If you have never been to the site of the Fresno games, Coombes Ranch, then you are in for a treat.  The surrounding area is a little deceiving.  Nothing but dry, yellow fields without a tree in site.  But once you drive down the windy little road and drop down into the river bottom, you are immediately surrounded by giant oak trees and green grass everywhere!  You almost get the feeling you are in Sherwood Forest in merry olde England.  It was already warming up at 8:00am.  Shortly after Paul Troppy and myself arrived, Sean Waklee and his family got there.  We set up "camp" next to each other with a good view of the entire field right under one of the big oaks.

The B class was combined with the C's and two novices.  Welcome aboard guys!  We had the same players as the last several games plus a few new faces.  Unfortunately, we didn't have Bil Christopher with us.  I sure could've used your WFD advice out there Bil!  We started our day off with the heavy hammer (22lb) and then light hammer (16lb).  The results were the same for both events, 1st Matt Moore, 2nd Ken McClain, and 3rd Ron Bradley.  From hammers, we continued on to the stones.  Well, we can all guess who took first in both of these events.  Yes, it was Paul Troppy, again!  Paul was followed by Matt Moore in 2nd and Ken McClain in 3rd for the Braemar stone.  In the open stone, Jon Tamada took 2nd with a throw of 31'5" followed by Ken McClain in third at 31'2"!

After lunch and plenty of water, we continued with the 56 WFD and then the 28 WFD.  Matt Moore, returning after a six-month break from the games, took first with a throw of 23'9 1/2".  Sean Waklee took 2nd with an awesome throw of 22' 7 1/4", leaving Paul Troppy with third at 21'3 1/2".  Although I have yet to break the twenty-foot mark, I did have a PR of 16'3".  After Matt took first in the 28 WFD, the points race was beginning to take shape.  He was followed by Ken and Sean respectively.  Paul Troppy had a big day in his B class debut.  In WOB, He barely edged out Matt Moore and Sean Waklee with a toss of 11'6"!  We finally finished this long, hot day with the caber.  With no surprise, Matt took first and pretty much sewed up the B class aggregate win.  Congratulations and welcome back Matt!

In the other classes, pro Ken Lowther set a new Fresno field record in the 16lb hammer with a HUGE throw of 130'9"!  Ken was also the only one to turn the pro class caber measuring in at 19' 130lbs!  Second place went to Will Barron, with third going to Marc Harisay.

In the Men's A class, Vicken "the Genetic Freak" Atarian out of So Cal, virtually swept the competition.  He secured the aggregate win with an impressive 5 firsts!!!!!  Way to go Vic!

Fresno was the site of the 2002 North American Hammer Championships.  The winners received a 16lb hammer as their "trophy".  The hammers were donated by my family and myself.  The men's A class winner was Vicken, men's B class-Matt Moore, women's A-Bethany Owen, women's B-Sue Jensen.  Congratulations to each of you!