SPY HILL — “It’s one of the longest-running sports days and rodeo going in eastern Saskatchewan, and it keeps getting bigger every year,” said Jeff Odgers, President of the Spy Hill and District Community Club. The group is hosting their annual Spy Hill Sports Day Aug. 9 and 10.
“We’ve got the chuckwagon and chariot races, we have the tractor pulls that have been added in a few years ago,” Odgers listed. “We’ve introduced a chore horse competition, and we’ve turned that into a two-day event because of the popularity of it. It’s actually amazing what they can do with their team of horses, and we have a lot of people who grew up in that area and really appreciate what they can do with their teams and the discipline. You have slo-pitch for the younger people, and lots of activities for the kids. We’ve got a ton going on, and it keeps getting better!”
Saturday kicks off with a pancake breakfast at the Sports Grounds, served by members of the Spy Hill Fire Department from 8 to 10 a.m. The Kids’ Rodeo also happens in the morning from 9 am until noon, followed by the mutton busting and dog exhibition. The first round of Chore Horse competition also happens that afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m.
“We’ve got the mutton busting for the young kids, which everybody loves to see their granddaughter or grandson trying to ride a sheep,” Odgers said with a chuckle. “The kids' rodeo, too, is something that’s new. “We’re getting all the younger people involved. It’s for that group of people that still love that — with the horses and the rodeo, it gives them an opportunity to come compete and get out and meet some people.”
Things will get a little loud from 2:30 to 4:30 pm with the tractor pulls, which salute 100 years of Caterpillar.
Then it’s back to donning the cowboy hats for roping from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by more chuckwagons and chariots, which Odgers says is his favourite part of Sports Day.
“The chuckwagon and chariot races — they’re a staple that’s been part of our Sports Days for a lot of years,” he said. “It’s kind of a tradition — the second weekend in August, grab a seat in the bleachers and watch the chuckwagon and chariot races, maybe place the odd friendly wager on who’s going to win! It’s a huge draw, and I think for me, growing up on the farm, having run some of the older equipment and tractors, it’s neat to see those old tractors still working.”
As for the long-standing ‘green vs red’ discussion, Odgers admits to having operated both, but the McCormick W-4 is top of the list.
“I grew up in an old John Deere 730, and We got an old McCormick that my dad puts in — an old W-4 — it’s from the ‘50s, and I drove that as a kid in the field doing odd jobs and fencing,” he said. “That’s what we fed our cattle with, with an old hay rack and square bales, so the old McCormick has a pretty special place in my heart.”
Sunday events
After a full day, the crew in Spy Hill lets you sleep in a little bit on Sunday. There’s an interdenominational church service on Sunday morning at the Sports Grounds at 10 a.m., then it’s right back into the activities. Roping goes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the chore horse competitions.
After slo-pitch dominates the main ball field on Saturday, there’s a classic mood for Sunday as the car show takes over from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“The car show is another thing that’s gotten a lot bigger,” Odgers said. “We’ve been getting a ton of people, a lot of interesting cars. We have the older cars, we have the new cars there, so it’s a little bit for everybody.”
The tractor pulls continue their second day from 2 to 4 p.m., then it’s time for chicken dinner.
“That’s a huge hit on Sunday,” Odgers said. “People come in, watch the races, have a chicken supper and maybe wash it down with a beer!”
The last event on the schedule is the chuckwagon and chariots races, and Dash for Cash starting at 4:30 p.m.
The beer gardens and a bouncy castle will be happening through both days, but there will be a special guest in attendance, recognized by their red helicopter.
“STARS actually contacted us, so they’ll set up a table, which is nice,” Odgers said. “I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t appreciate what they do for everybody in this province — especially with the distance that you have to travel sometimes to get medical attention, it’s pretty nice to have .them around.”
It takes a community
Odgers was quick to credit the dedicated volunteers from in and around Spy Hill who help to make Sports Day such a success each year.
“It takes a good group of volunteers, and we have the Spy Hill Community Club that has headed it up,” he said. “We have a lot of people who put a lot of hours into planning, and we have unbelievable sponsorship with the businesses. A lot of people personally donate every year to it, and they make it possible and help it grow. A lot of the businesses have contributed, and then a lot of people who grew up with it they will give back to it. So there’s a lot of people who make it work.”
With a population of 173 in the village and 383 in the surrounding RM of Spy Hill, the influx of people hailing from near and far is a welcome sight to swell the sports grounds.
“When you have an event like this, people come together and do the work that needs to be done to get it going,” Odgers said. “The Community Club has put a lot of money back into the community, so all the money that’s raised is going to a good cause and staying local.”
