2011 Hardy Bros. Cup Champions August 7,2011
at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum.
The first Hardy Bros. Cup bamboo rod casting competition was held on August 6 & 7, 2011 at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum. This unique competition was designed to encourage everyone with a bamboo rod to participate. Casters were required to use a bamboo fly rod 9′ in length or less, with their own fly reel with a floating fly line, and a 7’6″ leader. A sight fly was provided. Fly rods 7’11″ and under were given advantage handicaps for length. Casters were allowed up to 6 practice casts before delivering 2 distance casts and one accuracy cast to be counted as points.
This first competition was attended by both recognized professional and amateur bamboo rodmakers and the casual bamboo fly rod users. This diverse competition brought out young and old from 8 to 80, those from distant countries, and highly recognized individuals including Joan Wulff, Per Brandin, Mke Canazon, Tim Abbott among many others.
First Prize in the maiden Hardy Bros. Cup received the first 100th year commemorative C.C. France custom fly rod by Hardy Master Rodmakers Tom Moran and Callum Gladstone, and their name engraved in the perpetual Hardy Cup, made by Tiffany, and on display at the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum. Second and third place finishers were presented with Hardy fly reels, and all casters received an ICast Button (to get it, you had to cast it).
Taking the honors this year were:
First Place- Masaki Takemoto, Japan
Second Place – Jin Woo Lee, Canada
Third Place- Mike McFarland, USA
The Annual Hardy Bros. Cup casting competition was a joint co-operative between Hardy/Greys North America and The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum. As desired, this brought out a large audience reaching all levels and corners of the world. August 2012 dates to follow.
For more information contact Jim Krul, CFFCM, flyfish@catskill.net
or Jim Murphy, Hardy Greys North America jmurphy@hardygreys.com
