CARNDUFF - The Carnduff Dash for Cash barrel racing event, held annually in the town, has become a thrilling spectacle for both participants and spectators.
This high-stakes competition draws top barrel racers from across the region, all working for the coveted prize money and the glory of victory.
The event took place at the Carnduff Agricultural grounds on July 19-21, where the atmosphere was electric.
Riders, sitting astride their finely tuned horses, navigated a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels in the fastest time possible. Precision, speed and agility are paramount as each rider seeks to shave precious seconds.
The Dash for Cash was created by Bart and Sandra Spencer when their children were babies. Feeling they could not commit to an organization or committee, they started the Dash for Cash as this could be worked on at their own time.
At the time, they ran roughly 30 peewees, 20 youths and an average of 130 open barrel racers a day, along with 625 team roping runs in that weekend. The most they ever paid out over the weekend was $40,000.
Four years ago, Britt Martin and Torie Boyes took over this large event and it has continued to thrive.
This event has become the biggest barrel racing gathering in the southeast and is one of the largest in Saskatchewan.
A total of 256 competitors came to do the turn and burn, in the hopes that their time would come out on top. Seventy team roping pairs participated over the weekend.
Martin said the heat was hard on everyone and many took advantage of the swimming pool in between events.
Dawn Vandersteen came out on top in the open derby and select 50 plus divisioon, while KC Peters took home the futurity and Talia Perrot won the youth.
Competitors come from the Prairie provinces, and year after year, they continue to draw in new people and have more support from sponsors, which creates bigger prize pools and more items to win, such as buckles, custom headstalls, embroider blankets, trophy spurs and horse boots.
Roaming Vaquera Photography from Alberta was brought in to capture every rider's true grit and glorious moments on the barrels.
Food vendors were easily found and they had other people selling products. Some came as far as Saskatoon, Regina and Estevan with their clothing and jewelry.
Lisa Huynh and her daughter Kyra from the Redvers area have attended the Dash for Cash since it started, back when Kyra was eight years old.
Lisa has also ridden in the event but had to sit on the sidelines this year as her young horse is not ready for the challenge.
Kyra rode her grandpa Marius Ericksen’s horse, a gelding named TT Smart Jewel.
“The event is super awesome,” said Lisa. “The food and vendors were fabulous, and the shopping made the heat bearable.”
Lindsay Collins from the Estevan area said the event is well-run. The grounds, prizes and sponsors are great.
“The girls and their helpers worked extremely hard in the blistering heat to keep things safe and running smoothly,” said Collins.
She rode her 14-year-old mare named Nala, and although they did not end up in the money, they were happy with their runs.
