Snowmobilers gathered at the Pontiac Legion bright and early on Sunday to load up on pancakes and get instructions before venturing out for the legion’s first snowmobile poker run, organized as a fundraiser for the legion.
“We’re doing a pancake breakfast with sausage,” said legion secretary and event organizer Joann Hearty.
“And when they come back here, we’ll serve chili on a bun.”
The group made their way to Killarney’s Bar in Shawville, then further east to the Quyon Legion, before heading north for stops at the Ladysmith Bar & Grill and Scooter’s Bar & Grill in Otter Lake. Their last stop was at Mickey Creek Golf Club before returning to Campbell’s Bay for some well-earned chili.
At each stop, each person collected a playing card sealed in an envelope. Upon returning to the legion, their envelopes were opened and the person with the best poker hand took home the top prize.
Martin Shea took home the first prize of $100. John Morin came in second and was awarded a $75 prize. In third place was Brian Boisvert who received $50. Event sponsors included Killarney’s Bar, the Ladysmith Hotel, Scooter’s Bar and Grill, Mickey Creek Golf Club and Campbell’s Polaris.
Shea said this was the first time he’s done a poker run in a long time, and he saw it as an opportunity to take new trails he hadn’t explored before.
“It was a little complicated because the group we were with hadn’t done those trails before,” Shea said. “But we found our way and a lot of people helped us out and pointed us in the right direction.”
Shea’s wife Chanelle was on the back of his snowmobile and the rest of their group was made up of his parents, Roxanne and Pat, and his grandfather Raymond.
The event raised more than $500, including $80 raised from the 50/50 draw.
Hearty said that the money will go towards some updates needed in the building, including levelling and raising the floors in the kitchen and washrooms.
