Ballplayers and their families and friends pretty well took over Centennial Park for this year’s Glacier Challenge. David F. Rooney photo
By David F. Rooney
This year’s Glacier Challenge went off without a hitch last weekend. 93 teams from across Western Canada attended the four-day, slow-pitch softball tourney and aside from a few minor injuries a good time was had by all.
Organizers were relieved that this year’s event was not marred by any of the fights or vandalism that marred the 2011 tournament. And they were happy with the reaction to this year’s Grand Prize — a $6,000 accommodation and skiing package at Revelstoke Mountain Resort for up to 14 members of some lucky team. And who proved to be lucky? Revelstoke’s own Happy Hookers!
Out-of-towners won the two big prizes offered by the Rotary Club this year. Ty English of Airdrie, Alberta, won the Harley Davidson motorcycle on offer, and a couple identified on their ticket only as Donna and Russ of Leduc, Alberta, won the houseboat trip.
There was plenty of music — more than any other recent year — with performances by Maritime Kitchen Party, Blind Spot, The Boom Booms, Red Eye Empire and the Werewolves of Creston and a good time was had by everyone who attended the evening concerts. In fact, a few people became downright enthusiastic and streaked the Sunday evening ball game at Industrial Field. Alas! There are no photos here of the streakers.
But we do have plenty of other images. Take a gander:
Maritime Kitchen Party kicked off the musical action at the 2012 Glacier Challenge Friday evening. They were also the last musical act of the tournament, playing on Monday afternoon. David F. Rooney photoAmerican flags? Someone thought this would be a fun addition to Glacier Challenge. David F. Rooney photoThe ball games generally attracted a crowd, especially the evening games at Industrial Field where spectators could buy a beer or cooler and watch the action. David F. Rooney photoThe Boom Booms were the second act of evening on Friday. David F. Rooney photoSaturday’s ball games were played at Centennial Park and up at Queen Elizabeth Park. David F. Rooney photoRed Eye Empire, a group that has often played in Revelstoke’s bars and pubs, played on Saturday evening. David F. Rooney photoLike Saturday, Sunday proved to be a an almost perfect day for softball in the mountains. David F. Rooney photo93 teams from across Western Canada came to play in Revelstoke. That was down from previous years and organizers blamed the recession for the drop in numbers. Still and all, the teams and spectators were universally enthusiastic. David F. Rooney photoHow do you beat the heat? Some people chose to sprawl in the shade of handy trees and some, like these folks, found that ingesting copious amounts of alcoholic fluids kept you loose and cool. David F. Rooney photoKatrina Chabot of the Big Eddy Fog Duckers prepares to swing in her team’s face-off against Team Sleepover from Kelowna. David F. Rooney photoSunday’s heat was intense enough to bring our local firefighters to the rescue. Teams universally paused their play to revel in the fire truck’s cooling spray. David F. Rooney photoCornelius Suchy was one of the Ski Club volunteers who policed the campgrounds, picking up empty cans and other trash and delivering ice. David F. Rooney photoThe portable ATM came in handy if you needed to buys some grub or a few drinks and were temporarily tapped out. David F. Rooney photoRevelstoke’s popular Blind Spot certainly knows how to rock — as they demonstrated when they opened the musical shows on both Saturday and Sunday nights. David F. Rooney photoThe Werewolves of Creston brought their mix of Funk and Ska to the Glacier Challenge on Sunday night. David F. Rooney photoThe music certainly got people dancing. David F. Rooney photoBrad Beerling, chairman of the 2012 Glacier Challenge Organizing Committee, reads the name of the team that won this year’s grand prize — a $6,000 skiing and accommodation package at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Mayor David Raven (third from the left) drew the winner — Revelstoke’s own Happy Hookers. Former Glacier Challenge chairmen Alan Chell (second from the left) and Mark McKee joined Beerling and Raven on the stage Sunday night. David F. Rooney photoMonday, too, promised to be a scorcher and some people decided to beat the heat that morning by hitting the river. Dusty Veideman photoHere’s another view of these intrepid leapers. In the background, right, you can see more morning bathers. Dusty Veideman photoOne can only guess at their reaction when they hit the river’s VERY cool water. Dusty Veideman photoA batter takes a whack at the ball during one of the final games of the weekend. It was a great weekend and while it’s over for this year there’s always 2013 to look forward to. Dusty Veideman photo
