The Bill Galvin Racing Alliance (BGRA) will be hosting the finalists in the four Youth Derby contests (Literary, Art, Photo and Video) on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
An action-packed evening is planned for the top three entrants in each category including paddock tours, a meet and greet with some of Canada’s top drivers, a race presentation and more. The evening will culminate with the awards presentations to the students.
Prominent Standardbred owner and breeder Tom Rankin has generously sponsored the prize money for these four contests. On May 13, Rankin hosted a very successful Open House event at his St. Catharines breeding operation to provide some inspiration for aspiring writers and artists.
The Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) is sponsoring the dinner along with the Drive With Us program, which will allow each finalist to ride in a double-seated jog cart with a driver. Equine Guelph will be providing free access to its online Horse Behaviour and Safety courses to the winners of the senior divisions in the contests.
Finalists in the contests are listed below in alphabetical order:
Youth Literary Derby
Short Story - Junior (Grades 3-5)
- Sarah Moore, Amherstburg, Ont.
- Georgia Roes, Elmira, Ont.
- Clara Smith, Niagara Falls, Ont.
Short Story, Senior (Grades 6-8)
- Olivia Battler, Elmira, Ont.
- Amira Javaheri, Maple, Ont.
- James Vance, Aurora, Ont.
Poem-Junior - (Grades 3-5)
- Ivy Irwin, Dresden, Ont.
- Ellery Kesseler, Burlington, Ont.
- Sophia Zheng, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Poem - Senior (Grades 6-8)
- June Ibbotson, Hanover, Ont.
- Lila Tipple, Burlington, Ont.
Youth Art Derby
Junior
- Isabella Bolt, Renfrew, Ont.
- Maisie Evans, Dresden, Ont.
- Riley Liang, Oakville, Ont.
Senior
- Alexandra Homorcean, Burlington, Ont.
- Maddy Surette, Guelph, Ont.
- Susie Wen, Oakville, Ont.
Youth Video Derby
- Brinsley Brickman, Sebringville, Ont.
- Cam Kupec, Petrolia, Ont.
- McKennah McLean, Clinton, Ont.
Youth Photo Derby
- Brinsley Brickman, Sebringville, Ont.
- Chloe Jackson, London, Ont.
- Addy Nowack Thompson, Waterloo, Ont.
(BGRA)