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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 2017)
A10 Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, August 2, 2017 WEDNESDAY August 2, 2017 Learning the ropes Youth rodeo builds skills, confidence Eagle file photo By Angel Carpenter Youth practice the fundamentals at last year’s Grant Union volleyball camp. Blue Mountain Eagle T he July 29 Cinnabar Mountain Playdays youth rodeo went off without a hitch, with a crowd of 34 youth competitors and many volunteers working together. Fifth in the youth ro- deo series, the event was held at the Grant County Fairgrounds in John Day. The final event will be a night rodeo held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, with registration starting at 4 p.m. Admission is free for spectators. “We have had anoth- er successful season of Cinnabar Mountain Play- days,” said board president Didgette McCracken. “It has been built over the years by continued dedication of many individuals.” She said the board has been excited to see the con- tinued support of families, volunteers and financial sponsors. “It is very hard to find an environment where kids of all ages can compete and learn in a variety of skill levels,” she said. “We are proud to give families and kids this opportunity to learn and grow skills with their horses and grow their confidence.” Addison Wilson, 5, rode her horse at full speed at the front of the arena, competing in the goat tying event. She said she practices at home for the rodeos. “Running my horse was my favorite because it’s fun,” she said. Aaliyah Marciel, 10, said what she learns most from the youth rodeos is con- trolling her horse. Grant Union youth sports camps on schedule Blue Mountain Eagle Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter Sam McCracken moves quickly in the goat tying event during the Cinnabar Mountain Playdays rodeo on Saturday at the Grant County Fairgrounds. “You learn more about having the horse trust you, and you can trust them,” she said. “It helps with all the events.” Ten-year-old Riley Gregg said he competed in all the events, and especially en- joys loping his horse. “It’s really fun, and I get to experience my new horse after my old one passed away two years ago,” he said. The best thing about the youth rodeos for Shayna Marciel, 9, is the opportu- nity to learn about rodeoing. She said goat tying is her fa- vorite event, and she hopes to continue competing when she’s older. Taylor Hamilton, 8, said she’s improved her riding Cinnabar Mountain Playdays July 29 Addison Wilson rides her horse at a fast clip during the goat tying event at Saturday’s Cinnabar Mountain Playdays youth rodeo at the Grant County Fairgrounds in John Day. skills while participating in the rodeos. Allison Bohnert, 7, said she had fun competing in all the events. “They aren’t about win- ning, they’re about having fun,” she said. Leadline First: Blake Kimball Second: Ben Henslee Third: Bransyn Harper Peewee First: Brooklynn Kimball Second: Allison Bohnert Third: Ruby Hooper Junior First: Aaliyah Marciel Second: Molly Davis Third: Helen Rowell Intermediate First: Bailey McCracken Second: Clint Rutherford Third: Sam McCracken Senior First: Sarah Barker Youth camps for volleyball and football are coming up for Grant Union. A volleyball camp will be held from 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, for youth in grades 3-5. The cost is $15 and includes a Grant Union volleyball T-shirt. Volleyball camp for grades 6-8 will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, and Friday, Aug. 4. The cost is $30 and includes a T-shirt. The camp will be led by head coach Shae Speth, her as- sistant coaches and members of the team. For more information, call 541-620-1974, or email shaes- peth@gmail.com. A football camp for youth in grades 3-8 will be held from 3-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Aug. 7-10. Regis- tration is at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 7. The cost is $30 and includes a Grant Union football T-shirt. Head coach Jason Miller and assistant coaches and team members will teach football skills and techniques. “They’ll learn a lot of foot- ball and have some fun, too,” Miller said. For more information, call the school at 541-575-1799, ext. 22. Archery competition draws interest in growing sport Club hopes to increase membership Northside 3-D Trail Shoo t Men’s Traditional First: Mike Springer Men’s Unlimited First: Brent Smith Second place: David Dorschner Third: Walter Sharp Men’s Open First: Josh Wolf Women’s Traditional First: Shannon Springer Women’s Unlimited First: Tabatha Jensen Second: Heidi Wolf Third: Rachel Sharp Youth First: E Jensen Second: Jordan Nodine Third: Declan Zweygardt By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Working to revive the Can- yon Creek Bowhunters club, a core group of members held their second Northside 3-D Trail Shoot competition last weekend on the Malheur Na- tional Forest. Over 50 participants took aim at 40 animal targets on two trails, from deer and elk to bear and buffalo, set up in real hunting situations. Steve Dunn of Prineville, a former John Day resident, led his nephews Dylan and Seth Ferrier of Salem along the trail. Dylan and his uncle zeroed in for some perfect shots at the decoys, while Seth kept track on a score card. The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Steve Dunn of Prineville leads the way as he and his nephews Dylan and Seth Ferrier retrieve some arrows during last weekend’s Northside 3-D Trail Shoot. Dunn said the Northside competition is a warm-up. “It helps a lot with hunting season and helps you judge yardage,” he said. “It helps you pick out a spot on the animal, and it tunes you up so you’re used to pulling your bow back. It’s just good practice.” Dunn plans to take Dylan on his fi rst archery elk hunt at the end of the month. Some families and individ- uals set up camp Saturday and Sunday off County Road 36, near Four Corners, between Prairie City and John Day, where the event was held. Archers, who ranged in age from 7 to teens and adults, could participate for fun or for competition and prize money. Club leaders said they hope to see interest in archery, which is a growing sport nationwide, increase locally. “Our main goal is to give archery hunters and shooters practice and to locate members and better their shot,” said club vice president Walt Sharp. President Ty Sharp said another goal they are working toward is offering a scholar- ship to young college-bound archers. The Bowhunters club start- ed up in the late ’50s, and after a couple stops and starts, the Sharps and others hope to revi- talize the organization. Walt said the Northside Shoot is small compared to other competitions, but the club plans to continue to make it a biannual event, in May and July, and have it included on a permanent list of archery shoots. If the event grows as much as hoped, the club will relocate the event to an area on the Mal- heur that will accommodate a bigger crowd. “We’d love to see more peo- ple involved,” said Cecil Sharp, who helped set up the event. “We want to get more young- sters involved. If we don’t have youngsters out here shooting and liking it, we’ll lose the fu- ture — and it’s fun.” For more information, call Ty Sharp at 541-620-2417. Camaraderie highlights Bear Creek rifl e-shoot competition By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle A few friends gathered for Saturday’s Long Range Steel Shoot at the Bear Creek Shooting Range. Typically, 15 join the competition, but with confl icting activities, only four signed up for this round, and two others spotted. “We had fun, and everybody learned a little bit,” said Rod Carpenter, who orga- nized the event for the Bear Creek Shoot- ing Club. Participants aimed at targets ranging in distance from 200-1,100 yards, most us- ing a .308 or 6.5-mm rifl e. The $20 entry fee funds the prize mon- ey for the top three placers. Winning fi rst and second place was Carpenter of John Day, and Mike Ander- son of Clatskanie placed third. Targets used by the club were pur- chased with a Grant County Chamber of Commerce grant. “We hold a match every two to three months to help us improve our skills,” Carpenter said. “It’s friendly competi- tion.” Long range rifl e shootists can plan for the next event set for 9 a.m. Sept. 23. For more information, call Carpenter at 509-385-9334. The range, for members and invited guests, is east of John Day. Directions: travel east on Highway 26 about 9 miles and turn left (north) on a dirt road, just before County Road 18 (Keeney Forks Road). The range is one mile north. Rifle competitors take aim during Saturday’s Long Range Steel Shoot as spotters assist. From front, Mike Anderson of Clatskanie, Rod Carpenter of John Day, Clint Wilcoxen of Clatskanie (left), Randy Anderson of Clatskanie and Dave Fisher of John Day. Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter Rod Carpenter of John Day selects his target at the Bear Creek Shooting Range competition. Carpenter won Saturday’s competition.
