Jim Bell and Dan Dolan do their bull moose imitations.	Aren't they supposed to have antlers when they butt heads?

The new people came early to the Demo area to learn how to play. It took all of two minutes to teach them. They played a sample game and then shuffled off in the direction of the coming bouts. You could see they were dreaming of quick glory in this simple little flicking game. 63 of them would have their dreams crushed.

The veteran flickers began arriving around 30 minutes before the event was to start and warmed up with quick pickup games or stood around sizing up the competition. Two-time defending champion Dave Meyaard arrived with an entourage of younger players. 64 players again pawed the starting line.

Players were paired and the first round carnage began. Many again had to wait to play due to lack of games. If you have a copy, please bring it.

The first round eliminated 32 players and you could see the cream of the ELCHFEST world beginning to rise. The intensity level ramped up now and the games became much more even. The moose moved much quicker and the round ended very quickly as the sweet 16 was decided.

The match-ups were:

Tim Keating v Alex Henning Henning wins

Andy Maly v Chris Kaman Maly wins

Alex Bell v Rebecca Hebner Hebner wins

Jim Bell v Dan Dolan Dolan wins

Josh Githens v Angela Collison           Githens wins

Phil Yaure v C. Jaegers Yaure wins

Brandon Bernard v Rich Irving            Bernard wins

Eric Leonard v Dave Meyaard              Meyaard wins

As the Elite Eight were chosen you could see the bar had been raised. The defending champion was looking very strong, as were journeymen Maly and Dolan. But youth will be served. Young studs with years of ELCHFEST play under their belts, Githens and Hebner, were looking to attain ELCHFEST immortality by taking the next step with precision flicking.

Dave Meyaard v Alex Henning Meyaard wins

Dan Dolan v Andy Maly Maly wins

Bernard v Hebner Bernard wins

Josh Githens v Phil Yaure Githens wins

THE FINAL FOUR

Dave Meyaard - one match away from defending his title in the championship match
v-
Josh Githens ­ First time in the rarified air of the semis and facing the two-time defending champion

Andy Maly ­ Playing spectacular Elchfest
v
Brandon Bernard ­ an heretofore unknown to the higher levels of the game

Over half of the initial 64 were still around watching and commenting on the play of each game. You could cut the temsion with a knife as Josh stunned the room by defeating the champion. In the other match Brandon showed he belonged when he defeated veteran Maly to advance to the Final.

There were two moose on opposite sides of a river. They both wanted to get to the other side. Sounds simple, right? But those of us who were there know how difficult that journey can be. Congratulations to Brandon Bernard - THE 2009 ELCHFEST CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.

Andrew and Alex Maly bring their considerable moose skills to bear.	Brandon dons the symbolic antlers of victory.

16 Elk calves tried to cross the river. The six fastest were:

1st: Cassidy Mullet

2nd: Brian Sherwood

3rd: Matt Prior

4th: Zack Denysenko

5th: Adina Weiss

6th: Adam Wojtascyzk