2007 St. Lawrence International Junior Carp Tournament™

Junior Carp Tournament Ready For Action

County Chamber Taps Alumnus for St. Lawrence International Junior Carp Tournament 2007 Honorary Grand Marshal

Waddington NY - The St. Lawrence County Chamber has bestowed the title of Honorary Grand Marshal to an alum for this year’s annual tournament. Nineteen-year-old Angela Peterson of Crystal Lake, Illinois has been a divisional winner in the several years that she competed.

In 2002, when word reached the Chicago suburb native’s home that Tom Felton of the Harry Potter movies was co-hosting the 1st Annual St. Lawrence International Junior Carp Tournament, this avid Harry Potter fan jumped at the opportunity to rub elbows with the teen star during the competition. What the then 16 year-old did not anticipate was that she would catch the carp angling fever – a movement that was gaining momentum along the St. Lawrence River corridor at the same time.

The teenager was hooked! Peterson was a fast-learning student of tying rigs, casting and netting some sizeable carp. She embraced the catch-and-release philosophy of humane treatment of the fish and in subsequent years added teaching carp angling to her carp resume by mentoring younger entrants of the event during the Mort Backus and Sons Carp School which precedes the tournament.

“Angela is a consummate cheerleader for the sport,” says Karen St. Hilaire, executive director of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. “This is our fifth year hosting the tournament, and we felt she is just one of the many kids who exemplifies the reason we founded this event. In a way, choosing Angela signifies our way of honoring all of the previous competitors. She sets a superior example of good sportsmanship, and she’s a superb angler."

The St. Lawrence County Chamber is already accepting registrations for the August 16-18th competition which spans a thirty-mile stretch of the St. Lawrence from Massena to Ogdensburg. Special plans are underway to commemorate the tournament’s fifth-year anniversary. Brothers Chris and Tom Felton are expected to attend as co-hosts. The British pair was instrumental in launching the first tournament in 2003 with the Chamber.

For more information about the tournament, contact the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce at 315-386-4000.

A photo of Backus and Chamber of Commerce folks

Mort Backus and Sons of Ogdensburg will partner with the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce for the fifth annual St. Lawrence International Junior Carp tournament. The tournament kicks off on August 16th with 200 children learning bank side angling techniques taught by members of the Carp Anglers Group. Each year the seasoned carp anglers travel to the St. Lawrence from all over the United States to demonstrate catch-and-release angling methods to the kids before the competition which is August 17-18. "Carp school" has been made possible for the past four years by the family-owned auto dealership. Pictured is this year's honorary grand marshal for the tournament - Angela Peterson of Crystal Lake, Illinois with Mort Backus and Sons staff (l to r) Jack Backus, Bill Payne, Jordan Backus, Peterson, Peter Backus and Nicole Backus.

Century 21 of Watertown, Connecticut is sponsoring this year's opening ceremony festivities. Competitors will be treated to a bag lunch and dance party featuring today's contemporary music. The dance is a popular get together the night before the competition. A host of prizes - tackle, bait and fishing equipment - will be given away throughout the dance party. Century 21 is operated by the Carla Malagutti and Robert Panasci whose children and grandchildren participate in the tournament each year. Carla, left, is pictured with grand daughter Tatyanna with fishing legend Martin James of England.