Every year the Sunshine Coast Equestrian Club gathers to remember a local cowboy and holds the Ted Bowe Memorial Barrel Race.
The event was a huge success last Saturday, July 20, at the equestrian centre in Roberts Creek.
All disciplines of horsemanship are welcome to participate, but western events were the feature of the day with barrel racing as the main event.
This year there was also a drill team demo with The Coastal Cowgirls (who will be riding this Tuesday, July 30, before the RCMP Musical Ride in Gibsons), a chili cook-off, pony rides, good music and lots of thrilling and funny horse events. If you missed it this year, not to worry - it gets bigger and better every year.
Bowe moved to Gibsons in the mid '60s and soon became known as a talented horseman. He was best known for "getting everyone out" to watch the gymkhanas.
During the early '70s, the arena was on the site where London Drugs is now. The main attraction of one gymkhana Bowe organized was a 2,800 pound bull called Freight Train and all the local cowboys had a go at riding this beast. He brought bareback riding (on wild horses) and bull riding to the Coast, the likes of which has not been seen since. For many years to follow he was part of the horse community as it moved to different sites and riders came and went.
The Sunshine Coast Equestrian Club has endeavoured to follow Bowe's example and get the whole community out to watch and enjoy the day and remember him and what he meant to this community.
- Submitted
