the Pro/Vet Team competition. Finishing in second place was Colby Trow, pro guide with Mossy Creek Fly Fishing, and veteran David Hall from Hunter McGuire VAMC in Richmond, Virginia. Rounding out the top three finishers was William Heresniak, pro guide with Maryland and Virginia Fly Fishing, and veteran Billy Herrell from Johnson City, Tennessee.
In the 2-person competition, Bass Farms team members David Sisson from Roanoke, Virginia, and Josh Williams from Hardy, Virginia, took first place honors. The 75th Ranger Regiment team of Chris Rowland from Roanoke and Jason Baker from Ft. Mill, South Carolina, placed second, and Difficult Run Anglers team members M. Evan Corcoran from Alexandria, Virginia, and Michael D. Brittin from McLean, Virginia, placed third.
Headline sponsors who contributed $5,000 or more for this year’s event included CACI, BAE Systems, Dominion, Bill and Carolyn Fairl, Grandbridge Real Estate Capital, Lu and Sally Grainger, Orvis, Rose River Farm, Temple Fork Outfitters, VSE Corporation, Washington Chapter of AUSA and George and Donna Wilson Foundation.
In addition to the headline sponsors, a number of individuals and companies sponsored the 2-person team fly fishing competition by contributing $2,500 or more. They included Paul Aanonsen, ALPHA NATURAL, National Chapter of AUSA, John Bass, Beekman Advisors, Inc., Patton Boggs, Cassin & Cassin, LLP, Hugh and Carol Dear, Fiduciary Trust Company, Focal Point, Donald King, Jr., Don McGlothin, Ed Nicholson, William Potter, Jim Scheld, Dick Verville and an anonymous donor.
2-Fly donors who contributed $500 or more (up to $2,499) included Ken Asbury, Cubbage and Sons, Laurie and Durrett Dodson, LTG Charles Dominy (ret.) - IAP, General and Mrs. Ralph Eberhart, George Gaines, Genesis Private Wealth, LLC, Steve Laabs, John Miska, Navy Federal Credit Union, NCCTU, Lisa Mei Norton, George Owens, Performance Video Systems, Carroll Platt, James Ramsey, Raytheon, Kelly Lawrence, River House Farm, John Knox Singleton, SMOTJ, Strategic Solutions, David and Carolyn Swindle, URS, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 350, Virginia Tractor, and David and Shirley Williams.
In addition to the Headline Sponsors, 2-personteam sponsors and donors, many individuals and businesses donated items to the silent auction that was coordinated by Jerry and Ben Nonnamacher. Silent auction items included a kayak, original artwork, hand-made rods, reels, and fly fishing trips, to name a few. Silent Auction contributors included Abel, Ken Asbury, Bass Pro Shop, Bellenger, Cottonwood Camp, Bill Dawson, Dr. Slicks, C.G. Feldman, Hubert Fitzgerald, Fly Rod Chronicles (FRC) & Curtis Fleming, Alan Folger, Jantech International, L.L. Bean, Loomis, May-Fly Designs, Ceamus McDermott, Members Club at Four Streams, Ed Nicholson, Nonnamacher Rods, Orvis, Ramona Prince, Michael D. Radencich, Steve Rajeff, Tim Rajeff, REC, Regal Engineering, Saracinone Reels, Shu-Fly, Steve Silvario, J. Stockard, Eric Stroup, Sweetwater Rods, Temple Fork Outfitters, Trout Unlimited, Water Wisp, and WULFF.
Chairman Dear announced the 6th Annual 2-Fly Tournament will be held at the Rose River Farm in Madison County, Virginia on April 29, 2012.
