Nearly 100 take part in Cardboard Derby races
MEEKER I More than 100 people attended and 93 participated in the annual Eastern Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District’s Winter Blast at Paintbrush Park on Saturday with contestants ranging from the 6-and-under class to those well into their adult years.
There were 77 participants in the Cardboard Derby, six in the snowshoe race and 25 in the carnival games as well as 117 who took part in the hot dog/chili lunch served by Wendll’s.
There were three categories for the Cardboard Derby: Biggest Wipeout was won by Iris Holmes (6 and under), Cade Greager (7 to 12 years), Cooper Main (13 to 18 years), Kendra Ward (19 and older), Tucker and Dexter Chinn (family) and Owen Etchart (open class).
Most Creative Sled Award went to: first, the Pellonis; second, the Ketchens; and third: Mathais Kale.
Race champions were: Raegan Clatterbaugh (six and under); John Hampton Hightower (7 to 12 years); Colby Clatterbaugh and Cooper Main (tied for 13-18 years); Natosha Clatterbaugh (19 and older); Susan, Jenna and Holt Pelloni (family); Thomas and Dani Theos won the open class; and Grand Champion and the winner of the traveling trophy was the Pelloni family.
The winner of the Snowshoe Race was Jeremy Sevillano while second place went to Jonathan Fitzgibbons and third place went to Natalie Kracht.
The winner of the overall Traveling Cup trophy from the Cardboard Derby held Saturday at Paintbrush Park at the Meeker Recreation Center was the Pelloni family, pictured, from left: Jenna, Suzan and Holt. There were 77 contestants in the derby event alone.
The young kids get their push starts from mom or dad or a friend as they begin the challenge of the Cardboard Derby on Saturday. The kids had to slide down as fast and as far as they could then pick up their sled and run to the finish line with the fastest times winning per age group.
After the grueling Cardboard Derby races on Saturday in Meeker, 19-month-old Greta Watson of Meeker satisfied her hunger with Doritos and hot dogs, a lunch also enjoyed by more than 100 other people. The three-hour event included the derby, a snowshoe race and a hot dog/chili lunch sponsored by the Eastern Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District just opposite the rec center at Paintbrush Park.
In the case of sledding at the Winter Blast on Saturday, what went down had to come back up. In many cases parents and older siblings did a lot of the work for the young kids after their runs in the Cardboard Derby. Many of the sleds were larger than the young kids who took part in the races.
As you can see from the models visible in this photo, the Cardboard Derby racers built their sleds using a variety of models. From this large house to sleek contoured racers, the sleds had varying degrees of success. The rider had to ride the sleds as far as they would go down the hill then pick up the sled and run to the finish line. Fastest time to the finish line was the winner.
Between races on Saturday at Paintbrush Park, the youths taking part in the races took the time to enjoy this life-sized igloo that saw the kids playing inside of and atop the structure. The kids were pretty enthralled with the igloo and what it must be like to live in one. The ERBM Recreation and Park District event was a complete success with the kids and their parents.
Bobby Gutierrez was kept busy Saturday feeding more than 100 people hot dogs, chili, cornbread, cookies and hot drinks during the ERBM Recreation and Park District’s Winter Blast at Paintbrush Park. The ERBM recreation district held cardboard sled races, snowshoe races and carnival games for the kids of all ages who attended.
There were six competitors in the Snowshoe Race, held as part of the ERBM Recreation and Park District’s annual Winter Blast on Saturday at Paintbrush Park. The winners were, from left to right: Jeremy Sevillano (first), Natalie Kracht (third) and Jonathan Fitzgibbons (second). More than 100 persons were present for the fun, which included carnival games, the Cardboard Derby and a hot dog/chili lunch served by Wendll’s.
