For those that didn’t make the tournament at the end or see my FB post a while back….here is a re-cap of the 2023 tournament and going forward into 2024.
I could never have imagined that the little tournament I started in 2012 with 8 boats in Support of our Veterans would evolve into a 144 boat field on 11-11-23. Veterans, supporters and sponsors from the local and regional area came out to have a fun day of fun, food, comradery & even catch a few fish. To that end, this has been a true labor of love for me and my family to establish yet another year of being the largest tournament on Lake Anna since 2018.
For those of you that missed the closing of the tournament or left early that day, you missed my major announcement that this will be MY last year as your Tournament Director. I have strived and worked hard to make it the best it could possibly be, but as with anything, it has become a little too overwhelming. I have spent countless hours and approx. 6-7 months out of each year putting everything together for the last 11 years.
I struggled to find someone that could measure up to MY expectations of a well run tournament, organize it as their own, yet keep Veterans in their hearts. I found that someone and a whole crew that will come along. Since this past June I have become great friends with the team that coordinates, runs and has the “other” best run tournament series that I have ever seen. Amanda Lloyd Thomson, Bart Staton & Rusty Powell that have run the Kickin Bass Tournament for Special Olympics for the past several years have agreed to take over and run the VDFT starting in 2024. Of course, there will be a transition period in the upcoming months ahead & likely some changes made, and I truly hope that everyone will continue their support for them as you have for me. That said, you can say that I am not stepping away, but instead stepping aside. I will continue helping them as a Volunteer on tournament day, as will the Martin/Hall family as needed.
I have truly appreciated all of you over these past years and especially my Veteran friends that I have adopted as family. The sponsors in the fishing, hunting, boating, marine, etc fields have shown to be the best in the business and I cannot thank them enough. The companies & individuals that have helped me and donated over the years have become true friends and I thank you as well.
I look forward to the coming year to see the wonderful event that Amanda, Bart, Rusty & their crew will put together, as I know it will be outstanding. Thank you ALL.
VETERANS DAY FISHING TOURNAMENT 