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Avonlea claims Riderville status

Avonlea, not Weyburn, was declared Riderville by the Saskatchewan Roughriders centennial committee on September 4. Weyburn Rider Nation co-chairs Rochelle and Nicole Wendt were at the Labour Day Classic in Regina to hear the announcement first-hand.

Avonlea, not Weyburn, was declared Riderville by the Saskatchewan Roughriders centennial committee on September 4.

Weyburn Rider Nation co-chairs Rochelle and Nicole Wendt were at the Labour Day Classic in Regina to hear the announcement first-hand.

"It was disappointing but I think there was an overwhelmingly positive feeling about the whole thing," said Rochelle, "to see how everyone came together and worked together for this campaign made it all worthwhile."

Rochelle said that she and Nicole were happy that this campaign was able to raise awareness and donations for Weyburn Minor Football and the Chris Knox Foundation.

The four runners-up communities, Nipawin, Unity, Yorkton and Weyburn, each received a $2,500 donation and Rochelle said that they are sticking with their original plan of supporting Minor Football.

"It's a much smaller donation," said Rochelle. "We were hoping it would be bigger."

Avonlea will receive a $25,000 donation for winning the "Where is Riderville?" contest, which they intend to put towards starting a minor football organization in their town. They will also receive a full-day football and cheerleader skills camp from the Riders organization.

Avonlea, which is located 60-kilometres southwest of Regina, received 30 percent of the 269,093 online votes that were cast between August 13 and 31 for the "Where is Riderville?" contest.