The North American Pony Chuckwagon Championships got out to an exciting start Wednesday evening at Westerner Park.
After they were the only event to go ahead last year during Westerner Days, they were back yet again with the bleachers packed for the show.
Dwayne Dubuc, president of the Alberta Professional Chuckwagon and Chariot Association said there’s a lot of excitement around this event.
“There always is, you know It’s such a popular event with the drivers and a lot of that has to do with the great facilities that they have here the way that Westerner Park treats us is just phenomenal. And of course, the great fans that turn out here. The crowds are large, they make a lot of noise, and they really appreciate the races,” Dubuc said. “Everybody gets excited about getting here and we’ve just been antsy to get things started.”
From Wednesday to Friday the chariots begin at 5 p.m. and the chuckwagons at 6 p.m. On the final day on Sunday, the chariots begin at 1 p.m. followed by the chuckwagons at 2 p.m.
In the first heat on Wednesday Brian Miller took the victory in 80.39 and Jim O’Connor took the second heat with a speedy time of 79.47. In the third heat, Rob Nordick finished the race at a time of 77.69, which was the fastest time of the night. Riley Braaten took heat four in 78.17 and Linda Shippelt-Hubl took heat five at 81.17. In heat six Kelvin Young took the round in 80.83. Meanwhile, in heat seven Todd Maupin’s 82.53 was the winner of the race and in heat 8 Neil Salmond took it home with 78.18.
The three fastest times of the night belong to Nordick, Braaten, and Salmond. With the fastest time, Nordick earned himself a spot in the finals on Sunday.
The competitors have come from all over Alberta, Saskatchewan, and a driver from the United States.
Dubuc described chuckwagon races as edge-of-your-seat excitement. The heats are matched up based on historical running times and matchup the teams on how they typically turn the barrels and speed. Having an advantage he said is difficult in this sport so strategizing comes into play a lot. Each day the racers will get placed at a different barrel and the day you get placed on the first barrel Dubuc said it’s important to take advantage of that.
“How hard is it to beat your competitors? It’s extremely hard because of the way we’re matched up but then it all just comes down to strategy, which horses you’re going to put on that day, and in some cases, it’s just a matter of the luck of the draw,” he explained.
Dubuc was in the sixth heat Wednesday night and said he has been competing for over 30 years in the sport. Dubuc said this competition will not go towards tour points in the Alberta Professional Chuckwagon and Chariot Association and will act as an individual event.