There was drama aplenty. There was passion. There was courage. And, of course, much mud did fly and many engines did howl.
What was largely missing – and nobody cared a bit – was dust.
Saturday’s rain had saturated the ground for the 2013 Henry Battenfelder ATV Quad Rodeo, ending the prospect of quads churning through a dust bowl in the delightful setting near Camp Creek.
There was something else that also put a smile on faces: all the events went ahead with metronomic efficiency. Very few delays, bar the odd machine getting stuck in the mud, no accidents, no injuries, and no incidents to report beyond hard-fought, competitive races.
This year saw 15 teams of four riders compete for points in a series of different events: obscale courses, chuck wagon/chariot races and drives through mud.
By the time the mud had settled and the last of the four-stroke engines had died, the “Iron Horse” team was once again declared the winner.
Although Saturday’s official results had not yet been released, the word was last year’s champions had held off a valiant effort by the Misfits.
One of the Misfits, Edmonton’s Stan Buller, was full of praise for fellow team members, who had fought to the last.
“It’s all about teamwork, and we did pretty well today,” he said.
Buller said the course, which had undergone some tweaking, was deceptively challenging, testing man as much as machine.
“I would say this year’s quad rodeo was the best ever I’ve been involved in,” he said.
“I love coming here. I was hooked after my first event. There is a great bunch of guys here, they have a sense of fun and are very competitive, but not stupid.”
Buller said the event showed ATV riders in the best light.
Organizer Mike Battenfelder said it had been one of those days when all the events happened bang-on schedule.
The racing started in the morning and ended shortly after 3 p.m., about an hour earlier than most people’s expectations.
“Overall we are pretty pleased,” Battenfelder said, adding that a bit of wet weather had been needed after the recent dry spell. “The rain kept the dust down, which was good.”
Battenfelder said the overall standard of riding had lifted, making for more competitive races.
As for his own performance, he was satisfied. Last year he had competed with the ABL (Anything But Last) team. This time he was with Three Two One.
“I think we tied fourth or fifth,” he said.
With Saturday’s racing over, spectators at the Henry’s Hidewaway/Batt Traps golf course and recreational area began to turn their attention to Sunday’s drag racing.
Unfortunately, with the heavye downpour Sunday’s drag races were cancelled. It was considered unsafe for the riders.
Henry and Margaret Battenfelder started the ATV Rodeo in May 2001 with six teams. By the spring of 2010, it grew to as many as 18 teams. Henry Battenfelder, who loved to ride a Kawasaki 700, died on Dec. 26, 2011 aged 71.
For full results of Saturday’s races see next week’s Leader.
