Thomas, who began sculpting sand in the Netherlands 10 years ago, defended his 2008 title at the Beach venue. A year ago, his winning sculpture was “Paris Vacation."/>
Thomas, who began sculpting sand in the Netherlands 10 years ago, defended his 2008 title at the Beach venue. A year ago, his winning sculpture was “Paris Vacation."/>
Thomas, who began sculpting sand in the Netherlands 10 years ago, defended his 2008 title at the Beach venue. A year ago, his winning sculpture was “Paris Vacation." />
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Sand sculpting carves out niche

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Thomas Koet of Melbourne, Fla., shows his golden ticket to the World Championships after qualifying with his first-place finish at the American Sand Sculpting Championships on Fort Myers Beach.
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"Mirage" by Thomas Koet took top honors among Master Sculptors at the 23rd annual American Sand Sculpting Championships.

Melbourne’s Thomas Koet captured top honors with his art “Mirage” at the 23rd annual American Sand Sculpting Championship Festival this past weekend. With the victory, Koet automatically qualifies for the 2010 World Championships held in September in Federal Way, Wash.

“It’s fantastic,” said Koet. “I’m always so happy to be here. It’s amazing.”

Thomas, who began sculpting sand in the Netherlands 10 years ago, defended his 2008 title at the Beach venue. A year ago, his winning sculpture was “Paris Vacation.”

The other top-five places went to second-place finisher Carl Jara with “Unraveling”; third-place finisher Dan Belcher with “The Phoenix”; fourth-place finisher Karen Fralich with “Breaking Point”; and fifth-place finisher Dan Doubleday with “Arielle.” There was a tie for the People’s Choice award between “Amazin” Walter McDonald with “Where few go…” and Fred Mallett with “Food Fight.”

FMB Chamber of Commerce President John Albion acknowledged the local media’s participation, and Festival Chairman Andrew Cochrane thanked the event’s host sites -the Holiday Inn and GullWing and Pointe Estero beach resorts- as well as sponsors and volunteers.

“Hats off to the volunteers which none of this could have happen without,” said Cochrane. “They are our backbone. God Bless them. I hope to see everyone of you next year.”

Cochrane also thanked all of the Community Emergency Response Team members for their volunteer work at the Beach events before Festival Coordinator Katie Corning announced the sculpture winners in the three categories: Amateur; Florida State Pro-Am; and Master Sculptor.

“The sculptures put there best work out there, and the community came out in amazing numbers to support the event,” said Corning. “I’m looking forward to next year.”

(BOLD) Amateur winners by categories

Seahorses (children) – Little Seekers “Seahorses”; Starfish (ages 9-12) – Beach Buddies “Save the Environment”; Barnacles (ages 13-17) – Bobby Ruggles “Kingdon of Florida; Families/Groups (sand dollars) – Crusty Crab “The turkey gets ahead”; Adult Solo (conch) – Highlander “Power”; Best Architecture – Highlander “Power”; Most Humorous – Team Reynolds “This boat cost an arm and a leg”; Most Artistic – Olympian Seekers “Gecko Guardian”; Best in Show – Team Haggerty “We are the Gator”

(BOLD) Florida State Pro-Am winners

Overall – 1) Libby Bennett “Be Still”; 2) tie John Corning “Eye Wall” and Lara Hines “Something Fishy”; People choice – Libby Bennett “Be Still”