It was a small but fun group of atlatlists this year at the Candor Fall Festival! Nine year old Marlin Bassett of Warsaw, NY scored a remarkable 45 2x on Sunday in the 20 meter portion of the International Standard Accuracy Contest.

Looking over recorded scores, it looks like this is the first time any youth under 10 years of age has scored a 45 or better in this part of the competition. Marlin’s score is the fifth highest 20 meter listed score of any youth of all time; only the second time for a listed double X at the 20; and the fifth time for a listed three of more tens from the 20. All but two of the seven other high scoring youth were 15 years of age. All had remarkable scores!

Coby Hopkins, age 11, scored a 46x at 20 meters in 2007 in Wisconsin. Other high scores at the 20 meter mark were: Antoine Jamon, age 15, 47X this year in June in France; The remaining youth high scorers are: Doug Majorsky, age 15, 48x in Pennsylvania in 1999; Charlie Bracken, 15, 46 in 2003 in Tennessee; Nick Mertz, age 15, 46 in Missouri in 2004; and Ben Struzynski, age 15, 43 2x in Wisconsin in July of this year. These are all from recorded scores. There may be scores that have not been recorded that were unavailable for this comparison.

Marlin’s best score at 15 meters is 46X. If his best 15 meter score and 20 meter score had occurred in the same ISAC, he would have a total of 91 3x! No one 10 or under has scored a 90 yet. There’s still a little time yet Marlin! Keep up the great effort.

In the local, Candor Fall Festival Pumpkin Challenge – Marlin was the Grand Champion; followed by Danny Brophy in second. Sue Mercer and Michelle Mercer tied for third!

Photo below: Marlin Bassett, 9, and Danny Brophy showing how far their darts penetrated a pumpkin during the Candor Fall Festival Pumpkin Challenge. Photo provided by Sue Mercer.

Thunderbird Atlatl will be joining other primitive skills living history presenters in Montauk, NY, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Montauk Second House Museum.

It promises to be an interesting day at this historic location. Public invited. The program is a day long program on Saturday, Oct. 13.

Thunderbird Atlatl will be at two events this weekend! The The Candor Fall Festival at Side Hill Acres Goat Farm in Candor, New York and at New England Atlatl Day at Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison, Connecticut.

Both events will feature ISACS, local contests and demonstrations.

Side Hill Acres Goat Farm is located on Spencer Road in Candor, New York. For further information contact: Bob or Cheryll Berg, 607-659-3854 or 607-743-4379.

New England Atlatl Day is co-sponsored by the Friends of Hammonassett Beach State Park, Madison, Connecticut and the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History/CT Archaeology Center. For further information contact Gary Nolf (860) 575-4263 gnolf@comcast.net

Photos from last year’s events! Top Photo, New England Atlatl Day and bottom photo, Candor Fall Fest

We were sorry to learn in late September that our good friend and atlatl supporter, Glenn Mairo, passed away in Massachusetts at the way too young age of 57.

Many years ago, Glenn called us up after attending our workshop at Chimney Point in Vermont and asked if we would be interested in bringing an atlatl workshop to a program in Massachusetts. For five years, Glenn set up and ran the an atlatl contest and workshops at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers, Ma. and then later set up a program with the Danvers Historical Society. Glenn did a lot of work introducing atlatls to a variety of people and a number of people got their first chance to try the atlatl at one of Glenn’s events. Glenn’s son, Max, was often at his side making the programs a success.

A memorial service was held in late September in Massachusetts for Glenn. Rest in Peace dear friend. Our condolences to Glenn’s family. Glenn’s obituary follows:

Glenn R. Mairo, 57

Boxford — Glenn R. Mairo of Boxford passed away peacefully Friday,
September 14, 2012 at the West Roxbury Veteran’s Hospital after a lengthy
illness. He was born October 23, 1954 in Chelsea, MA. He was the son of Beverly
(Hatch) and Robert L. Mairo. He graduated from Masconomet Regional High
School in 1972 and attended the Boston Conservatory of Music. Glenn was a
Vietnam Veteran and served in the Airforce Band as head percussionist and
assistant conductor. A highlight of his years in the Armed forces was conducting
the combined Air Force and Marine band in Philadelphia on the Nation’s
bicentennial in 1976.
at the West Roxbury Veteran’s Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was born October 23, 1954
in Chelsea, MA. He was the son of Beverly (Hatch) and Robert L. Mairo. He graduated from
Masconomet Regional High School in 1972 and attended the Boston Conservatory of Music.
Glenn was a Vietnam Veteran and served in the Airforce Band as head percussionist and
assistant conductor. A highlight of his years in the Armed forces was conducting the combined
Air Force and Marine band in Philadelphia on the Nation’s bicentennial in 1976.

He was the founder and director of the Essex Harmony, a singing ensemble, held the title
Educator of the Danvers Historical Society and was on their board of trustees. Glenn was a past
Chairman of the Massachusetts Archeological Society and active in the Salem Preservation
Inc. He served in the Danvers Alarm List and was a member of the Rebecca Nurse Homestead
Preservation Society. He was a certified Alamo Living History Volunteer in San Antonio and
was also involved in the Essex National Heritage Commission.

He is survived by his son, Maxfield Mairo of Maine, his sister and brother in law Michele
and Robert Pszenny of Boxford, nieces Jaclyn Pszenny, Victoria Gamache and nephew David
Gamache and two grand nieces Megan and Madison Gamache.

Thunderbird Atlatl will be at two events close to our home shop but about a half hour away in different directions Saturday! We will be at the Tioga Center Pumpkin Fest in Tioga Center, NY and at the First Peoples’ Festival in Ithaca, NY.

The seventh annual Pumpkin Fest will take place at Ransom Park in Tioga Center, NY The event begins at 9 a.m. and continues through the day.

The First Peoples Festival begins at 10 a.m. and continues to 5:30 p.m at DeWitt Park in downtown Ithaca. We will be joining the Primitive Pursuits group at the festival. The festival is free and is a celebration of indigenous peoples and cultures. There will be performances by Allegany River Indian Dancers, listen to flute playing by Dan Hill and story-telling by Barbara Bethman-Mahonty.

We had a great time back at Chimney Point Historic Site in Vergennes, Vt. last weekend. Gary Nolf of Connecticut won the grand champion award. We will post pictures over the weekend.