This really WAS a Quick trip! 22 hours of driving and 7 hours of throwing in 45 hours!!!

We left from my brothers house in Orangevale at 6:00 AM Saturday Morning. The drive was pretty good until we got to the San Juan Capistrano area near Dana Point where the traffic slowed to a crawl. We found a great little Italian place to carb up and wait out the traffic. We finally got to our Hotel about 4:30 and then went out to relax on the beach for a while, where we saw a BEAUTIFUL sunset!

(Tried to upload pics still deficient in that area ... any help would be appreciated!)

Sunday Morning

Surprise of all surprises we started off with the traditional stones!!!

Braemar was first. I have seemed to have lost my hips and speed in this event, after a brief awakening. It MAY be due to the fact that we have thrown in 4 of the last five weekends. I certainly hope so because it was a nice visit we were having! I will take solace in the fact that I have been able to stay up over 27 for five straight games now but that 29'8" from a few weeks ago has left me wanting more. My goal is 30 this year! 27"+ started me out in 2nd place!

On to the open brick ... er ... stone. Having found the handle on this thing a few weeks ago at Costa Mesa I was actually feeling good about taking it on! I was able to get a 33+ which I should be happy with but after getting that thing over 35 a few weeks ago it, again, left me wanting! 2nd Place

We then went to the HWD. It is NOT feeling as heavy as it has all year but I really think I have to be able to get up to 35 to be satisfied with it. It will just take more work. After playing with the Gurly Mon LWD in practice I saw some great improvement in the first half of the season so I will now try the same strategy with Old Dude's 35 lb. "English" HWD and see how that works out. Got to 33'. One of my top three throws of the year. 2nd Place

LWD felt very good but I was not getting my legs down for the last turn (even though I DID avoid the bad habit of bending at the waste that I have been trying to kick) Rhythm was good but trajectory was flat and I was fortunate to get it out to 47+. 2nd Place.

Heavy Hammer was next. I was excited about this as Hammers had gone so well at Santa Cruz but I think I over thought it. I did NOT feel the good rotation of my hips that I felt a hint of last week although I DID manage to keep my arms straight and deliver it high. 69+ 2nd Place.

In the light hammer I had great hopes of crashing the 90 gate on this day but it was not to be. Still got three throws over 80 but ended up with 87+ 2nd Place. Noticing a pattern here?

Sheaf was next. We were throwing with the 60's so the bar started at 15 and the muscles started to tighten up for everyone. One of the 60's guys throwing was a chiropractor and he popped my hips around for me which helped a lot but it was still hard to stay loose. It got down to a battle between Rich Campbell and I but he was having some terrific back pain. I was able to clear 26 with one less miss than Rich, who had to bow out after this event. Up until know it had been Rich in 1st Place while I brought up the caboose but I squeaked it out on Sheaf! 1st Place

Next was Weight over Bar and another long wait as they started it at 8 ft for the 60's. Paul and I came in at 13 where only Vern, Paul and I passed. After Vern got his 13 we set the Bar at 13'2" so he could attempt to break his own World Record. He gave three strong pulls but it was not to be this day. Paul and I both cleared 14 and then moved it up a foot. I got 15 on my first try while Paul got very close to making it! We moved the Bar to 16. (My PR is 15'5") I got three really good pulls but I am still leaving it out in front at that height. I sure would like to make that go down this year. I am going to have to get my legs to do THAT work if it's going to happen!!! 1st Place

Finally we got to the Cabers and what a Caber blow out it was. Those Pencil sticks in SoCal were biting the dust left and right all weekend. We ended up using three different Cabers to finish the event and the last one (literally the last one they had) broke on the last throw! I had three good 12:00 throws (although these Cabers have been soaking up the SoCal sun and have lightened up considerably) 1st Place.

So after 6 2nd Places and 3 1st Places and because Rich could not finish due to injury I was able to eek out a win by three points!

Braemar Stone 27'5" 2nd Place
Open Stone 33'8" 2nd Place
HWD 33' 2nd Place
LWD 47'4" 2nd Place
Heavy Hammer 69'4" 2nd Place
Light Hammer 87'3.5" 2nd Place
Sheaf 26' 1st Place
WoB 15' 1st Place
Caber 12:00 (3) 1st Place