Artist Steve Goione has done another brilliant job with the 51st Annual Big Rock original. Wow!, are the colors vivid and beautiful!

Steve has been around for a while now, showing (and donating) for many other tournaments too. I'm sure after awhile he wonders how many different ways he can draw a marlin. He seems to find it though, each time and offer something more than you could have hoped for. Goione pieces take weeks to create and finish.

As sort of an unwritten "gentleman's rule", the first place blue marlin winner will usually buy the original art. This is their contribution to charity after being so lucky at the tournament. Last year the art brought in $22,500 for Big Rock charities and hopefully the 51st winner will want this incredible piece just as much.

The fifty-first annual program is out and looks spectacular! Tournament assistant Rowanne Robertson, did another great job laying it out and making last year come alive.

We always breathe a sigh of relief when the program goes to press and I tell everyone that it is really the hardest part of the job!

The Big Rock would like to once again thank all of our sponsors who continued to support the tournament in this difficult economic year. I would especially like to thank Presenting Sponsor, Coble Trench Safety for stepping up this year as well as Linda Rike/Ed Daughety Real Estate for continuing the Diamond level sponsorship. Platinum sponsors this year are Jarrett Bay Boatworks, Consumer's Marine/Overton's, Wachovia, Bailey's Fine Jewelry, Seegars Fence Company, Liquid Video Productions, Crown Royal and MTU/Covington Power Services.