Derby News - Week 15, 8/26-9/01
North Pole Man Wins $15,000 In Valdez Halibut Derby
A 264 pound halibut reeled in by Calvin Carr just a week before the end of the Valdez Halibut Derby held on to take the $15,000 first place prize at the close of the derby Sunday. Carr caught his halibut aboard the Otter Dodger on August 26th. A group of about 70 gathered at the Elks Lodge for the awards ceremony and to watch the truck drawing. Everyone who purchased a derby ticket had a chance to win a 4x4 Ford F-150, but when the ticket was drawn, it was Maliwan Turner of Valdez who drove home the prize.
In the halibut derby, Bill Kelly took home $5,000 for second place with a 237.7 pound halibut he reeled in August 28th aboard the Victorious. Mike Burke of Henderson, Nevada took 3rd place and won $2,000 cash with the 233 pound halibut he caught August 12 while fishing aboard the Dan Orion.
Diana Doodchenko of Canada caught her 17.88 pound silver salmon July 25th and was doubtful it would hang on to take the 1st place prize of $15,000 in the Silver Salmon Derby. Doodchenko's husband had a 3 x 5 picture printed in Valdez of his wife with her fish because he said he had a tradition of framing his wife's prize fishing catches. As it turns out, this fish will provide much more than a memory. Tom Parker of Billings, Montana won 2nd place and $5,000 in the silver derby with a 16.70 pound silver he caught August 18th and Geoff Wooding of Whitehorse brought home the 3rd place prize of $2,000 cash for the 16.38 pound silver he caught August 19th.
The $500 cash prize for the charter captain taking out the winning halibut angler went to Dennis Petri of the Otter Dodger who said he was planning to give the money to his granddaughter who worked as his deckhand this summer. Nancy Meador won the $500 prize for selling the ticket to Calvin Carr. Dan Eames won $500 for being Diana Doodchenko's captain July 25th and Greg Kern of Fish Central won the $500 ticket seller's prize for the silver derby.
Valdez Halibut Derby Overall Leaders
Calvin Carr
North Pole, AK
264.0 lbs on August 26
Otter Dodger
Bill Kelly
Valdez, AK
237.7 lbs on August 28
Victorious
Mike Burke
Henderson, NV
233.0 lbs on August 12
Dan Orion
Weekly Winners - Week 15
Calvin Carr
North Pole, AK
264.0 lbs on August 26
Otter Dodger
Bill Kelly
Valdez, AK
237.7 lbs on August 28
Victorious
Silver Salmon Derby- Overall Winners
Diana Doodchenko
Canada
17.88 lbs, July 25
Faithful
Tom Parker
Billings, MT
16.70 lbs, Aug 18
Mont Peggy Ann
Geoff Wooding
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
16.38 lbs, Aug 19
Dels Brat
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