Ted Bowe Memorial Barrel Race

Justin Samson Photos - July 7, 2012

The Sunshine Coast Equestrian Club played host to its annual Ted Bowe Memorial barrel race last Saturday. Bowe was a resident of the Sunshine Coast who would run a dude string of horses for trail rides. Over the years he would show up every spring and run his operation out of various places on the Coast. He moved upcountry a number of years ago and while out riding was stung by a bee and died. He had never known that he was allergic to bees. Every summer the SCEC holds a barrel race in his honour, as this was what he would compete in when part of the SCEC. Riders running in the barrel race, gallop their horse around three barrels in a clover leaf pattern with the fastest penalty free time winning. The SCEC also adds $500 to the open division making the jackpots even bigger. In each division (pee wee, open, junior and senior) times are broken down into 'D' divisions. And depending on the number of entries the first and second place of each division won a cash prize. As well this year each winner won award stirrups with the name of the event and other embellishments on them, and a framed photo of each rider and their horse running the pattern was given to each rider up to third place.