The eighth annual Quesnel Barrel Racing Association’s (QBRA) Sun Run on Saturday (Sept. 15) was a somewhat damp and chilly affair, but that did little to slow the racers down.
“The arena ground is good,” QBRA president Debbie Roch said of the Alex Fraser Park’s outdoor ring. “The rain we got last night has helped. With these events the wetter [the ground] is the better, so we’re lucky that way.”
Roch said around 130 riders from the Cariboo came out to take part in the one-day event.
“Normally it’s a two-day event, but because of the fires we had to move it,” she said. “And because of the weather, we cut it down to a one-day event.”
Quesnel riders fared very well, winning top spots in eight out of 10 divisions, including four in both Open and Youth.
Local Open class winners included Perri-Lynn Leneve on Dash (1D – first division), Darla Cork on Cashin In On Flight (3D), Chelsea Brears on Shady (4D) and Ryan Brooks on Shady (5D).
In the Youth class, Julia Bowden came in first on Flick (1D), Brooklyn Glassford won on Mai Tai (2D), Lilly Borrett won on Rowdy (3D) and Janae Whittet placed first on Sunny (4D).
Roch says the QBRA was able to raise $5,000 in added prize money for the competition, which is their main event of the season.
“We clean stalls [all season] as our main fundraiser, and the money from that goes towards prizes for the racers.”
An orange tractor was on hand to neatly groom the grounds in between every couple of racers that were bolting from barrel-to-barrel.
The tractor, the red barrels and the odd bit of flare on the horses served to brighten up an other wise grey-skied, gloomy day.
The 50 or so spectators in attendance were happy to have a roof over the bandstand when the clouds began to open up on the grounds.
“It’s always going to be good,” an optimistic Roch said.
“We’re die-hards, so even though it rains, we’ll be good anyway.”
sports@quesnelobserver.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
