Rotary River Run Regatta 2008

Sunday May 4 2008, Hells Gate to Yale

A Barrel of Fun... The World Championship of Barrel Racing? (at least on the Fraser River!)
36 Barrels, facing 20+ miles of Wild River Canyon!
Only 3 Will be Chosen as Winners.
Find out which are the fastest Barrels,
and who will be "voted off the rapids".

Rotary River Run Regatta 2008 Results!

Saturday, May 3rd, heralded in the Regatta weekend when the participating barrels were presented for the weigh-in parade at the C.E. Barry school. Even though the weather was not co-operating, the turn-out of barrel bearers and lookers was pretty good, and hot dogs and pop were being consumed at a steady rate. And whilst the rain made writing the judging slips outside the tented area a "wash-out", many people dashed out between the barrels for a second and third look before slipping their conclusions into the judge's bucket. It was clear that this year, more than ever before, barrel sponsors had gotten busy to find innovative ways to get noticed.

Emil Anderson's barrel # 8 got a lot of attention and, not surprisingly earned the "Crowd Favourite" award. At the same time, however, most people did not expect this canoe to even survive the launch drop and henceforth also voted the # 8 as "the-least-likely-to-succeed"! Clearly they underestimated the engineering prowess that had gone into this design - the next day the # 8 was to finish in the top ten and with most of its rivets in place!

Top award for Best Looking barrel went to Silver Chalice's # 18, the beer mug, which, in the words of one pundit "looks so real I can taste it!" In this year's tough competition, #18 deserves top marks for beating off the tough competition.

Now the Pharmasave barrel # 3, seen here, being brought out for the first heat, spurned on by the piper, arrived on Saturday all covered in band-aids and bandages, looking so bruised and battered as if it had already done heavy battle with the raging river. No wonder that many people voted her the "Goofiest Barrel"! But regardless of her unfit condition, she finished late Sunday, looking as goofy as she had started!

Congratulations to all pre-race award winners.

Rotary River Regatta offered barrels of fun

Sunny skies and warm temperatures helped make the River Run Regatta 2008 a spectacular success.

After passing the weigh in and other pre race tests in light rain during Saturday’s Barrel Weigh In, the 36 barrels entered in Hope Rotary’s 2008 River Run Regatta (Fraser River Barrel Race), spent the night sequestered at the Hell’s Gate Air Tram.

Sunday morning dawned sunny and warm for the crowd of almost 100 Barrel owners, supporters and Barrel Race fans who turned out for the annual Barrel Buffet Breakfast hosted by Hell’s Gate Airtram. After breakfast, the tension built between the rock walls of the Canyon as the barrels were piped out onto the foot bridge over the roaring Fraser River and launched down river in three separate heats. As in past years, the success of each entrant’s spring training became evident almost as soon as the barrels hit the water. Many began sprinting downstream towards the finish line at Yale, while others, who apparently were not paying attention during the navigation classes travelled in circles, and a few actually travelling upstream to ask directions from passing salmon.

With the barrels in the water, river racing fans, many of them holding valued betting tickets, moved down the Fraser Canyon, stopping at roadside vantage points to watch the progress of their favourite contestant. The first wave of barrels made it to Alexandra Bridge within an hour of launch time, but after that initial sprint, many appear to have stopped in for a River Racing Refresher course. While a significant crowd of spectators had gathered on the beach at Yale in the early afternoon, anticipating a challenge to last year’s record finishing time of 3 hrs 11 minutes, the barrels had different plans. Many seemed to enjoy the beautiful sunny weather a bit too much and spent time sunning themselves in quiet back eddies along the race route, as race fans gathered at the Yale Museum grounds for the Barrel Race BBQ dinner.

As a result of the barrels taking excessive pit stops, race times were much slower this year, with the winner crossing the finish line a full 7 hrs and 45 minutes after it was launched. A large group of barrels came bobbling along shortly afterwards, crossing the line so close that the time difference between the launch of each of the three heats had to be taken into consideration before the second and third place finishers could be determined. After double checking the figures and travel times, the Rotary River Run Regatta Referee posted the following official times;

First Place - Barrel # 31 - Tri West Contracting 7 hrs, 45 minutes Second Place - Barrel # 32 - Hope Dairy Queen / Hope Drive in 8 hrs, 9 Minutes Third Place - Barrel # 19 Rona Home Center - 8 hrs 14 minutes Winners of the Barrel Betting Tickets, for picking the Win, Place or Show barrel with the closest actual travel time were: First - Kathy Haberlin for Barrel #31 Second - Shelly Taylor for Barrel #32 Third - Lindsey Schortner for Barrel # 19

Barrel racers are urged to start planning their barrels and racing strategy now for the 2009 event.

Yes! The 2008 edition of the Rotary River Run Regatta, AKA the Fraser River Barrel Race is on May 4th from Hell's Gate to Hope.

Starting with the Barrel Bearer's Buffet Breakfast at Hell's Gate Air Tram at 8:30 and the official launch of the barrels at 10:10 AM, the race will be on down the mighty Fraser River to Historic Yale, tracing parts of the route that Simon Fraser was afraid to take 200 years ago.

Once launched, the barrels are on their own as the Rotary River Run Regatta Regulatory Rules prohibit the assistance of or interference with any barrel while it is on the course. After the barrel becomes airborne from the Hell's Gate Bridge, no hands, human or otherwise, will be allowed to touch it until it is pulled from the river at the end of the race by the River Run Regatta Retrieval Rescue Regiment (AKA Hope Search and Rescue).

The winning barrels will be declared by the River Run Regatta Referee at the Barrel BBQ, hosted by the Yale Enhancement Society at the Yale Museum grounds, starting at 3:30 PM.

Rotary River Run Regatta Raffle

Unfortunately all of the barrel owner spots have been filled, however there is still time for one and all to get in on the fun with the Rotary River Run Regatta Raffle! For a mere $2.50 (or 2 for $5!) you can buy a chance to win cash prizes and the title of 2008 River Run Regatta Resolver, by picking the winning barrel and its travel time from Hell's Gate to Yale. Prizes are $600 for first, $300 for second and $150 for third.

Get your tickets from any Rotarian, at many businesses around town, or watch for us at Envision Credit Union in Hope April 25 & 26 and May 2nd!

A limited number of tickets may be available at the Barrel Weigh in at C.E Barry School on May 3rd.

Ticket sales end @ 3 PM May 3rd.

All proceeds from the River Run Regatta and the River Run Regatta Raffle go 100% towards Hope Rotary Club projects.

This year's events include:

Official Barrel Weigh In and Judging - Noon, Saturday May 3 at C.E. Barry School in Hope. All Barrel entrants MUST deliver their barrel to the weigh in no later than 1:30 PM
Barrel Breakfast Buffet - 8:30 Hell's Gate Air Tram. Each Barrel owner gets 2 tickets. All others - $20 a person - includes Breakfast, return ride on the World Famous Hell's Gate Air Tram and the rare opportunity to see the barrel launch Live.
Barrel BBQ 3:30 til ?? when the barrels come in! Sizzle your own steak BBQ and front row seats to see the official announcement of the winning barrels! Each Barrel holder gets 2 tickets - all others $12 a person. Sponsored by the Yale Enhancement Society. Proceeds to the Yale Museum.