The Fifth Annual Cariboo Trails Combined Driving Event is on July 9-10 in 70 Mile House.
To date, there are about 39 entries, says event organizer Ken Huber.
“There are probably more confirmations in the mail. Participants are coming from all over British Columbia.”
United States national champion Muffy Seaton from South Carolina will be judging the event. The second judge will be Lorraine Hill and the technical delegate is Doug Orr. Both are from Alberta.
Huber co-ordinates the event on his home property, located just off of Highway 97 behind the 70 Mile Motel. He ran this type of event at the Coast for 16 years before moving to the Cariboo.
The action starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday with the dressage test and obstacle course.
“It’s lots of fun, and the horse and driver have to memorize patterns. The obstacle course is set up with cones and gates that the horse and driver have to go through.”
These courses demonstrate not only the horse’s training, Huber notes, but also the driver’s abilities.
The marathon starts at 9 a.m. on Sunday, with three different sessions: a trotting test; a walking test; and a strong working test. The last portion has six obstacles, he says.
There will be plenty of free parking and it is spectator-friendly Huber says, adding people should bring their own chairs. There will be a concession on site run by the 70 Mile House Volunteer Fire Department.
The cost to attend this event is a donation of non-perishable food items to the 100 Mile House Food Bank Society. There will be an old covered coal wagon set up for the donations, Huber says, adding they would like to see it full.
On Sunday at 3:30 p.m., Thompson-Nicola Regional District Area E Director Sally Watson will award local resident Dennis Southwick, the District Commander Certificate of Appreciation for his part in helping RCMP officers rescue a woman on May 2, 2009 who was surrounded by fires.
“One thing we need is volunteers,” says Huber.
“It is fun, it’s not hard and we will let them know what their duties will be.”
For more information or to volunteer, call Huber at 250-456-6050.
