By David F. Rooney
Over a thousand people poured into Revelstoke for the annual Glacier Challenge Softball Tournament this BC Day long weekend.
So far it’s a good time has been had by everyone who participated in the 80 teams registered for the tourney. Here are a few photos from the opening days of the event:
Trophies anyone? Amy Flexman digs for the information requested by a ballplayer at the Glacier Challenge office at Centennial Park on Friday, August 1. See those trophies? They are original trophies for this annual ball tournament and they date back to its founding in 1987 when it was still known as the Kokanee Glacier Challenge and the Kokanee Brewery’s Sasquatch was the tournament’s mascot. Those days are long gone and the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department, which has been storing the trophies at the Community Centre now wants the Chamber of Commerce to find a new place for them… perhaps at the Museum & Archives. The Chamber took over organizing and running the tournament last year. David F. Rooney photo Bam! A player with the local team, the Riley Keates Experience, savage slams the ball during their match against the Calgary-based Booze Donkeys on Saturday afternoon. David F. Rooney photo Meanwhile, at Rotary Field One of Revelstoke’s Nitty Gritty team drives the call towards the outfield during their match against the Smokin’ Aces from Calgary. David F. Rooney This player for the local Townley Tigers team slams the ball, looks to make sure it’s heading out of sight then races towards first base. Did he make it? Sure thing. David F. Rooney photo Temperatures pushed towards 33° Celsius on Saturday afternoon so keeping cool was paramount. These guys had a lovely bit of shade. David F. Rooney photo One group of enterprising spectators decided to mix some water on a Slip ‘n’ Slide with a table full of beer in cups on Saturday afternoon, August 2. Competitors from two teams first slid down the plastic slide then raced to the table where they had to chug a beer. Once they had quaffed down the suds their team-mates could follow suit. We’re sure these characters had a lot of fun doing this. David F. Rooney photo But if you didn’t have any shade or a Slip ‘n’ Slide to keep from getting fried you pretty well had to rely on the good folks at Revelstoke Fire Rescue who came out with the tanker truck and hosed down the panting, over-heated masses. David F. Rooney photo