Dufferin Grey ATV Club host sponsored ride

Written By PETER RICHARDSON

Saturday October 13th the Dufferin Grey ATV Club held a sponsored ride from Shelburne to Lake Eugene, then on to the Beaver Valley and Walter's Falls, before returning to Shelburne. The event was to raise food and donations for the Shepherds Cupboard, the Shelburne area food bank.

Each rider who contributed to the drive, received a raffle ticket which then entitled them to a chance at winning some amazing prizes supplied by the sponsors. The hats, t-shirts, lunch bags and many other assorted goodies were raffled off prior to the start of the ride.

In all, between 70 and 78 participants on 56 bikes took up the challenge, leaving from the Shelburne trail head at 10:30 a.m. and not returning till after 5 p.m. that evening. Club President Tim Allen, no relation to Tim the Toolman, commented that he was happily impressed with the large turnout and was equally impressed and surprised by the large contingent from Shelburne.

In all, the riders contributed $270 in cash and some 50 pounds of food for Shepherds Cupboard and the Club matched the cash donation to bring the total up to $540 plus the food!.

Tim also mentioned the great support received from Councillor Dan Sample, who was in attendance, in having the Town bylaw changed to allow ATV riders to use town streets to access the trails and to allow them to reach gas stations and restaurants in town. The bylaw was changed in April of this year, due entirely to the efforts of Councillor Sample. Most of the towns and municipalities surrounding Shelburne has such a bylaw and it was hugely welcomed in Shelburne, when passed.

Such bylaws, depend heavily on the good conduct and behaviour of the riders and Tim emphasized in his opening speech the importance of caring for the trails and observing all the regulatory and safety rules surrounding ATV's and their use. A good example of this, is in nearby Aurora, where youths on unlicensed and uninsured bikes, vandalized Town parks and trails causing the Council there, to repeal their by-law and prohibit the use of Town property or roads from use by ATV's.

Needless to say, the week-end event saw no such errant behaviour and was deemed a grand success by all involved!