About 160 riders were in the running for $19,500 in prize money over the weekend.
The Salmon Arm Barrel Bonanza at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds attracted horses and riders from as far away as Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Vancouver Island and Drayton Valley, Alberta.
“It went absolutely phenomenal, better than we ever expected,” said a pleased Chantelle Prentice, one of the organizers.
Last year just over $17,000 was paid out to barrel racers in prize money, while this year that total rose by $2,500.
Prentice explains that the local non-profit group working with the BC Barrel Association runs the bonanza, giving $50 of the $53 daily fee per rider back to riders and horse participating.
“A lot of barrel races take 30 per cent of the entry fee off the top to pay for costs and take money themselves, but as a non-profit group and working with the BC Barrel Association, we put members and riders first, and try to pay out as much as possible.”
Along with entry fees, the prizes were boosted by donations from sponsors. Along with the cash pay-outs on both Saturday and Sunday for each division, winners of the two-day average category received gift prizes.
Riders ranged from the youngest at two years to the oldest in their seventies. An excited two-year-old Hannah Lewis from Chilliwack, who competed in the Peewee category, rounded the barrels with help from a couple of adults who led her obliging horse Lennie.
Overall for the Peewee racers, who were 10 years and younger, local riders included Silver Creek’s Hannah Fitchett on Croppy1 and Taylor Fitchett on Trotter as well as, from Salmon Arm, Melissa Vandervoot on Micah and Cadence Petitclerc on Jewel.
In the Junior category, local riders who placed in the top three in ‘Show Average’ in their divisions were: Melissa Schweb on Pablo, 2nd in 2D; Danielle Scott on Copper, 1st in 4D and Avery Cody on Oscar, 3rd in 4D. In Saturday’s race, Melissa Schweb placed 3rd in 2D; Avery Cody earned second in 4D; and Danielle Scott was 3rd in 4D. On Sunday, Lyla MacKenzie on Zena placed 1st in 3D while Danielle Scott took 2nd in the same division.
In the Open category, Saturday’s race saw organizer Prentice place 2nd in the 3D division. In Sunday’s race in the Open category, Jenny Traub on Foxy, from Drayton Valley, posted the fastest time of the weekend at 16.755 seconds.
First in the 2D division was Amanda Fitchett, while 3rd in the 3D division was Salmon Arm’s Frances Herring on Honor Triple Cash.
