Derby News - Week 14 (August 24 - August 30) End of the Season

Record Breaking Silver Takes the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby; Ontario Man Wins Truck

VALDEZ- When Derek Werder of Valdez pulled in a 22.14 pound silver salmon August 23; he figured he had a pretty good chance of taking the $15,000 first place prize in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby. “Well, for the last thirty years, there has only been one fish over 20 pounds, so I feel pretty confident”, Werder said. Just over a week later, with the Derby at a close, it is no surprise that Werder’s record winning fish stayed at the top of the leader board. When asked what he would do with his prize winnings, Werder responded “We are definitely going to take care of some bills.” Thomas Lane of Fairbanks took 2nd place and garnered $5,000 with a 19.12 pound silver and 3rd place and $2,000 in cash was awarded to Charlene McCay of Anchorage, AK who caught a 18.96 pound silver. The winning ticket was sold by Richard Frailey of Reynolds Alaska Sporting Goods and he will get $500. The $500 Captain’s prize goes to Derek Werder for acting as the captain of his own private boat.

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Jan VanderVaart of Anchorage, AK claimed the first place title in the Valdez Halibut Derby. “I’m afraid of the water”, admitted Vandervaart. “But my father-in-law made me go out”. Vandervaart was all smiles as he accepted his $15,000 cash prize Sunday night at the Spawn ‘til Dawn Derby Awards party Sunday night. “I had no idea that it was a big deal”, said VanderVaart. “My friend called me and told me my picture was everywhere. It was my first halibut so I didn’t know it was that big, that it was that big a deal”. Vandervaart is expecting a baby in six weeks and said the money would buy a lot of stuff for the baby. Lorena Jenkins of Valdez took the 2nd place title with a 244.2 pound flat fish caught June 14th. David Gatch of Fairbanks took 3rd place with a 207.2 pound halibut brought to port June 9th. Dave Wiley of Orion charters won the $500 Captain’s prize and the $500 prize for selling the winning ticket in the halibut derby.

A crowd of nearly 300 derby participants gathered for the annual Spawn ‘til Dawn Derby Awards Party at the Valdez Civic Center Sunday night and anxiously awaited the drawing for the 4x4 Ford truck. The ticket stub for every Valdez Fish Derby ticket sold during the 2008 season was put in a clear ticket spinner and after much turning, Bruce Holmlund’s ticket was pulled out. Holmlund is from St. Frances, Ontario.

With the Valdez Halibut Derby ending this Sunday, it looks as though Jan VanderVaart of Anchorage may have his claim on the $15,000 cash prize and the honor of holding the title of the Valdez Halibut Derby winner of 2008 with his 251.5 pound halibut. Last year the winning fish was 340 pounds and the year before was 343.3 pounds. If Jan does win, he will have won with the smallest fish since 2003. Second place on the derby leader board is Lorena Jenkins from Valdez, with a 244.2 pounder. And currently in third place it’s David Gatch of Fairbanks, with a 207.2 pounder.

Prizes will be awarded at the Valdez Fish Derbies “Spawn ‘til Dawn” party starting at 7pm this Sunday, August 31st at the Valdez Civic Center. Admission is free to anyone who has purchased a derby ticket and the event features the live drawing for the 4x4 Truck from Valdez Fish Derbies and Seekins Ford. Everyone who purchases a derby ticket is entered to win the truck, whether they catch a fish or not. For more information, visit www.valdezfishderbies.com.