Grassland hosted one of the muddiest events around last Saturday.
The second annual Grassland ATV Mud Bogs featured quads competing in a trench of mud for the best distance, to win money and, most of all, bragging rights.
Not a single contestant was dry or clean after attempting to make it through the impassable pits. Many were covered from head to toe and even got stuck in the mud themselves when trying to get their quads unstuck and hooked up to the bobcats to pull them out.
The bragging rights for the day and the title of King of the Mud was awarded to Starr Saskamoose. Patsy Champion took home the title of Queen of the Mud. Both ran the same quad, which just so happen to win running three wheels as one of the tires popped.
More than 450 spectators came out to Grassland to watch the mud fly. People came from as far away as Calgary, Red Earth Creek and High Prairie to compete.
Although the dreary weather for the day was not what organizer Don Kravontka had hoped for, it didn’t seem to faze the drivers or the crowd.
“Considering the weather, it turned out really well. Everyone had fun. I don’t know anyone who didn’t have fun,” Kravontka said. “My hands were muddy from shaking hands with guys that had such a good time.”
Around 7 p.m. the day took a turn for the worst when driver Ryan Kozakevich flew over his handlebars, hit his head on the side of the mud pit and was knocked unconscious.
Immediately people were in the pit checking on him. 911 was called and paramedics and RCMP officers from Boyle were dispatched. Grassland Fire was also on scene to lend a hand. All members jumped into the mud without thinking twice.
Kozakevich was taken to the Boyle Hospital as a precaution as he complained of neck pain. He was released after being diagnosed a concussion and some bruising.
“I’ll be back next year, and I’ll be back probably in a month. I’m not going to give up,” Kozakevich said Sunday afternoon in a phone interview. “Apparently I hit a rock in the pit and that is what threw me off.”
Kozakevich’s seven-year-old son was also racing and placed second in his category of stock 500-700. He chose to challenge up, even though his machine was a Honda 300.
“Wyatt was racing. He liked it. He had a good time. He wants to race again,” Kozakevich said.
Kravontka said community needs an event like this.
“It is a good power weekend for us. It is a good venue and we are attracting new people to our area and putting Grassland on the map,” he explained.
“It is Alberta-known the mud bogs are here, and word of mouth is the best advertising you can have.”
