Terrace Review — Wednesday, September 5, 1990 B9

Loggers’ Sports -
a welcome return!

The people of Thornhill may
have wondered for a few
minutes if the Indy Races had
been imported for their Fall Fair
on Sunday, Sept. 2, but it was
only the high whining noise of
the power saws in the Pole
Bucking contests that set their
ears on edge.

To the spectators of the Log-
gers’ Sports, it was welcome
noise signalling the return to
Terrace of the event which had
been a highlight of the area over
a decade ago. Last year the event
was successful, and the enthusi-
asm of the crowds this year
demonstrates the popularity of
one of the leading industries and
pride in the skills of the sport.

Under the capable direction of
Bill Watson on the microphone
the events proceeded throughout
the day from 10 a.m. to after 5
p.m. Judges were Andy Iverson
and Dave Mulroney.

The crowd warmed up
through the morning with the
novice events, marked by good-
humoured acceptance of occa-
sional confusion and unexpected
falis or dunkings in the pond.
Local contestants were encour-
aged by their fans in the au-
dience.

After lunch, the second stage
of the events brought enthusi-
astic support from crowds; . the
axe throwing, chokerman’s race,
pole bucking. And the fans re-

acted loudly to their favourites
in the ladies’ nail-driving and
sawing and the competition and
delifht of dumping opponents
into the pond in the log burling.

To round off the day, an un-
scheduled Tug-o-war brought
everyone to their feet. Four
teams competed, largely re-
cruited at the last minute, and
they were so well matched that it
seemed the match would be a
draw, but finally a foot slipped
somewhere and the momentum
edged the team over the line.
Bear Creek emerged victorious.

Another popular event that
has brought attention to the Fair
was the Stone Boat Pull by
teams of horses. In the early
days in Skeena, logging with
horses was the style, especially in
winter over well-packed snow
and ice. The sawdust-packed
trail used on Sunday was much
more difficult, and yet the teams
managed to pull up to 1,000 Ibs.
over their weight — the criteria
for winning the race.

Six teams competed. The
Stone Boat was loaded with
1,600 Ibs. to start, with 400 Ibs.
added to each pull until the
teams reached their maximum,
Charley Houlden, formerly of
Terrace and now of Smithers,
emerged the winner with 5,200
tbs, on the sleigh, 1,345 lbs. over
his team’s weight.

Husqvarna
50 Special

The new design cylinder
piston gives a high, flat
power curve for greater
efficiency over its entire
range. Really bites, even
at low rmp. 3.1 cu.in(51
cc) 11.5 Ibs. (5.2 kg).

TERRACE A EQUIPMENT
SALES = LTD.

| 4441 Lakelse Ave., Terrace Ph. 635-6384