Around 200 people attended the Watch Lake Gymkhana on Saturday, July 13, BC's longest-running gymkhana.
Held since 1964, the gymkhana is a staple event for the local equestrian community according to Jolene Fremlin, the chair of the Watch Lake Gymkhana. Around 50 competitors from the ages of two to 60 competed in six different events: poles, stakes, barrels, keyhole, the baton relay and boot race. Fremlin noted their numbers are back down to normal after receiving 75 to 80 entries the past two years
"The two years that we did it after COVID, it was quite big, and it's kinda gone back to it being normal," Fremlin said, noting this year they had two competitors from France.
One of the younger competitors to take part this year was Kaden Lemak, a seven-year-old rider from Sheridan Lake, who won first place in the leadline pole bending event, the leadline stake race, and placed second in the leadline barrel race. A leadline is for the "young riders that don't feel comfortable riding by themselves" Fremlin said. The leadline didn't stop Lemak from having fun.
"(I feel) pretty good, I'm glad that I got first place," Kaden said.
Kaden's mother, Erica, said that they are both members of the Interlakes Horse Club and they often go to gymkhanas like the Watch Lake Gymkhana together. Erica remarked her son trains hard to compete. Kaden stated that his favourite part of the gymkhana is "seeing so many faces and a lot of horses."
Nicola Dayman from 100 Mile House also put her skills to the test with her horse named Tiny. Tiny is an Appaloosa, which is best known for its colourful spotted coat pattern and is one of the more popular horse breeds in the United States. When asked how Tiny did, Dayman spoke on the horse's behalf.
"He thinks he did great," Dayman declared.
To prepare for the gymkhana, Dayman and her horse usually go on trail rides and attend other equestrian events.
"We also do some barrel racing for the BCBRA (British Columbia Barrel Racing Association)," noted Dayman.
Fremlin says it's always fun to put on the Watch Lake gymkhana, and says that she thinks it will continue on for year to come.
"My kids will take it on after me," she remarked.
The results of the 2024 Watch Lake Gymkhana are as follows:
Pole Bending Senior: Linda Langstrom finished first, Sam Evans finished second and Erica Brodie finished third.
Pole Bending Intermediate: Logan Archie finished first, Emerald Emery finished second and Riley Herperger finished third.
Pole Bending Junior: Cali Bumby finished first, Lyla Tilburt finished second and Kipton Lancaster finished third.
Pole Bending Peewee: Macy Miller finished first, Gibson Fremlin finished second and Hoss Fremlin finished third.
Leadline: Kaden Lemak finished first, Molly Miller finished second and Sam Sanger finished third.
Stake Race Senior: James Evans finished first, Sam Evans finished second and Erica Brodie finished third.
Stake Race Intermediate: Logan Archie finished first, Riley Herperger finished second and Emerald Emery finished third.
Stake Race Junior: Lyla Tiburt finished first, Yukon Fremlin finished second and Kipton Lancaster finished third.
Stake Race Peewee: Izzy Henry finished first, Hoss Fremlin finished second and Lawson Lancaster finished third.
Stake Race Leadline: Kaden Lemak finished first, Molly Miller finished second and Rocky Lang finished third.
Barrel Race Senior: Kyla Miller finished first, Sam Evans finished second and Linda Langstrom finished third,
Barrel Race Intermediate: Riley Herperger finished first, Logan Archie finished second and Amarea Giroux finished third.
Barrel Race Junior: Larah Pincott finished first, Chloe Desimone finished second, Kipton Lancaster finished third,
Barrel Race Peewee: Izzy Harry finished first, Hoss Fremlin finished second and Macy Miller finished third
Barrel Race Leadline: Rocky Lang finished first, Kaden Lemar finished second and Molly Miller finished third.
Keyhole Senior: Erica Bodie finished first, Lyndsay Ross finished second and Katie Wakefield finished third.
Keyhole Intermediate: Logan Archie finished first, Riley Herperger finished second and Amarea Giroux finished third.
Keyhole Junior: Cali Bumby finished first, Larah Pincott finished second and Kipton Lancaster finished third.
Keyhole Peewee: Izzy Henry finished first, Lawson Lancaster finished second and Macy Miller finished third.
Baton Relay: Erica Brodie, Logan Archie and Emerald Emery's team finished first, Chloe Desimone, Larah Pincott, and Riley Herperger's team finished second and Tess Line, Kipton Lancaster and Gibson Fremlin's team finished third.
Boot Race: Erica Brodie finished first, Riley Herperger finished second and Kipton Lancaster finished third.
