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DORVA prepares to host Motocross racing August 7-8

    The landscape overlooking the Drumheller valley has seen a dramatic change especially for motocross riders.
    The signature finish line on the motocross track at the top of the South Hill, which stood for more than 20 years where bikers flew across to claim the checkered flag, has been removed. While it was a recognizable landmark to many, the change excites members of Drumheller Off Road Vehicle Association (DORVA).
    The jump’s absence is a sign of progress as DORVA prepares to host races this summer on August 7 and 8.
    It has been about five years since the track hosted a race. The club expects 400-500 entries for the event. On top of that, there will be 300-400 spectators.
     “We’re hosting Round 1 of the fall series,” said race director Casey Christensen. “It is one of the seven rounds, and all seven are points races for the Southern Alberta Championship.
    The Alberta Dirt Riders Association sanctions the race.
    He said while there is a big crowd of racers and spectators coming to the event, expect to see some local riders from the club competing at the event.
    To prepare for the, event Christensen said they have done extensive repairs and renovations to the track to make it race ready and safer.
    “We’ve done a redesign and rebuild of the track to incorporate a bunch of safety standards and new jumps,” he said, adding the direction of travel has been reversed.
    The race is a signal of a dramatic turn around for the club, which clawed its way from impending doom to vibrancy.
    “Things are really opening up with the club, it’s been great,” said Christensen. We are looking at having in the area of 90 members. We are starting to get recognized around Alberta.”
    Along with the renovations to the main track, they opened a peewee and intermediate track, and installed a playground.
    “They (the tracks) have all been redesigned, rebuilt and refaced,” said Christensen. “They incorporate all kinds of different challenges for all different riders.”
    He explains the safety is built into the track and designers and builders pay attention to blind jumps near corners, and pinch points coming out of the curves.
    “On the volunteer side we have a strong core of volunteers, things are happening,” he said, adding they have received strong support from businesses in the community through sponsorship.
    Christensen explained the moto-crossing image of breaking bones at breakneck speeds has changed a lot in the last few years. The sport is now more family oriented. The race format has also changed. Rather than pulling bikes off a truck and hitting the track, families roll in on Friday to set up camp. Saturday is designated as a practice day to learn the track and gain experience, and Sunday is race day.
    Christensen said volunteers are always welcome, and those wanting to get involved in the race or in joining up with DORVA contact Christensen at 403-820-1574.

Jenn Beaupre to share new and old songs

    Local followers of the career of Jenn Beaupre will have another chance in the near future to see and hear her on the stage doing what she does best.
    Last time inSide Drumheller caught up with Beaupre, she completed a stint with the Moscow Ballet and was getting ready to perform at the Vancouver Olympics. Today she is set to take centre stage at the University of Calgary Theatre.
    “My tickets just went up on Ticketmaster on Saturday for a show October 7,” Beaupre said. “ It is a 500-seat theatre, so it’s ambitious.”
    In 2008, Beaupre released her most recent CD, Lullabies for Grown-ups, and has been working to support it. This year she breathed new life into some of the tracks after heading to Kentucky to re-record. 97.7 FM Radio in Calgary funded the trip.
    “Some of the songs are the same, and there are a few new ones,” said Beaupre.
    “It’s a little more mellow. The tempos are down but it is crisper and cleaner.”
    Another exciting development, she tells inSide Drumheller, is she shot her first video.
    “I have two dancers who are just beautiful. They have both been involved is So You Think You Can Dance Canada and they did a lyrical dance to one of my tunes called 'What If'," said Beaupre, adding while it is an older song in her repertoire, it was one she re-worked with Duane Lundy of Shangri-la Productions in Lexington, Kentucky.
    “It’s a really simple piano vocal,” she said.
    She hopes to include the video as part of her performance in October. She envisions live dancers on stage as she performs while the video plays as a backdrop.
    She also hopes to invite some of the artists she has worked with during her career, so the show has a cosy atmosphere of friendship.
    Her recent experiences of recording and the shooting of her video have moved Beaupre artistically to a point that she has begun to start writing again. This excites her and she is about to embark on an ambitious direction with her music.
    She said this might be the last “album” for her for quite some time. Because the music industry has been moving towards singles, she is following suit.
    “Hopefully I’m going to be releasing a new song every two months, be it through iTunes or the internet,” she said. “It seems to me the industry is moving towards singles and really quick turnaround. People can look forward to hearing new stuff very soon.”
    Those wanting to learn more about what Beaupre is up to can go to www.jennbeaupre.com or visit her Facebook page.

Rumsey breeder enters Canadian horse at Battle of the Breeds

    A Rumsey horse breeder is bringing awareness to a steed that is not well-known, even in its country of origin.
    The Canadian helped build the country of its namesake. The Canadian descended from breeding stock sent to what would become Canada in 1665 by Louis XIV. These horses were to be distributed among the elite military officers, government officials and clergy of the colony of New France, and to develop a breeding program in New France.
    These horses became the backbone of those settling, and the historic traits of an even temperament, heavy bones and hooves of steel were the traits that attracted the horse to Karen Anderson of Diamond A Canadians. She acquired her first Canadian in 2000, in search of a perfect family horse. She fell in love.
    “They are wonderful horses, they do whatever you want them to do,” said Anderson, who many may have seen at the Canada Day Parade on her mount Jewel dressed as a dinosaur.
    The horses are considered a light draft breed and their standard is 14-16 hands. They are known for their soundness, hardiness and endurance. While many are bred for driving, they are used in a number of disciplines. Anderson says because of their strength, endurance, solid feet and temperament they are often used for trail riding and as a family horse.
    Anderson says while there is 4,000-5,000 registered today, that was not always the case, and throughout their history they faced extinction a couple times.
    During the American Civil War, thousands were exported to the United States to be used as breeding stock and as roadsters. Because the bloodlines were not maintained it is possible the Canadian may have contributed to some of the new world American Breeds such as the Tennessee Walker, Standardbred and Morgan. In 1886, in order to preserve the breed, the first registry for the horse was opened.
    The horse faced dwindling numbers again in the 1960’s and 70’s. Private breeders stepped in where the national breeding programs and a breeding program of the Quebec government were discontinued and the horse has made a comeback. Anderson says there are about 10 breeders in Alberta. In 2002, they were recognized as an official symbol of Canada.
    Her stable is doing well in shows. Her mare Rose won the Grand Champion Halter Mare at the Annual CHARMD Show just last month, and Anderson and Jewel have been placing well a three-day eventing.
    This year she is part of a team entering the Battle of the Breeds at Spruce Meadows during the masters in September.
    There are four horses on a team at the Battle of the Breeds and they are put through the paces including dressage, driving, barrel racing, a trail class and jumping. They have competed before, and she says it was a learning experience. They are already making preparations for this year’s show.

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