Joey Payeur
The Gord Watson era at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship isn’t over after all.
FFCBC director Greg Gustafson confirmed yesterday that Watson and Patti Armstrong will serve as co-chairs of the 2014 edition of the tournament.
“Myself and Gord and Paul Cousineau had a meeting [Tuesday],” Gustafson noted.
“Gord’s looking for some help.
“He’s done a fantastic job the last three years,” Gustafson added. “But he’s got a new job, and he wants to spend more time with his wife and son.”
Watson had announced earlier this summer that he would be stepping down as chairman after taking on the job in October, 2010.
Armstrong, meanwhile, has been a long-serving member of the board of directors, and has been in charge of the bar department in recent years.
“Patti’s been involved with the tournament for quite a while,” noted Gustafson.
“Gord’s going to help her out . . . Patti was a good choice.”
Gustafson admitted had Armstrong not taken the reins with Watson, there was a possibility Gustafson himself, along with tournament weighmaster Paul Cousineau, would have stepped in.
“I didn’t want to make a commitment I couldn’t follow through with unless Patti wasn’t willing to take the position,” Gustafson explained.
In related news, Gustafson said it’s been decided another angler rep will be added to the board of directors for next year’s tournament, which already is in the early planning stages.
“The 2014 entries are piling up already,” he remarked.
“I had guys handing me cheques for next year on the Saturday of this year’s tournament.”
Neither Watson or Armstrong could not be reached for comment by press time.
