Official Truck of the WPCA The Official Newsletter of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association TURNING THE BARRELS September 2016 Volume 5 Issue 48 halfmileofhell.com IN THIS ISSUE BATTLE OF THE NORTH Results of the races in Dawson Creek. See Page 2 One from the Archives BATTLE OF THE ROCKIES Results for the Rocky Mountain House championship, the 2016 titles for world champion driver and outrider, and the Equine Outfit of Excellence. See Page 6 SHOWING SUPPORT FOR ALS Check out who took a turn at harness racing in support of the ALS Society. See Page 9 WELCOME TO OUR OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS The WPCA wants to welcome the 2016-17 WPCA Officers John Lee, Craig Smith, Ken Munton, Tony Lefebre, Lyle Whitmarsh, Harvey McKernon, Glenda Poluck, and Ed Wittchen, and Special Officer Jim Bottomley. We also welcome the 2016-17 Directors Eddie Melville, Kurt Bensmiller, Mark Sutherland, Jordie Fike, Roger Moore, Mitch Sutherland, Chad Fike, Chad Harden and Ross Knight. The 2016 world champion Luke Tournier turns the barrels back in 1999, before he joined the WPCA. Photo courtesy of Fred Vidiuk
TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 2 Battle of the North LUKE TOURNIER, DRIVING the Keddies Tack & Western Wear outfit, along with outriders Chance Flad and Quaid Tournier captured the 2016 Battle of the North championship and a $10,000 bonus cheque in Dawson Creek. It was the second successful defence of a title for Luke Tournier this year; he repeated as champion of the Bonnyville meet as well. In a penalty-filled championship final heat, Luke won the championship running penalty-free from barrel number 3 with a time of 1:14.35. Aggregate winner Kirk Sutherland placed second from barrel number 1, just 85 one-hundredths of a second behind the champion. Chad Harden crossed the finish line in first place from barrel number 2 but was hit with three seconds in penalties for starting ahead of the horn and for an outrider knocking over a barrel. C o d e y McCurrach knocked over a barrel and placed fourth from barrel number 4. Dawson Creek champion Luke Tournier is joined at the cheque presentation by his outriders Chance Flad and Quaid Tournier, his wife Michele Tournier and their three granddaughters. Photos by Ed Wittchen unless otherwise noted Jess Willard was presented with the Kenn Borek Memorial Most Sportsmanlike Driver Award for the second year in a row. The award was presented by Tamara Vipond and Sandy McDonald, who represented the Borek family. Connie Patterson and her Dawson Creek Committee are to be commended for getting the whole community involved in this event. From a country concert with High Valley to a sponsor appreciation event, a parade and a special needs event, they did it all first class. Jess Willard receives the 2016 Kenn Borek Memorial Most Sportsmanlike Driver Award from Tamara Vipond and Sandy McDonald, on behalf of the Borek family.
TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 3 Battle of the North, continued Above: Dustin Gorst and his sponsor Grande Prairie Airport s float. Left, top: Rick and Sue Fraser with grandson Coy in the parade. Left, middle: Jim Knight takes a quick break from barn chores. Kirk Sutherland takes his stagecoach for a spin in the Dawson Creek parade.
TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 4 Battle of the North, continued Above: Dayton Sutherland leads the way at the Special Needs Rodeo. Left: Director of Marketing Bryan Hebson was a first-time visitor. Above: The Irvine family team gets ready for the Wild Pony Races. Left, middle: Dustin Gorst lends a hand to rope a saw horse roping stand at the Special Needs Rodeo. Left, bottom: Les and Kelly McIntyre relaxing before the races.
TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 5 Battle of the North, continued Above: Ross Knight. Photos by Fred Vidiuk Left, top: Lisa and Vern Nolin heading back to the barns. Left, middle: It gets a little dusty at times for the outriders on the Dawson Creek track. Making an appearance at Browns Chevrolet Buick GMC.
TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 6 Battle of the Rockies Above: The Rocky Mountain House champion Chad Harden with his outriders Cole Somerville and Kale Lajeunesse. Right: Luke Tournier won his first world champion chuckwagon driver title at the Battle of the Rockies. Right, bottom: Chance Flad celebrates his third consecutive world outrider title. Photo by Shellie Scott Photography THERE WAS A lot on the line in Rocky Mountain House, as the season-ending meet would decide more than just the Rocky Mountain House title. It was also the stop where the 2016 world champion was determined. Luke Tournier came away with the world title, the first of his career, by 104.5 points over second-place driver Gary Gorst. Defending world champion Kurt Bensmiller was third, Codey McCurrach was fourth and John Walters placed fifth. Chance Flad captured his third career and third consecutive world outriding title as well. In the chase for the Battle of the Rockies championship, a day money run gave Chad Harden, driving the Ja-Co Welding & Consulting Ltd. outfit, and outriders Cole Somerville and Kale Lajeunesse the run they needed to emerge on top. It s the first show win for the former Calgary Stampede champion since taking the Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship in 2010 and the first career show win for outrider Cole Somerville. Harden captured the 2016 Battle of the Rockies after posting the best four-day aggregate time of 5:04.28. That put him exactly half a second in front of runner-up Gary Gorst, followed closely by newly crowned world champion Luke Tournier. Cody Ridsdale and Jordie Fike split fourth and fifth overall.
TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 7 Battle of the Rockies, continued Equine Outfit of Excellence winners included Cujo of Colt Cosgrave s outfit on Right Lead, Guage of Doug Irvine s outfit on Left Lead, Tommy of Gary Gorst s outfit on Right Wheel and Dorchy of John Walter s outfit on Left Wheel. Wino o f C o d e y McCurrach s outfit and Brock of Luke Tournier s outfit were the champion outriding horses. Among other community events, WPCA drivers made an appearance at the Co-op Gateway Crossing Gas Bar. Congratulations to the Rocky Mountain House Committee for s t e p p i n g u p earlier this season when it looked like there might not be races this year. They turned the week into a fantastic seasonending event. Above: Kelly Sutherland coaches his grandson Dayton Sutherland. Photo by Shellie Scott Photography Right: Cody Ridsdale helps to pump gas at the Co- Op Gateway Crossing Gas Bar. Below, left: Rick Fraser takes a turn at outriding for his son Cody. Photo by Fred Vidiuk Below, right: Chad Fike, former world champ, goes back in the saddle to outride for brother Jordie.
TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 8 Battle of the Rockies, continued Right: Jason Glass salutes the end of the 2016 chuckwagon racing season. Left, top: Vern Nolin meets with a few young fans at a WPCA community appearance at the Co-Op Gateway Crossing Gas Bar in Rocky Mountain House. Left, middle: Jess Willard and Wendy and Cliff Cunningham relax after a busy season together. Below, left: Troy Flad is joined in the wagon by his two sons Blaid and Gage. Photo by Shellie Scott Photography Below, right: Cliff Cunningham gets back in the wagon with Jess Willard. Photo by Shellie Scott Photography
TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 9 Showing Support for ALS Above: Codey McCurrach wins with Shyloh Sage. Left: Colt Cosgrave with Mister Miester. THE WPCA RECENTLY made a strong show of support for the ALS Society and Tim Blair. Tim is a longtime friend of former WPCA driver Jerry Bremner. Several current and former drivers and outriders, as well as various family members, joined Jerry in some exhibition harness races at Century Downs Racetrack on September 11. Donna pushed Jim Nevada and Vern Nolin to an exciting three-way finish in their heat. Thanks to all who took part for showing the WPCA s community-minded spirit. A few drivers brought their chuckwagons to display for fans, and they signed autographs too. It was a different experience to race the twowheeled cart, known as a sulky, instead of the big wagon. Everyone handled it well, and the fans enjoyed some entertaining races. Race participants included former drivers and outriders Jerry Bremner, Grant Profit, Jim Nevada, Deryle Mullaney and Doug Thomson. Current drivers Codey McCurrach, Colt Cosgrave, Rick Fraser, Cody Fraser, Vern Nolin and Chad Fike also joined in, as well as Donna Bremner, who showed she could handle the sport as well as any of the men. The WPCA supports the ALS Society and Tim Blair.
TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 10 Showing Support for ALS, continued Left: Grant Profit, Deryle Mullaney and Jerry Bremner show they can still get it done on a track. Right, top: Rick Fraser takes Cenalta Shade out for a spin at Century Downs Racetrack. Right, middle: Cody Fraser shows his harness racing skills with Miss Bojangles. Below, left: Former outrider Doug Thomson takes a ride in the sulky behind Malibu Rummy. Below, right: Chad Fike with Bunkletter.