The Citizen, 2009-08-13, Page 1The 18th annual Walton TransCan
Grand National Championship
officially started on Aug. 12 and runs
through the weekend.
Once again, the Huron County
stop on the tour will be the season’s
final, crowning the winner of the
National Pro MX1 Championship at
the end of Sunday’s race.
This year’s event will bring nearly
1,000 riders to Huron County from
all over the country as well as the
United States, New Zealand, South
Africa, England and Bermuda..
Organizer Chris Lee says he is
expecting as many as 30,000 visitors
to the event.
After taking the recession into
account, Lee says he and the
TransCan team braced to take a hit
with registration.
However the opposite has been the
case. “We’ve had as many register as
we’ve had over the past few years
and out-of-province participation
has gone up, so we’re pretty excited
about that,” Lee said.
Walton, which was officially
nicknamed “Motocross Town” by
Huron East council, has become one
of Ontario’s premiere motocross
locations.
Lee’s course, which was a large
cow pasture over 30 years ago, is
completely natural and one of the
most unique in the country. While
most courses strive for flat lanes and
natural hills, Walton’s lanes are the
complete opposite, featuring many
curves, some straight lines and
natural dips as opposed to hills.
The motocross action is
highlighted by the Pro MX1
championship and there are four
days of amateur competition as well
as the MX2 Shootout at the last
outdoor national event of the year.
There is also a several-race
promotion by Mac’s Milk, Lee says,
which will also wrap up in Walton.
Lee says the promotion is a big one
because it will send the winner home
with $50,000.
Off-track events are always a big
draw There is a motorcycle trade
show, live entertainment, riding
demonstrations, beer gardens,
helicopter rides, games and
giveaways.
Some newer social events include
bingo, a Racing Against Drugs
promotion that will feature a racing
car simulator. a big screen projector,
a karaoke night, hip bike racing and
a scavenger hunt.
“To have an international event of
this calibre in a community the size
of Walton is huge,” said Huron East
economic development officer, Jan
Hawley.
“With this many people coming,
we want to welcome them, not only
to the motocross races, but also to
other attractions in our municipality
and beyond. Our county has so much
to offer and our goal is to encourage
people to spread the word and
maybe stay a bit longer in Huron
County.”
Amateur racing events began
yesterday, with the official opening
ceremonies taking place in the
afternoon and Huron/Bruce MP Ben
Lobb on hand to officially start the
first race of the event.
There are several local riders from
the surrounding area and all of
Huron County taking part in the
event, including Dallas Ruff-
Robinson from Belgrave, James
Emmrich, Mitchell Godkin and
Lucas Godkin from Walton, Kennan
Macdonald from Blyth and Lucas
Cooke from Auburn.
More information on the Walton
TransCan is available on its website,
at www.waltontranscan.ca
4 vie for title of Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador
The race is on
Anyone new to the community would have been wondering where the party
was when by 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, motocross enthusiasts were backed up
through Walton waiting to register at the Lee farm for the national race that
attracts tens of thousands every year in August to the tiny hamlet. The race
has become a true community event with local service clubs and
organizations raising funds by assisting with everything from running the
gate and food booth, to cleaning up. (Bonnie Gropp photo)
30,000 expected to attend annual races
There are four girls vying for the
title of 2009 Brussels Fall Fair
Ambassador. The competition is
going to be held Sunday, Aug. 16 at
the Brussels Legion. The doors open
at 7 p.m. with the competition
beginning at 7:30 p.m. Admission is
by donation and there will be a door
prize this year as well.
Felicia Souch lives at RR4,
Brussels with her parents Gary and
Cheryl Souch. She is 18 years old
and is returning to F.E. Madill
Secondary School in the fall.
She currently works at the
Wingham Minimart and the Royal T
Gas Bar.
In her spare time Souch enjoys
playing broomball, rollerblading,
snowmobiling and four wheeling.
She plans on attending college to
become a child and youth worker.
Souch is sponsored by the
Huronlea Ladies Auxiliary.
Brittany Thyssen lives in Brussels
with her parents Rick and Cheryl
Thyssen. She is 17 years old and in
the fall she is returning to F.E.
Madill Secondary School to finish
her Grade 12 year.
Thyssen volunteers her time
serving at the Women’s Institute
dinners and for the Brussels Skating
Club. She also canvasses for the
Heart and Stroke Foundation,
Canadian Cancer Society and the
Alzheimer Society.
She enjoys figure skating, playing
soccer, horseback riding and
swimming. Also in her spare time
she likes working with computers
and working with children.
Thyssen plans to attend college in
the future to become an architect.
She is sponsored by the Brussels
Women’s Institute.
Jolanda Smith, daughter of Jeff
and Karen Smith lives at RR2,
Bluevale. She is 17 years old. In the
fall Smith is returning for her fifth
year at F.E. Madill Secondary
School.
She is currently employed at Tim
Horton’s in Wingham. In her spare
time Smith enjoys reading, spending
time with friends, swimming and
mountain biking. After high school
she plans on going to college in the
pre-health program.
Smith is sponsored by the Grey
Township Fire Department.
Tia DeLauria lives in Brussels
with her mother Jacqui DeLauria.
The 17-year-old is off to the
University of Ottawa this fall where
she will be taking the Bachelor of
Fine Arts program. DeLauria is
currently working as a camp
counsellor outside of Kitchener. In
her spare time she enjoys reading
comic books, going to concerts, and
painting murals.
She hopes to work with kids and
art in the future.
DeLauria is sponsored by the
Brussels Legion Branch 218.
The theme of this year’s fair is
Apple: Bushels of Fun. The fair is
Tuesday, Sept. 15 and Wednesday,
Sept. 16.
FELICIA SOUCH BRITTANY THYSSEN JOLANDA SMITH TIA DELAURIA
CitizenTh
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$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009
Volume 25 No. 31SPORTS- Pg. 9Blyth U-18 girls wingold THEATRE - Pg. 19 Reviewer promises plenty oflaughs with ‘Nuttalls’CAUSE - Pg. 2Local Relay for Life teambrings home bronzePublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 PAP Registration No. 09244 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK:
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen