2005 Champion Bowls
Submitted by Diann Clothier
The 9th Annual Appalachian Classic Mountain Bike Race, to be held at the Calhoun County Park near Grantsville, WV, on June 26th, 2005, is pleased to "unveil" this year's Champion Bowls by local artist Robbie Clothier. The bowls, carved from wild cherry, and signed, numbered, and inscripted specially for the race, are awarded to the fastest male and female Expert/Pro Class mountain bike racers each year... and the bowls are in addition to a 100% cash payback purse for the Expert/Pro classes!
This tradition began in 2000, when Jeremiah Bishop took home the single Champion Bowl. Ryan O'Connor took the honor in 2001, and then Clothier felt it would be more equitable to award a bowl to the fastest male and female racers. 2002 saw Clay Evans and Sarah Crandall-Fletcher win the bowls. Nick Waite and Mandi Riddle took them home in 2003, and TJ Platt and Mandi Riddle (again!) took them home in 2004. This year's bowls have an estimated retail value of $600 to $700 each, so one might expect Expert/Pro riders from all over to invade Calhoun County in June in search of, as Jeremiah put it in 2000, "the coolest trophy".
Robbie Clothier has been carving hardwood bowls since 1990, and makes between 20 and 50 bowls a year. He decided to donate bowls to the Appalachian Classic MTB Race after his sons began mountain bike racing. Robbie notes that most people just put their bowls on a table for display, but the bowls are fully functional as salad or fruit bowls. Indeed, the post-race meal at the Classic serves salad in one of Rob's "party-sized" bowls (salad for 150!).
The Appalachian Classic Mountain Bike Race is open to all - it is sanctioned by the WV Mountain Bike Association, and is WVMBA's Spring Point Series Championship Race this year. Race fees are $25 for members, and $30 for non-members, and the first 150 racers receive a free T-shirt. There will be plenty of prizes for the racers - including a bonus Ace Adventure Rafting Trip for the fastest male & female 2 lap sport riders - and the Calhoun County Park serves up a great post-race pasta and salad meal. There is free camping available at the park, so racers and their families are encouraged to come out on Saturday and enjoy the park, climb the National Guard's Rock Wall, and participate - or watch - the infamous pond jump! Sunday morning's events begin with the kid's races at 10, with the cross country race starting at noon with the traditional black powder blast!
For more information about the race, visit the web site at www.appalachianclassic.com
or e-mail to appalachianclassic@yahoo.com
|
