Alright, here is the Pleasanton line-up from Steve Conway's post on the old message board:

Ryan Vierra - Mike Smith - Dave Brown - Dave Barron - Will Barron - Jeremiah Strand - Greg Hadley - Larry Brock - Kery Overfelt - James Parman - Ken Lowther - Sean Betz

This is a hell of a field and I think first and second are too close to call. However, no waffling allowed so here goes:

1 - Sean Betz

2 - Ryan Vierra

3 - West Coast Dave B.

I think first and second will be decided on the very last event (like second and third last year, an absolutely epic battle between Ryan and HBIII). The big ass Pleasanton Braemar stone gives the edge to West Coast Dave over East Coast Dave for third in the overall.

Watch for a new American record in the heavy hammer too. Good luck to everyone. Throw far, throw LOUD!!!!

I will score so many points this weekend that I will take both first and second in the overall!!

HAH!!

Nope Carlos, my brother throws the piss out of that big braemar ( or has). That doesn't mean that Dave Brown won't destroy us all the way he's throwing...

Sean is my buddy, but no way Ryan doesn't win this weekend, even with the standing wob only.

There are so many ridiculously good throwers coming this weekend I could just throw up.

I predict that I will do better than 18th place this weekend

Will,

  My point with the big ass braemar comment was that West Coast Dave doesn't lose as many points in the stone, not that he kicks East Coast Dave's ass in the event (I've seen your brother beat on that big rock numerous times).

  So now for the sub-contest: Who wins the battle of the red-heads? My pick - Ken 'Groundskeeper Willie' Lowther. Watch for him to clean house on the Braemar too!

Gee thanks Carlos...

is it that obvious that I'm doomed to always be outdone by the other carrot top?

I'll go with

1. Betz (just barely)

2. Vierra

3. KO

Hard to argue with agm's logic, but just call this a hunch.

You know I still think you're the best looking Barron.

By the way, are they not allowing the spin on Saturday? I thought they only banned the spin when they were running the World's there.

Needless to say that the events get tighter & tighter between throwers - there may be only inches separating 1st to 8th place in nearly all the events.  However, as Carlos put it - no waffling...

Top 5 Overall will be Brown (bwah hah hah), Vierra, Betz, Lowther, D. Barron.

Winning tosses will be 40' in the BS, 54 in the OS, 47 in the 56WFD, 86 in the 28WFD, 118 HH, 137 LH, and a 17-footer in the standing WOB. 

The Class 'A' comp will prove interesting and have some of the best overall throws seen at p-town in the past several years. 

I'll be interested (and dreading) to see Ryan turn up the heat in the events - and likely to toss a new record in any event.

Best of luck to all this weekend - and safe travels.... 

hmm... Carlos - who were you referring to with the new American Heavy Hammer record?

 Yall forgeting about your World Champ from Texas Jim (peahead)Parman, he`s going to place very high after finally learning how to throw the hammer. 2nd or 3rd at the worst.

Dave is that your distances your planning to throw this weekend?

Dave,

  Good call on the distances although I think the 56WFD will be more in the neighborhood of 44' (they say it's gonna be a hot one this weekend). And I think the 28WFD could be closer to 90' because I think the title will still be on the line when that rolls around (last event of the competition if I'm not mistaken) and that is really going to push people.

  As for the hammer record I think there are at least five people in the hunt - Ryan, Sean, Mike, East Coast Dave, and you are all capable. With Jim throwing it far and Hadley too that could really push it out there. I wouldn't be surprised to see five people past 115'.

  The A class comp should be epic. My picks:

1 - Luke McKay

2- Mike Pokowhateverakoski

3- Andrew Hobson

Oh yeah, look for mighty Harvey Barkauskas to win every event in the 50+ masters with numbers that would take the title in the 40+ masters.

Gunn - I'll be happy to throw with no 'fouls'.... stones have really come along for me this last month, and the weights & hammers have been hanging in there with the big guys.  Carlos maybe right that the 28 will be pushed, although being a day two event, and it looking to be a hot one this weekend, I think everyone will be tired... typically speaking, I've always thought the 28 was difficult to post a really far mark (I recall Karl Dodge, Sandford and Vierra going at it several years ago - when they were all throwing low 90's, and it seems they were in the low 80's at p-town).

As with any games, we'll just have to wait and see.... of course, it'd be great to have a 'gaming' portion of this website - you say 2nd or 3rd for the SGA champ in the hammer... I might take those odds.

Totally agree on Harvey - and the Am's will be hard to tell - if Andrew can keep it together, me might be the overall (on a sidenote, I though Mike Polowski turned Pro in Scotland at the Bridge of Allan games...)

Dave

Sean Betz will "come of age" in this competition and take his place as the "heir to the throne".  No offense or disrespect to Ryan Vierra as I greatly admire him and have learned more from his training tapes than any other single source, AND I think he's the greatest American Champ since McGoldrick, but the standing WOB WILL give Sean the edge he needs in this one and by next year he'll be untouchable.  In other words, Sean is the next McGoldrick, Vierra.  So Sean, when can I expect my phone call to quit talking trash, I know you hate it when Tim and I get on here and do this.........

You people should know better.  There are certain elite athletes that when you let it be known you are counting them out you give them fuel to burn the house down.

LIGHT IT UP RYAN!!!  BURN BABY BURN!!!