The Yorkton Terriers gave away the grand prize in the 2011 Yorkton Terrier Lotto to a well known local couple Friday morning. Terrier lottery chair Ward Brown says the lottery was very successful despite the fact that it wasn't a complete sellout. "We sold enough tickets to make some good money for the hockey club," Brown announces.
The cash lottery replaced the house lottery run by the Terriers previously. Lotto supporters indicated they preferred the cash lottery. Additionally, expenses on the lottery were considerably lower, Brown suggests. It was also a lot easier to manage, he adds.
Brown says he knows the winners personally. "When we pulled their name and I phoned them, she didn't believe me that they had won. We had to get (Terrier president) Lyle (Walsh) on the phone to talk to her also," Brown chuckles.
It was good to see the grand prize go to a local winner this year, Brown says. He reports there were many local winners which just shows there local fans supporting the hockey club. The Terrier executive appreciates the community support for the club and hopes that it will continue to do so, Brown closes.
The Terrier Lotto grand prize winners of $10,000 a month for a full year are Rose and Don Walters of Yorkton.
"The win was both a shock and a surprise, especially to my husband," says Rose who admits he didn't know that she had bought a ticket on the lottery.
When Rose came in to announce the win, Don says he was in the bedroom watching a hockey game on television with his headphones on. "She said we won. We won the $10,000 Terrier draw," he recalls. Not really certain whether to believe, he asked who was really on the phone. Rose handed him the telephone and Don talked to Brown and then to Walsh which convinced him they had really won the Terrier Lotto.
Rose says the couple has been long time Yorkton Terrier supporters and has always purchased Terrier lottery tickets in the past. "It's not the first time we've bought tickets but it's the first time we've won," she says. They plan to share some of their winnings with their family and haven't really decided what to do with the rest at this time.
Don points out both he and Rose have been involved with minor sports in Yorkton. He served as president of Yorkton Minor Sports for a number of years, as well as fund raising chairman. "So we're really grateful and thankful that we won this. It's been really super to see the Terriers in Yorkton and we're pretty proud of them," Don closes.
"Thank you to the Yorkton Terrier executive. It's a great prize," Rose adds.
