Chris Chell’s third-annual mud bog once again went off with barely a hitch. As promised last year, Chell incorporated trucks into the 2016 event. They navigated 210 feet of slop on Saturday July 30 and the ATVs (quads) and UTVs (side-by-sides) gave it a go on a slightly smaller course the following day.
Last year Chell ran a truck bog several weeks after the ATV/UTV bog. Due to its popularity, and in order to cut down on prep work, he decided to run them both on the same weekend in 2016. The idea worked well for the trucks, with twice as many showing up for the event; however, that wasn’t the case with the ATV/UTVs. It is suspected that two family reunions, a wedding and Southend’s Pioneer Days may have kept a few regulars away. Nonetheless, the weather couldn’t have been better, with some gorgeous sunshine evenly dispersed amongst light cloud cover.
In a short conversation prior to Saturday’s event getting underway, Chell advised that some 50 hours of prep work went into readying the course for the two-day bog. He stated that he had some help with the work and that it was mightily appreciated.
Saturday’s truck bog got underway a little later than advertised, but didn’t disappoint, as exhausts were belching and mud was flying shortly before 1 p.m. and the competition carried on for several hours before wrapping up with the crew readying the course for the following day. Category winners were: PowderPuff – first Cherie Murie (1992 GMC), second Brittany Holmgren, third Terri Joy (2003 Chevy); Stock – first Chris Chell (1992 Toyota), second Terri Joy (1987 Toyota), third Hunter Smale (1978 Ford); Super Stock 4-6 cylinder – first Rockie Joy (2003 Chevy), second Chris Chell (1994 Toyota), third Terri Joy (1987 Toyota), Hunter Smale also won a prize for the shortest distance on this run, travelling one foot on the course. He received a LarsWorks plaque for his effort; Super Stock 8 cylinder – first Rockie Joy (2003 Chevy), second Rollie Becker (1985 Chevy), third Dewayne Ellingson (1984 Dodge); Modified 4-6 cylinder – first Rockie Joy (1987 Toyota), second Chris Chell (1994 Toyota); and Modified 8 cylinder – first Kelly Kopeechuk (1992 GMC), second Richard Sterzuk (1998 Dodge), and third Aaron Thompson (2011 Dodge).
Sunday’s event also held off a bit from the scheduled start time, with hope that a few more late stragglers might show. However, near 1 p.m., the decision was made to go with what they had and a good day of rivalry resulted regardless. Winners in the ATV Class were: 700 Stock - first Scott Leighton (Nelson House); second Al (AJ) Johnson (Snow Lake); third Shelby Stoupe (Snow Lake); 700 Modified – first Shelby Stoupe, second Scott Leighton, third Al (AJ) Johnson; 800 Stock - first Dennis Brule (Snow Lake); second Al (AJ) Johnson; third Scott Leighton. Winners of the UTV Event were: 1000 Stock – first Tyler Samborski (Snow Lake); second Matt McBratney (Flin Flon); third Kevin Anderson (Snow Lake); 1000 Modified UTV – first Kevin Anderson (Snow Lake); second Tyler Samborski, third Matt McBratney; PowderPuff - first Brittney Holmgren (Flin Flon), second Jenny Oleksuk (Snow Lake). Cherie Murie won a magnificent LarsWorks chair with the best time of the day … 13.1 second! Chell donated this and all cash prizes in the event.
With the two days of mud and fun wrapped up, a pensive Chell says he will look at attendance, re-evaluate and perhaps restructure the event, so that it is worth the time and work that is put into preparation. He says one decision he has made already is that there will be a children’s bog over a shorter and shallower course next year. He says it is something that seems popular and is worth a shot. Judging by the number of young folk’s waist deep in the muck during this year’s bog … he just might be onto something there. Regardless, Chell put on a hell of a fine show!
