Hafford held its annual Winterama Jan. 25 to 27 with a large slate of activities to entertain individuals from the preschoolers to seniors.
The weather conditions had improved from the frigid temperatures experienced earlier in the week for everyone to enjoy the weekend. Festivities began Friday evening with a family fun night, which included an outdoor wiener roast, family skate time, floor curling, hockey game, penny carnival and local musical entertainment.
The penny carnival included a variety of games that permitted the children to display a range of skill levels from hockey shoot and bean bag toss to golf and archery. Children of all ages enjoyed the non-competitive stations as well as the food and treats of cotton candy and fresh popcorn.
The evening concluded with musical entertainment from a young local band, Dukes Under Fire. The members include Grade 9 student Lucas Lafreniere, Grade 9 student Jordan Gall and Grade 6 student Jason Gall. The aspiring performing artists have played at many local and surrounding area events and have developed a number of faithful fans. Although the members have been sharing their musical talents together for only a couple of years, the level of skill indicates that musical talent is a natural gift. Each member does vocals and plays multiple instruments contributing to the skill of the band's preferred country/rock genre.
"We are just so appreciative of having the opportunity to entertain the crowd in Hafford," commented Lucas.
Saturday began with a pancake breakfast followed by an Atoms hockey tournament, floor curling and arm wrestling. A Kaiser tournament, silent auction and senior hockey game rounded out the schedule of events for the day.
The first sanctioned Saskatchewan Arm Wrestling circuit tournament for 2013 was held at Hafford in conjunction with Winterama. Referees included provincial, national and world competition veterans and titleholders Terry Palaschak and Tracy Arnold. Kalyn Hemsing, vice-president of Saskatchewan Arm Wrestling Association, provided the regulations and commentary when he was not competing.
SAWA is part of the Canadian Arm Wrestling Association and of the World Arm Wrestling Association. A number of circuit tournaments are held in various communities and cities throughout the province annually to provide an opportunity for members to develop points and perfect their skill. The Hafford tournament was a double elimination process and followed the tournament rules and regulations of SAWA.
"Arm wrestling has developed into an organized and safe sport," commented Hemsing. "In the provincial level, it sees participants from three years to 70 years and at the world level competitors peak the 90-year mark. It is a sport for all ages and genders."
In the female youth 60 kg right arm class, Tayanna Cooper of Leask placed first while Piper Woytiuk, also of Leask. took second. In the female youth 70 kg right arm class, Leah Kohut of Hafford placed first and Jennifer Rettger of Blaine Lake placed second. In the open women's right arm class Jennifer Payne of Hafford placed first and Jennifer Rettger placed second.
There were four competitors in the men's 110 kg right arm class. Curtis Klashinsky of Saskatoon placed first, Keenan Kohut of Hafford placed second, Kayne Hemsing of Saskatoon placed third and Dylan Arcand of Prince Albert placed fourth. The same men competed in the men's 110 kg left arm class, Klashinky placed first, Hemsing placed second, Kohut in third and Arcand placed fourth.
In the men's 110 kg plus right arm class, Kayne Hemsing placed first and Chad Smith of Prince Albert placed second. In the men's 110 kg plus left arm class, Kayne Hemsing placed first, Vincent Kohut place second and Chad Smith placed third.
Sunday events included a pancake breakfast, minor hockey games and an afternoon of musical entertainment by local musicians. A recreational hockey game was held in the evening to conclude the weekend's events.
Winterama was a successful event due to the co-operative efforts of local organizations. The ability to work collaboratively towards a common goal is the key to hosting a successful event and the community of Hafford appears to have mastered the skill. The community's next collaborative event will be its centennial celebration at the end of June.
