MALLAIG – It was a fun-packed Saturday for the community of Mallaig during the seventh annual Mallaig Cabrini Park Challenge Cup on Aug. 27.
Among the visitors included James Young, originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, who currently lives in Wetaskiwin. He had come to visit family in St. Lina and to take part in the festivities, stating, “They do a great job here in Mallaig.”
Benjamin Dyck, from St. Lina, also said the event brings the local community out to gather, especially since the lockdowns. “I think everybody has been craving coming out after all the COVID.”
Conrad Christensen also visited all the way from Edmonton. But Christensen said he grew up in Mallaig before moving to Edmonton about 30 years ago.
“It’s nice to come back, visit, and see people that I haven’t seen for years although I don’t recognize a lot of them, because I haven’t been at the area for so long,” said Christensen. “It’s just nice to come back home, because living in the city – it’s nice to come and check out a slower pace of life.”
JJ Feland was among the organizers of the event and is the president of Mallaig Minor Hockey, he said compared to the previous year, the turnout this year was even greater.
“Everybody was raring to come back last year, and we got even bigger this year.”
Feland added, “We are so thankful for all the support everybody’s given to Mallaig Minor Hockey. It keeps the lights on and the doors open, so the kids can enjoy hockey.”
A variety of entertainment activities like the hallmark bean bag championship, Mallaig Antique Tractor and Car Show, as well as a tractor parade, drew both locals and visitors to Mallaig in support of the Mallaig Museum, Mallaig Arena Project, and Mallaig Minor Hockey.
Coming together to sponsor the event was the Mallaig & District Museum, the Mallaig Chamber of Commerce, Mallaig and District Ag Society, and Mallaig Minor Hockey. The results for the bean bag championship and the car and tractor show are the following:
Results
The bean bag tournament winner is the “Dad Bods” team by Jamie Michaud and AJ Jean, and the second place went to Lindsey and Breton Gillard.
For the Car and Tractor, the Best Overall was won by Don Katerynch’s 1953 Pontiac. Ryan Sloan’s 1960 Ford Ranger won Original Truck, and Murray Yake’s 1960 Chev Apache won Restored Truck.
Allan Tkachuk’s 1928 Model K won Original Tractor, with Gary Algot’s 1953 winning Restored Tractor. Garrett Roche’s 1965 Galaxie won Original Car, and Matt Amyotte’s 1967 Firebird won Restored Car.
