PENINSULA DAILY NEWS

PORT ANGELES — Carl Jara’s “Virgo” was picked by a five-person panel to win first-place in the 2005 Windermere Sand Sculpture Classic.

Coming in second was Dan Doubleday’s “Medusa.”

Third place went to Vern Cooley’s “Dragon’s Lair.”

Fourth place, or honorable mention, was Lucinda “Sandy Feet” Wierenga’s “Always Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth.”

Jara will receive a $1,500 award and Doubleday will take home $1,000. Third place wins $750 and fourth place gets $600.

Sculptors who did not place will receive a $500 stipend.

An award for “people’s choice,” along with a $750 prize, will be awarded today.

Charlie Beaulieu, a world-renowned sand sculptor who helped coordinate the contest, said the Port Angeles competition is one of the top five most desirable competitions for sand artists.

“It really caters to artists, and it’s able to draw in top artists because of it,” he said.

He credited this year’s theme of “Legends, Fantasy and Myths” for the quality of the entries in the invitation-only event.

“It lets people’s imaginations run wild,” he said.