inaugural Tazzie abt.

Just scanned the results of the abt Tazzie event, wondering what everyones thaughts are on the owner of the series compeating, and winning the event, and (I guess) the other entrants fee/prize money?

If lets say "Coke" as an example, has a comp', in whatever form, Employees and their families are exempt from entry...

[Bear]

Steve has spent a lot of years on the side lines spending his own money to bring the comps to the East coast, as did our former director. I'm not going to begrudge them the chance to compete, especially as it's Simon that runs the comps these days.

The way I look at it is he still has to be a good angler to get there and I'd prefer to compete against the best to know I've had a good win.

JMO.

No warries that he won the event with his ability, good on him.

It just seemed a bit different to me, and wondered what others thaught.

Cheers

[Bear]

I'm not saying it's an easy decision, having had to do it myself this year, but it's the passion of guys like Steve that get people to compete to me.

I suppose the other way to look at it is how where do we then draw the line. Should people like Tim Morgan not compete because he works for BLA who is one of the major sponsors of comps all round the country.

Major and minor sponsers, spend all sorts of amounts of money getting their name out and around the traps, advertising, sponsoring events and sponsoring partisipants in thoes events, I think this comes under the normal banner of promotion.

Because this is a competition of skill and not chance, and therefore can't be rigged, it seems ok that anyone can enter and try their luck.

If it were a non profit organisation who put on the event, and the prize was won by an organiser, fair 'n square, entry paid up like all others, I don't know if too much would be wrong with that. I do think, when alot of money has been forked out by compeditors and sponsors alike, (to the gain and profit of the organisers), to get over to Tazzie (which isn't cheep) and the organiser wins a major cash prize, denying normal compeditors the chance to recoop some of the costs of their efforts, not to mention some sponsors missing out on exposure, seems to me not quite in the spirit, or even morally correct.

Does Steve now qualify for the GF? denying someone else a chance? if so, what if he wins it and the major prize? will that seem ok?


I have no sour grapes, I, or noone I know entered the event, and I don't enter the events, just saw the results and thaught it strange. Maybe it's just me.

[Gutsy]

I think you will find that Steve has done alot for the industry and the community.

If you feel like there is a problem it is probably a good idea to give Steve a ring. He is approachable and more than willing to have a chat and explain.

Some facts for you. Last years Tweed event, Steve again finished in the money and donated this towards the cost of having the Reef Science Tank there. This is for the benefit of all involved and the community.

My opinion is, he is a smart angler and to go to Tassie and beat the locals, good on him.

Cheers.

Marcel.

[eddystone]

First off....

Steve donated the money back Doesn't collect prize money....As he said with a small event like tassie they don't make money!

I met steve for the first time this weekend. He is a top bloke and his passion for fishing can not be challenged!

To have him watching bream swim off healthily at the end of the day and show true excitment was somewhat of a suprise to me....He must have seen 1000's of bream do the same yet he still gets a high level of enjoyment and excitment out of it

I can see where your coming from BUT its not really comparable to a "company".... These are competitions not a product they sell....

Hope that gives in insight from someone that fished the event... To have steve come down and win is a fantastic effort on his behalf.... To beat out local tassie anglers on their home waters shows the true class angler Steve is....

eddy

p.s lets hope there are some big fish caught next year

[bubba]

Something you may not realise is Steve is not really in charge of ABT any more. Simon is the Tournament Director. Stve is the managing editor of the Fishing Monthly group (correct me if Im wrong Steve)
He also doesnt take any prize money and to the best of my knowledge doesnt take a spot in the Grand Final (at least not last year and I know he has qualified already this year and his name is not on the list).
Something to think about is that if Steve did not fish would a non boater have missed out? Possibly. Steve does it for the love of the sport and possibly to promote it

[Rod]

Originally posted by eddystone
First off....

Steve donated the money back Doesn't collect prize money....As he said with a small event like tassie they don't make money!

eddy

p.s lets hope there are some big fish caught next year

That kinda answers that dosn't it...

But pigscutter why do you think these people like Steve, Bear and the like get involved with bream comps..?Becuase they just enjoy frustration and anguise , personial time waisted and starins on there own family life? Or becuase they love Breaming..

Personially my hat goes of to these guys for there dedication to the sport and what they put it

[Craig]

The people who run competitions are those who love their fishing (particularly bream) and have taken the time and effort to enhance the experience for others.

As others have said - you wouldn't believe the amount time it time it takes to put on a comp. let alone fit into full time work, family etc etc.

To suggest that they (the organisers) should not fish the competitions is a great disincentive for anyone to get involved in running a comp.

Don't bite the hand that feeds you!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by eddystone
I can see where your coming from BUT its not really comparable to a "company".... These are competitions not a product they sell....


Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't ABT a registered "company", which Steve Morgan IS the main boss, Simon Goldsmith is hired by Steve to run things.. and couldn't the events that company holds be pidgionholed as a product? Which in turn make a proffit.



Origionally posted by Gutsy.
I think you will find that Steve has done alot for the industry and the community.

Whats that, and all of the "Passion" he displays, and him being a "Top bloke" and all the other warm and fluffy stuff, and all the time away from family and effort to produce the events have to do with a thing called Conflict of Interest?



(Quote by Eddystone)
Steve donated the money back Doesn't collect prize money....As he said with a small event like tassie they don't make money!

Donated the money back where? To the prizemoney of the other cash winners? To the Red Cross? Back into the company? At the end of the day one of his "CUSTOMERS" missed out on a place due to his compeating and winning. And "the Tazzie event didn't make money" Maybe this is so, in monetary terms, I'm sure there were benifits and profits of some degree. ABT is a buisiness, not a community aid program.

The only benifit I can see from the responces so far is what Bubba said about another seat being available for a non boater. And bumping up the field to enlarge a smallish event.

Cheers

[Steve Morgan]

pigscuttler,

I've got no problems with you asking that question - and I've also got no problems answering it!

I only have a problem with organisers fishing events if they're in direct control of decisions/weighing/DQs etc.

I did all of those things for ABT for about 6 years and, to be honest, there's no time for competing when I did.

Since the increase in size of ABT, we've been able to employ 'real' staff instead of weekend volunteers - positions which Jacqui (part-time) and Simon (full-time) fill extremely well.

I'm (financially) involved with ABT events, the AFC TV Show and Fishing Monthly Magazines in QLD, NSW and VIC. Fishing as a competitor in ABT Qualifiers (not finals) allows me to experience the same processes that our customers (competitors) do, and as such, make improvements in the protocols.

Having tournament fishing experience in USA, Japan and South Africa also helps me do this.

Competitors probably noticed that as soon as I started fishing, the start process, for instance, was modified pretty quickly ... I hate inefficiencies as much as the rest of you do!

Also, I get so see a lot of what happens 'out-on-the-water' so etiquette and safety issues can be more directly addressed.

As some of the guys have said here, yes, any money won gets donated back to ABT and we make a point on spending this directly on non-budgeted capital expenditure, such as more tents, additional scales and improved tournament software/processes that you'll see roll-out over the next couple of years.

Although ABT is a for-profit organisation, it doesn't make any as any surplus is re-invested or donated to stocking (over $40,000 donated in cash to stocking to date).

I don't take any personal sponsorships from tackle companies - I buy what I like and use, and direct any offers to the circiut or the magazines.

I enjoy competing as much as the rest of the competitors - especially against Tim - and try to make my non-boaters' time on the water enjoyable.

I also enjoy watching the happiness that others get when they finish higher than me in the results... such as will most likely happen if I cone back next year to try and defend the Tasmanian title!! Those guys are on a serious upwards learning curve and there's some excellent anglers amongst 'em.

Anyway, anyone can call me on 0427 089 879 if there are issues that they feel uncomfortable with. I think I'm reasonably approachable.

BTW, I think FM Group is one of ABT's biggest sponsors, and I have no qualms pushing that barrow as hard as possible ... everyone on the East Coast should be subscribed to a FM magazine (www.fishingmonthly.com.au if Bear doesn't mind).

Cheers,

SM

No warries Steve,

Your response pretty much reiterates and puts some closure to some points I made above.

As I said earlier I wasn't a compeditor, so personally I don't mind, personally though I do think it a bit of a conflict of interest. I was just curious as to how others thought your win impacted upon the prize pool etc

Cheers
Ps

[Gaffer]

I was going to reply to this a bit earlier, but got busy at work so couldn't. I think Steve has covered it all anyway, but I personally can't see a problem.

The only people who are likely to set up a fishing comp are people interested in fishing in the first place. If these people go to the time and effort of doing such things they should not be excluded from participating in the events because of their involvement in the business side.

You cannot deny those that put in the effort the right to reap their rewards for their hard work. Without people like Steve we wouldn't have these kind of events, so how can we begrudge him or anyone the chance to participate something that hsa come around from their own hard graft and financial backing.

Once on the water we are all equal, save for a bit of luck, fishing nouse, local knowledge etc.... we all have an even chance of coming home with the prize.

In my personal opinion, Steve putting the money back into the company was an admirable thing to do, but I wouldn't begrudge him if he'd stuck it in his own pocket either. Like everyone else that wins, he deserves it.

Just my opinion.

Gaff

Just my opinion!

As organiser of the Nannup trout comp for 6 years (and others) I always disqualified myself from entering (along with the organising committee AND my immediate family, read my 3 kids!!).

We gave away prize pools valued at up to $20K a year for the 6 years including trips to Tassie and NZ, canoes etc!

I think it's just a matter of principle!

Not making ANY comment about the particulars above re B.R.E.A.M. or Steve etc, which is completely non of my business and about which I have no knowlege!

Just stating what we did!

Finally gave up running the comps as my kids grew older, (and no one else wanted to run the comp), so that my kids could compete!!

Just said bugger it and invested the time and effort into my own kids instead of everyone elses - don't regret it one bit now that my grown sons and I work together in our marine business!

Always a tough call! If your satiated with catching fish it don't matter much - but it hurts watching your kids penalised year after year thru no fault of their own, while every other kid in town is fishing and collecting prizes and all they do is help dad organise and clean up after! That only washes with kids, so far!

Sooner or later, they have to get their turn!

If the above arrangement lets Steve (and family friends organisers etc participate) and it means the competition endures, then maybe it's testament to a better decision, than NOT being allowed to compete, and the competition dies a natural death as happed to ours!

Hard to say!

Best of luck with it whatever you do - comps take a LOT of work and very little thanks!

Cheers!