#226 10/07
Decoy Show Winners Hail from Six States
TUCKERTON -- Major category winners in the 2007 Ocean County Decoy and Gunning Show hailed from six states: Delaware, New
Jersey, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, according to Freeholder John C. Bartlett, Jr.
The Board of Chosen Freeholders takes particular pride in helping to keep the heritage skills alive by promoting
these competitions and recognizing the fine workmanship of the entries," Bartlett said.
"It is a tribute to the caliber of the show that it draws from not only New Jersey, but also from other states," said
Freeholder Director John P. Kelly.
Geoff Vine, who won first place with his Barnegat Bay gunning decoy, traveled from Waumakee, WI to participate in the show.
Albert Riehl of Egg Harbor took three blue ribbons in the Decorative Game Bird, Decorative Shorebird, and Decorative
Songbird Open contests. Kathy Johnston of Sweetwater not only took home a blue ribbon from the art contest for the official
show print, her work also will be featured on the cover of next year's show program. Chad Seymour of Port Norris was
selected as the state representative to the World Duck Calling Championship in Stuttgart, Arkansas, by taking first place in
New Jersey's Official Duck Calling contest.
The coveted Hurley Conklin award, named for the last of the old time decoy carvers and bestowed upon those living in the
Barnegat Bay tradition, went to Alvin Shourds a decoy carver from Woodbine and John Scott Rutherford, a clammer from
Tuckerton.
The two-day annual show is sponsored by the Ocean County Department of Parks & Recreation and held in Tip Seaman County
Park, Tuckerton Seaport and the Pinelands Regional High School. Next year's show will be held Sept. 27 and 28.
Ocean County Winners
Beach Haven
- Cornie Walton, Photo-Amateur
Brick
- Gary Bell, Volunteer of the Year Award
- Anne Hruza, Art-Amateur
Cedar Run
- Barry Griffiths, Delaware River Gunning Decoy
Eagleswood
- Dave Giannetto, Photo-Professional
Harvey Cedars
- William Bartholomew, Traditional Working Boat
Little Egg Harbor
- Anthony Bowen, Sr., Archery-Waterfowl
- Bob Fricke, Barnegat Bay Sneakbox Development Class
- Richard Raisner, Decorative Bird of Prey
Manahawkin
- Gilbert Fleming, Open Class-South Jersey Duck Hunting Boat Traditional
- Richard Jessen, Miniature Decoy
North Beach Haven
- Malcolm Robinson, Working Shorebird Rig
Tuckerton
- John Scott Rutherford, Hurley Conklin Award
- Nathanial Kirby, Traditional Shorebird Decoy
West Creek
- Ken Hanson, Head Whittling
Whiting
- Gus Heinrichs, Barnegat Bay Feather Edged Sneakbox Rowing Division Traditional
New Jersey Winners Outside of Ocean County
Dorothy
- Steve Walsh, Retriever-Novice
Edgewater Park
- Vince Giannetto III, Delaware River Gunning Decoy Rig
Egg Harbor Township
- Albert Riehl, Decorative Game Bird, Decorative Shorebird, and Decorative
- Songbird Open (3)
- Bill Simonsen, South Jersey Pond Box Building
Egg Harbor City
- Robert W Froriep, World Championship Skeetshot from a Sneakbox-Open
Gibbstown
- Frank Ruggieri, New Jersey Duck Calling-Youth Division and
- New Jersey Goose Calling-Youth Division
Goshen
- Jamie Hand, Tuckerton Railbird Skiff Race
Hamilton
- John Wood, Contemporary Gunning Decoy
Hamilton Square
- Alvin Dymowski, Cork Gunning Decoy
Laurel Springs
- Robert Olsen, Decorative Wildfowl
Millville
- Justin Weatherby, Skeetshot from a Sneakbox Youth Division
Newton
- Al Melhus, Retriever-Advanced
Oceanville
- Don Ay, Best Gunning Display
Pennsauken
- Robert Gagliardi, Decorative Fish and Striped Bass Plug Open
Port Norris
- Chad Seymour, Barnegat Bay Team Duck Calling Championship Open and
- State of New Jersey Duck Calling Championship
Port Republic
- Kelsie Grover, Jr. Art , 14-18 years old Division
Sweetwater
- Kathy Johnston, Official Show Print Art -Open
Stockton
- Ron Dombrowski, Contemporary Shorebird Decoy
Ventnor City
- Greer Gaskill, Antique South Jersey Gunning Boat Restoration
Woodbine
- Alvin Shourds, Hurley Conklin Award
Wrightstown
- John F. Fields, Barnegat Bay Gunning Decoy Rig
Out of State Winners
New York
- David Clark. Clayton, Contemporary Gunning Boat Development Class
- Diane Ortzian, Roxbury, Women's Skeetshoot from a Sneakbox
- Nate Duxbury. Greenwich, Barnegat Bay Gunning Decoy, Age 14 & Under
Maryland
- Edward Thieler, Easton, Model Barnegat Bay Sneakbox Gunning Category
- Toni Kay Dye, Gibman, Art-Professional
- Justin Culver, Hebron, State of New Jersey Goose Calling Championship
- Rusty Hallock, Centerville, Barnegat Bay Team Duck Calling
Pennsylvania
- Rich Brooks, Langhorne, Fish Decoy
- Jack Crozier, Essington, Retriever - Puppy
- Jayson Wilt, Duncannon, Barnegat Bay Hunters Duck Calling Championship Open
Wisconsin
- Geoff Vine, Waumakee, Barnegat Bay Gunning Decoy
Delaware
- Grier Wakefield, Wilmington, Barnegat Bay Youth Open Duck Calling and
- Barnegat Bay Youth Open Goose Calling
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