Snowmobile rallies from across the area took place in February to raise money for clubs and communities.
Cudworth
This year was a good year for the Cudworth Lions Club and their poker rally on Feb. 3, says Amber Ponak.
The snow four or five days before the event helped out, she says with 65 riders going out on a 40 km trail heading west from town.
Many sponsors stepped up for door and raffle prizes and 20 volunteers helping out throughout the day, says Ponak.
Funds raised go towards different organizations every year with former events going out to families in need and local sports teams.
Birch Hills
Decent snow conditions on the 50 mile trail made for a successful 23rd annual Birch Hills Sno-Posse Poker Rally on Feb. 10.
Even with cooler temperatures, the event brought out 114 registered riders with even more riding the trail.
St. Louis Karate Club put on the breakfast, lunch, and supper which really helped them out, says club member Mark Evans.
Lots of sponsors came out to support the event with businesses from the Prince Albert and Melfort, and some from as far as Saskatoon, stepping up to support the event.
Quill Lake
Around 85-90 riders took in the Quill Lake Trail Twisters poker rally on Feb.24.
Club president Curtis Kangas says they were happy with the turn out and the great weather.
The trails were in fair condition for the riders, with Kangas saying they could have used some more snow.
However, it is better than in previous years since lack of snow has meant this being their first rally in three years.
“We’ve seemed to have missed the snow that other clubs have got the last couple of years, though this year we were quite happy to get some snow to put some snow in.”
Money raised from the rally will go towards trail maintenance and maintaining equipment at the club.
Around 15-20 volunteers and 40 sponsors from the community who also helped makes the rally a success.
Middle Lake
Around 100 riders were out for the Middle Lake Lions Club poker rally on March 10.
This is the biggest fundraiser the Lions put on, says Lions Club chair, Ken Herman, with most of the money raised going to continuing funding the Middle Lake Multiplex.
Even with a lack of snow, the 35-40 mile trail was up to the task, says Herman with the first place rider getting a guaranteed prize of $2,500.
Businesses from Humboldt, Cudworth, and other neighbouring towns helped donate draw items as well as local women donating homemade food like soup and pies, and around 30 volunteers donating of their time to make the event a success, says Herman.
This is part 2 of our monthly poker rally recaps for February. See part one here.
“It takes a whole community to put it on and you have to appreciate everybody,” says Herman.
Altogether, Herman says they raised around $11,000 for the multiplex.
