A minute of silence marked the July Watch Lake/Green Lake Community Association Gymkhana as something extra special.

The tribute was paid to long-time supporters of the event who passed away in 2009. Shorty Horn, announcer and founding father of the historic gymkhana; Minnie Scheepbouwer, a member of the local Women’s Institute who participated as a rider until she was 70; and Wilf Krupp, who was a regular volunteer in the timing box, were all honoured.

Intense July heat made the day a challenge for the 58 riders who came out to compete and it also sent spectators heading to the trees for shade.

Leslie Bunting, who coordinated the gymkhana, said the weather may have been too much of a good thing. “The heat seemed to affect the crowds. There weren’t as many spectators as usual in the grandstands or in the beer garden.”

The Watch Lake/North Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department kept dust in the arena under control with frequent dowsings from their pumper truck.

Announcer Greg Lundhin had to familiarize himself with a few new names on the competitor list as several first-time participants to the event showed up from Williams Lake and 150 Mile.

Bunting said she was happy to see interest growing, especially in the senior division, which saw a surprising 27 competitors.

A variety of races were run and winners in the top four of each division went home with cash prizes.

Aggregate winner of the Peewee division was Kailey Dube from Clinton, with Jordan Hansen from 100 Mile as runner-up.

Junior division aggregate was Kaylee Billyboy from 150 Mile and Raven Gentry from 100 Mile was the runner-up.

Intermediate level competition had Punky Mulvahill from Williams Lake as the aggregate champ and Terris Billyboy from 150 Mile as the runner-up.

Marisa Peter from Crystal Lake won the Senior aggregate award and Dennis Gunn from Williams Lake was named runner-up.

Divisional top three in each event were as follows:

Peewee

Pole Bending - Kailey Dube, Koltyn Allwood, Jordan Jansen.

Stake Race - Kailey Dube, Brianna Billy, Jordan Jansen.

Barrel Race - Jordan Jansen, Kailey Dube, Koltyn Allwood.

Key Hole - Brianna Billy, Jordan Jansen, Koltyn Allwood.

Junior

Pole Bending - Raven Gentry, Kaylee Billyboy, Sarah Gilmour.

Stake Race - Kaylee Billyboy, Raven Gentry, Savannah O’Connor.

Barrel Race - Kaylee Billyboy, Savannah O’Connor, Raven Gentry.

Key Hole - Tiana Johnny, Raven Gentry, Kaylee Billyboy.

Intermediate - Terris Billyboy, Punky Mulvahill, Nikita Frank.

Stake Race - Punky Mulvahill, Jill Sigouin, Nikita Frank.

Barrel Race - Terris Billyboy, Punky Mulvahill, Nikita Frank.

Key Hole - Punky Mulvahill, Terris Billyboy, Ariel Tanner.

Senior

Pole Bending - Marisa Peter, Sarah Sigouin, Tracy Gentry.

Stake Race - Marisa Peter, Mandy Pincott, Dennis Gunn.

Barrel Race - Marisa Peter, Patricia Vincenz, Dennis Gunn.

Key Hole - Dennis Gunn, Marisa Peter, Mandy Pincott.

Musical Tires - Tamara Giles, Bev Jansen, William Foss.

Ribbon Race (teams) - Kaylee Billyboy and Terris Billyboy, Tamara Giles and Karen MacLeod, Erin Jardine and Brad Hext.

Lead Line competitors were awarded ribbons, only and the winners from first the third are as listed:

Pole Bending - John Noskey, Samantha Evans, Owen Pincott.

Stake Race - John Noskey, Samantha Evans, Katelyn Foss.

Barrel Race - Katelyn Foss, Samantha Evans, Owen Pincott.

Key Hole - Katelyn Foss, John Noskey.

The next gymkhana in the two-part series takes place on Aug. 8.