The Arcola Optimist Club had a day full of snow and rides as they held their 26th annual snowmobile rally. The 90-kilometer-long trail was a bit shorter than usual due to poor snow conditions.
The weather also kept the snowmobile club from marking trails, so the Optimist Club had to go back to their own route. The riders went through a part of the Moose Mountain Provincial Park over fields and back into Arcola.
Rest areas, offering smokies, hot dogs and hot chocolate, helped participants to warm up. The entire event was a big success for the Arcola Optimist Club.
“We had a really good day,” said Glen Lawson, Arcola Optimist Club secretary-treasurer. “We had 256 registered riders, and we gave away about $10,000 worth of rider prizes.”
Lawson noted that almost all lottery tickets were sold through the day. The lottery draw for a choice of RVs and monetary prizes had three lucky winners. Chad Beattie from Carlyle won the first prize – a choice of quad, or side-by-side, or snowmobile provided by one of the sponsors. Second and third prizes of $1,000 went to Jake Wiens from Lampman and Ryan Rutten from Carlyle.
Traditionally the trail for the Arcola Optimist Club snowmobile rally is over 100 kilometers. Despite it getting shortened this year, riders were still happy to break the snow, as long as the weather was co-operative.
“Weather conditions were good, a little bit better than the forecast. It may have cost us a few riders. In the end, we had a real nice sunny day and good conditions. People were there, had a good ride,” said Lawson.
The money raised through the lottery will go back into the community. Lawson says, that they will be making an $11,000 contribution to the Lampman pool project. They also plan to support the Arcola RV relocation project, within which RVs will be moved to the Prairie Place area.
All together corporate and individual advertising sponsors donated over $30,000 which will be shared with Praire Place complex, the Arcola Curling Club, Moose Mountain Wildlife, Arcola Rodeo Committee, Vipers Volleyball program, Moose Mountain Karate Club, Arcola Day Care, Rebels Volleyball and the Arcola Figure Skating Club. Other groups sharing in the proceeds from the day were Arcola-Kisbey 4H beef club, the Arcola Girl Guides and the Arcola School Grad Class.
Lawson is very grateful to sponsors, volunteers and riders who’ve been making rallies happen for 26 years. The Arcola Optimist Club has kept everything almost the same through these years, yet, looking into the future, they are open for some new ideas that would make their big community fundraiser even better.
