The 22nd annual Glendon Derby Daze smashed into action this weekend on Saturday. Thousands traveled to Glendon to take part in and enjoy the excitement of the derby and mudbogs, hosted by the Glendon Ag. Society.
“We were very happy with the turnout at the event and we had great weather,” said Sherry Skrypichayko of the Glendon Ag. Society, after the event. “We had a great year, probably another record breaker for attendance. We don’t have the final numbers in yet, but probably about 2,900.”
Derby goers were able to enjoy a variety of entertainment throughout the day and there was never a slow moment with demolition and mudbog heats taking place simultaneously. The day also featured a parade and farmers market in Glendon, which took place following a pancake breakfast before derby fans made their way to the competition grounds.
The derby started at 1 p.m. with heats of cars, followed by trucks and finally mini-cars. Rookie driver Cole Burshtinski made the most of his first demolition experience, showing the more experienced drivers how it was done to earn first place in the truck division.
“It was great to see our 14-year-old rookie driver win the truck event,” Skrypichayko said. “He took on a lot of veteran drivers to win the competition.”
The mudbog trials also began at the same time where drivers tested their luck with one on one races through the muddy trails.
“The mudbogs went well, there was kind of a lot of water, but they were what they were,” Skrypichayko explained. The Ag. Society had pumped water from the mud pits, but conditions were still a little wetter than they would have liked come time for the competition, she added.
New this year to the event was derby soccer, where teams of three tried to score by pushing a soccer painted car.
“The derby soccer was really just a spectator event,” Skrypichayko said. “But it went over very well and people seemed to be interested in it.”
The event also featured a raffle, which provided one lucky winner with the chance to compete in the derby in the car division. Debbie Berlinguette of Bonnyville was the lucky winner and was able to compete in her first demolition.
Berlinguette went into her heat and got into a grudge match and was able to advance to the finals, Skrypichayko said.
Youth were able to enjoy a greased pig contest as well as take advantage of the bounce house and water world. There was also a variety of concession booths set up on the grounds to keep spectators satisfied as well as beer gardens for adult derby fans.
The Glendon Ag. Society is very happy once again with the turnout of the event and all the support shown by the community, Skrypichayko said. “We can’t do this kind of stuff without our sponsors and the continued community support we are able to receive.”
Results
For the mudbog competition in the modified division, first place went to Guy Normand, second to Gilles Lord and third to Micheal Janz. In the stock division of mudbogs, first place went to Shane Kotovich, second to Tamara Dell and third to Chad Lubjenka.
For the demolition competition in the compact car category, first place went to Carl Coney and second to Adam Potts. In the car category, first place went to Tom Kemsley, second to Dave Kemsley and third to Lee Buzsik from Calgary.
In the truck demolition category, rookie competitor Cole Burshtinski took first place, second went to Adam Potts and third went to Ole Lotsberg.
The Ted Cardwell Biggest Air Memorial Award went to Gator Gates and the Most Aggressive Driver Overall award went to Wayne Cardwell, who was also awarded with the Most Aggressive Compact Car Driver.
The Longest Distance Award and $50 prizes went to Kelly Kultzen for the derby and Darrell Klementovich in the mudbog.
The Best Dressed Award and a $50 prize was awarded to Micheal Drobot in the car category. Chase Burshtinski took the Best Dressed Award in the truck category for his second year in a row and Carl Coney won in the compact car category.
