Great Meredith Rotary Fishing Derby postponed to Feb. 27-28

MEREDITH — Members of the Meredith Rotary Club's Derby Committee held an emergency meeting Friday and decided to postpone this year's Great Rotary Fishing Derby for two weeks.

Originally scheduled for Feb. 13 and 14, the event will now be held on Feb. 27 and 28.

Donna Ulbricht, executive secretary of the club, said that the decision was due to safety concerns over ice conditions on Lake Winnipesaukee and the weather forecast for next week which calls for temperatures in the 40s.

Poor ice conditions have also forced the New England Pond Hockey Classic to move its Feb. 5-7 event to Lake Waukewan.

It marks only the second time in the history of the derby that it has been postponed. The only other postponement was in 2006.

On the Rotary Club's Facebook page, derby Chairman Anthony Avrutine is quoted as saying: "The warm weather, with temperatures predicted to rise and last through next week, is diminishing and weakening the existing ice buildup. While there are coves and bays on many of the lakes that are fairly solid, the grim forecast for ongoing high temperatures concerns all of us. Safety is a top priority and we believe we must take this step with the hope that once the warm temperatures abate, solid ice will return and we will have a successful Derby."