First Annual Sled Fest A Success In Gorham
February 16, 2011
by Matilda Brown
Berlin Reporter
The First Annual Sled Fest in Gorham was well attended, with
people coming from as far as Massachusetts to participate in the weekend of
winter activities.
The money that was made through the event will be used for grooming the trails
and according to Brian Ruel, president of the Presidential Range Riders
snowmobile club, the money that does not get spent at the end of the winter will
go into the scholarship fund. The club provides a scholarship every year, the
amount of which varies depending on how their checkbook looks at the end of the
season. Vice President of the club, Ray Bergeron, said that this year may have a
larger scholarship fund than years past because of the success of the Sled Fest.
Ruel said the turnout was very good for the event and said that the comedy night
with Bucky Lewis at the Town and Country Inn had been sold out. Ruel and
Bergeron made sure to thank all the local businesses in Gorham that had
participated and donated prizes or the poker run and they both extended a thanks
to the town of Gorham for their help in making the event go smoothly.
In the morning of Saturday, Feb.12, the activities kicked off with radar runs at
the Gorham airport. The fastest speed that was clocked had been 123 miles
per hour for the Edmonson racing team. That team had used a modified arctic cat
snowmobile. At the radar runs alone, the club raised over $1,000 for
registrations and food sales.
There were about 50 people who entered the poker run, which was the final event
and it was held on Sunday from morning until 3:30 p.m. when prizes were awarded
at J’s Corner Restaurant and Lounge in Gorham.
The winner of the poker run was Tony Demers of Gorham, while the second place
winner was Scott Clemmer of North Grafton, Mass.,and the third place winner was
Melissa Holland (Clemmer’s fiancé), also of North Grafton, Mass. Demers said
that he was going to give his prize to his father for his birthday.
Melissa and Scott said that they had both been up to the area before and had
already been planning on coming up for Valentine’s Day hen they heard about the
Sled Fest. They said they love coming up here and said that everyone is so nice.
They are already planning a trip next year for the second annual Sled Fest.
The club is also already planning for next year’s event. Next year is also the
fortieth anniversary of the Presidential Range Riders and the club is looking to
hold a bigger event than this year’s. The club is in talks with the Berlin
Snowmobile club – the White Mountain Ridge Runners – to hold joint festivities.
Larry Gomes, the Assistant Trailmaster of the White Mountain Ridge Runners, said
that this year the Range Riders used the Berlin trails for some of the riding
during Sled Fest. Gomes said that if the two worked together, than the event
could bring people to Berlin as well as Gorham, helping out both.
“We have some of the nicest views in the North Country,” Gomes said. He added
that he hopes events like these will bring winter sports enthusiasts to the area
so they can truly see all there is to offer.
Ray Bergeron (blue shirt) the vice
president of the Presidential Range Riders, stands with
the first place winner in the poker run – Tony Demers – at the end of the First
Annual Sled Fest
put on by the Presidential Range Riders, the Gorham snowmobile club (Photo by
Matilda Brown).
Melissa Holland – the third place winner
in the poker run – and Scott Clemmer, her fiancé and the
second place winner in the poker run, stand with their helmets. The couple is
from North Grafton, Mass.,
and plans to come back next year for the second annual Sled Fest (Photo by
Matilda Brown).