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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-06-17, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010. PAGE 15. As expected, Walton Raceway provided a memorable second round of the 2010 CMRC Ontario Provincial Motocross Series for the 2,500 fans and riders in attendance. This weekend’s event was also the final Amateur National Qualifier race in the Southwestern Ontario region, giving riders a chance to qualify for the Parts Canada TransCan Grand National Championship at Walton Raceway, on August 11-15. Mother Nature gave Southwestern Ontario motocross riders all they could handle as rain interrupted a perfect practice session on Saturday morning. The weather continued to be the major topic, as a mixture of rain and partly cloudy skies, forced Walton Raceway to adapt to the ever- changing conditions that presented a new challenge to the event competitors. In the end, racers prevailed as all motos except the 50cc and 60 B classes were able to compete in the challenging conditions. On Sunday, it was a different story, as the track dried out and overcast skies provided the perfect moisture levels making Walton Raceway track conditions absolutely perfect. “Sunday featured some the best natural conditions we have ever had for a race at Walton Raceway. We were able to get our equipment on the track at 5 a.m. which allowed us to till the track, mixing both the wet and dry soil together. The track’s multiple lines choices provided excellent battles all day from many of Canadian Motocross’s rising stars,” stated Walton Raceway’s Marketing Director, Mark Perrin. Local racer Nathan Bles was able to put together a remarkable break through ride, as he powered his Orange Motorsport KTM to his best finishes to date; placing second overall in the Youth class, third overall in the MX1 Intermediate class, second Overall in the MX2 Intermediate class and first overall in the GP Intermediate class. Nathan is proving to be one of Canada’s top Intermediate racers, during his first race in the MX1 Intermediate class, Nathan went from last place to eighth place while having his bike stuck in fourth gear due to his shifter coming off at the start of the race. Altogether over 700 entries were accumulated during this weekend’s event, making the Two Wheel Kawasaki Double header race one of the largest races of the year across Canada. Walton Raceway’s season is in full swing as we welcome the Thames Valley Riders Club to host a club event this coming weekend, also July 17 - 18, Walton Raceway will host the CMRC ATV Provincial Race and on July 25, Walton Raceway’s first ever Mud Bog will take place, all before the Parts Canada TransCan Grand National Championship, August 11- 15. Local top 20 finishes include: Cody Richmond of Bluevale who placed 19th in the MX2 Junior class, sixth in the Schoolboy class and fourth in the Supermini class. Steve Ropp of Brussels finished sixth in the Beginner MX1 class, Bruce Godkin of Walton finished 14th in the over 40 class, Kennan MacDonald of Blyth finished 20th in the Schoolboy class and Dallas Robertson of Belgrave finished 17th in the Supermini class. Duff’s United Church celebrated its anniversary service on Sunday with a crowd of around 60 in attendance. Many will remember the days when well over 150 would fill the pews at the anniversary service. The guest speaker was Keri Orozco, the daughter of Dale and Starr Bachert of Walton. Keri become a Christian early on in life but soon came to realize that the life she was accustomed to was not one of freedom. The more God showed her truth in His word, the more she became free. As a result, God led her to write a book called, “Quest for Freedom” so that others too, may experience the great freedom that Jesus came to give us. For more information on Keri’s book,visit: www.keriorozco.webs.com The price of the book is $20 and all proceeds go to mission work in Nicaragua. The guest organist for the service was Margery Huether and providing accompaniment were Marion Godkin and Marie McGavin. Phyllis Mitchell played the violin and Pearl McCallum played the mouth organ. Marie also played the trumpet. The choir sang, “The Lord is My Shepherd” and “The Church in the Wildwood.”Another special treat for the special day was the presence of Rev. Charles Swan, formally of Duff’s United, who did the benediction. A lovely lunch was enjoyed by all following the service. Celebrating birthdays this past week include Laura Bowers, Joan McNaughton, Matthew McKee, Caedon Newman, Meghan Burke, Emily Wilts, Christopher Burke, Hiliary Bachert, Jason Konarski, Jeanie Newman, Tanner Boven, Mary Baker and Paul Linton. Charles and Shirley Shobbrook ofRR3 Walton celebrated their 50thwedding anniversary earlier thismonth.The Shobbrooks celebrated theirJune 4 wedding anniversary at Walton Hall on June 5 with familyand friends, a short drive fromBlyth’s United Church, where thepair were married in 1960 byReverend Evan McLagan. In attendance for the wedding were Doug Shobbrook,Wayne Jackson, Jim Knox, SharonJackson, Gloria Allen, MarilynRobinson, Joyce King and RichardRobinson.Son of Cliff and Ruth Shobbrook,Charles took the hand of Ken and Ethel Jackson’s daughter Shirley, then took her to Northern Ontarioand Michigan for their honeymoon,before returning to their farm inWalton.The pair are both farmers, withCharles caring for his Hereford cowsand calves and Shirley enjoying gardening. The Walton Women’s Institute members and husbands attended the opening of On Golden Pond at the Drayton Festival Theatre on June 9. Before enjoying a buffet supper, the members held a short business meeting. Tickets are available for the Huron Perth District Ladies Night Out in November. The Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario has also asked members to send a letter to the Premier concerning changes coming to the pharmacies. Margaret McInroy invited everyone to her home for the July meeting which will be a presentation on Gleaner programs in Canada. Shobbrooks celebrate their 50th Anniversary held at Duff’s United Walton Raceway attracts 2,500 people for event NEWS FROM WALTON The rain can stop anytime now and some nice summer weather can heat us up. The crops have had a nice watering and some heat will make everything just spring up. A few farmers out there are still trying to get white beans planted and hay cut, so let’s hope the weather will turn around real soon. The party just keeps on going for George and Marie Blake who celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Last Sunday, George and Marie were treated to a supper out at St. Agatha with their children and their spouses. Their children include Gerald, Anne, Jim, Murray, Phil, Joyce, Bruce and Julie. There were quite a few area women off to Wilfrid Laurier University to attend the Federated Women’s Institute of Ontario convention a week ago. The ladies stayed in the residence at the University from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. There were meetings, displays, workshops on health, skin care, gardening, dancing and more and they enjoyed great meals. The main entertainment Friday was the K.W. Policemen’s Chorus, singing many of the old favourites. The banquet was held Saturday evening for the members from all over Ontario and they enjoyed the music of a banjo group from Toronto. Attending the enjoyable three days away were Lucy Hesse, Leona Armstrong, Ruth Bauer and Yvonne Knight from Brussels Institute and Margaret McInroy and Margaret McMahon from the Walton Women’s Institute. Returning from a 20-day trip to the west is Neil and Ruth Schade. They flew to Calgary where they stayed with Ruth’s sister Gladys. They also had a chance to visit and stay with Ruth’s brother Glenn in Lethbridge. A highlight of the trip for Neil was a trip to Nanton. He was accompanied by nephew Bruce and the special event was a celebration of the Lancaster airplane. There was a program about the Lancaster, and it was attended by many members of the military and cadet units of the area. The highlight for Ruth was the early celebration of her 90th birthday. A party was held in her honour and about 40 of her relatives attended. They enjoyed a wonderful barbecue and the birthday cake was covered with 90 burning candles. No one was afraid though, because one nephew is a EMS/firefighter and came prepared to save Ruth and/or the cake. The Schades report not having the best weather while away. It was cool and damp with only five days of sun to enjoy. A couple of tidbits of information that they report included farmland rent runs about $70 in the foothills area and for Ruth to have a shampoo and set hairdo is $25. It was a dual party time for Henk and Agnes Ten Pas this week. Members of the Ten Pas and VanVeen families gathered at the Optimist building to celebrate Agnes’s 70th birthday as well as Henk and Agnes’s 49th wedding anniversary, which are both on June 10. Making it an extra-special gathering was the attendance of daughter Linda (Ten Pas) Lang from Hope, British Columbia. Linda has been home for a week visiting with Henk and Aggie and the rest of the family. She has been kept quite busy catching up with friends, family and doing some very interesting things, like four-wheeling through the bush and trails. Congratulations to Henk and Agnes and happy birthday to Aggie. A farewell party was held at the Walton Hall for Don and Pat Nolan on Saturday. The party had a large crowd of well-wishers attend to wish Don and Pat the best in the new town of St. Thomas. The Nolans’ four children and their families were all in attendance to catch up and visit with their old Walton friends as well. They are Tim and Jenn, London; Pam and Gary, Hannah and Marley, St. Thomas; Mike and Leanne, Jacob and Brooke, Guelph and Mark and Lori, Sam and Tim of Listowel. It was a nice afternoon with a large amount of food gathered for the North Huron Food Share. The entire Nolan family was then invited to the home of Gerry and Anne Ryan for a potluck dinner. The other guests included Jeanne Kirkby and John Gaunt, Marilyn McDonald, Howard and Audrey Hackwell and Neil and Marie McGavin. They had a great meal and a wonderful visit on the Ryan’s front porch. The population of Walton swelled on the weekend by about 1,000 motocross riders and families. The motor homes started arriving on Friday afternoon to the Lee farm and by Saturday morning the grounds were pretty full. The two-day event was a qualifier for the Walton Transcan in August and a provincial race on Sunday as part of the circuit, sponsored by Two Wheel Racing. It was a little damp on Saturday morning, but a good breeze helped in trying to dry the track somewhat. The muddy conditions made for a little slower racing, so no serious accidents were reported. The track was drier on Sunday, so the speed picked up for the racing and so did the injuries – about six accidents with two requiring ambulance attendance. I understand business was brisk in many of the local stores and the baking didn’t last long at Dauphin’s Country Store. Motorists beware! It seems the deer are out and about and two area folks have met them a little too close. Both Patty Banks and John Lowe were involved in deer/vehicle collisions on the weekend. Thankfully neither one was hurt, but both vehicles suffered major damage. By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570 PEOPLE AROUND WALTON So happy together Charles and Shirley Shobbrook celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary earlier this month at Walton Hall with a group of family and friends who helped them mark the anniversary, which was just a day earlier, June 4, marking 50 years since their 1960 wedding. (Photo submitted) WI meets