Yorkton Minor Football held its second annual Football Night in Saskatchewan fundraiser Saturday at the St. Mary's Ukrainian Cultural Centre Saturday.
It was a huge night for all involved but probably made even bigger this time around as it was the conclusion to the Football Week in the Parkland that so many people within the community have worked endlessly for.
It was a pretty good end to the Riderville week as the fundraiser dinner was highlighted by guest appearances from current CFLers and the Rider cheer squad.
For the past several years, students as young as those in Gr. 6-7 that were interested in playing football who lived in Canora, Kamsack, Melville, Preeceville and Yorkton have become part of the Kinsmen Minor Football League.
The night also marked the end of a week that was full or Rider-related festivities. The list of names of those who helped out is as follows:Kathy Hilworth, Penny Sandercock, David Baron, Don Szabo, Darcy Zaharia, Roby Sharpe, Cory Sharpe, Barry Sharpe, Jason Farrell, Shawn Redmond, Riley Wawryk, Brenda Hackman, Gene Krepakevich, Gerry Smysnuik, Rick Kozechenko, Jim Gorman, Dorian Bush, Jim Eftoda, Steve Variyan, Ed Magis, Kristy Cmoc and Scott Wallace.The night capped off a long week filled with Roughrider fun everywhere and as Roby Sharpe said several times over, there was something here for everyone.He said the banquet is the best part.
"Of course, the Saturday night! It's fun, it's so fun."
The night featured a performances by both the Yorkton adult jazz band followed by the 620 CKRM Saskatchewan Roughrider cheerleading team who performed a handful of stunts with much less room then they'd usually have on the turf of Taylor Field.
Opening up was former Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) cheerleader and former Rider cheerleader Brittany Theis. Theis was also in town for her cheer clinic which she held for the second straight year at the MC Knoll School gymnasium.Next up was the announcement of the 'Down, Set, Write' winners, as sponsored by Deneschuk Homes. Sharpe said it was awesome to hear such young kids come up with some amazing literary works as they read about why they like the Saskatchewan Roughriders. One even mentioned that he used to be a follower of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Former Bomber Troy Westwood was also on hand that night.
"I really like those kids in the essay-writing contest. That was funny," notes Sharpe after local elementary school students stepped up on stage and read their own Rider poetry.
Also part of the night was the unveiling of local product Jordan Matechuk on a road sign, said Sharpe.
"The unveiling of that road sign of Jordan...," recalls Sharpe. "I was blown away by how much money it made."
The winning bidder was Linton Potzus, Sharpe said, adding that it cost him well over $9000.
Lawrence Potzus donated the sign and it cost about $2000 to build it.
The road sign will be put up on the Yellowhead highway just inside the city limits on the field outside the Yorkton Regional High School.
Only hours before the banquet was the Rider Pa-ride, which was said to be the largest of its kind within the city. Locals were encouraged to come up with a float coloured in green or decorated with Roughrider memorabilia, logos, etc., says Sharpe.
"That parade was unbelievable," Sharpe said, barely able to contain the enthusiasm, almost as if it had just ended moments ago.
"There was no room for anything else out there! It was thousands of people in the parade. That's all I can say. It was so unreal!"
