Utah State Chariot Championship

Saturday February 27, 2010.

While Rylee, Mom and I were walking a 5K before heading up to the races...

Grandpa was pulled through the mud while helping Ron Robinson

warm up the second team he drove. I did not find this out until after all

the races were over and we were talking to him in the barn, waiting to load up

and head for the house.

Sunday February 28, 2010.

Had the driver of the other chariot in Grandpa's race turned

around or listened to the announcer,

this is the site he would have seen and/or heard.

1. No Driver
2. C.C. bearing down on his chariot.
3. The announcer repeatedly telling him to look over his shoulder.
   There was a runaway team behind him.

Back in the starting gate...C.C. did not start. Knockdown broke from the starting gate as planned. This caused the horses to twist and the chariot to dump Grandpa out onto the ground. And the horses to have a free run down the track. They were picked up nicely by the outriders, whose job it is to pick up runaways. The horses sustained no injuries.

The paramedics were called in.

Paramedic #1 to Grandpa, "Sir, do you know where you are?"
Grandpa, "Hell yeah, I'm on the ground!"

He's tough and we love him. But holy smoke...He scarred us!
Needless to say He did not place at the State level.

Rylee's fun day!

Rylee playing at the races.
Sis-in-law Kim, cousin Karen, cousin Bill, Aunt Melba, brother Les and cousin Sharon.

Karen, Bill, Melba and Sharon

CC and Jet

Critchlows and Ron Robinson

Our day started wonderfully.

We went to JD's basketball game.

Got our nails done.

Went to the races.

Got haircuts.

Finally went home to have dinner and play games.

Saturdays races.

The weather was wonderful for most of the day. Grandpa lost to the Richards family again. Not even sure why they are having to race each other again. Neither is he. One more weekend of races here in Tooele County then it is on to Ogden for the State and World finals. We love those!

See you there! Or at least we hope too!!!!!

Fw: Drama at the races!

The race right before Grandpas turned into an event that all in attendance worry about. Ron Robinson was left in the starting gate, while his team traveled the track without a driver. In the photos you can see him on the ground in the starting gate. His team went around the track safely. Right as they could have been grabbed by some of the heading crew they veered off, jumped the rail and headed through the infield part of the track. There they were flagged down at the other end of the infield by the opposite rail just as the Ron's buggy hit that rail and tipped over. Nate Critchlow was driving the other team and promptly got his under control so that the empty chariot had the right of way.

Sooooooooooooo Close!!!!!!!!!

Right here you can see Grandpa's team on the right.

C.C. is just now being moved over after brushing the other team.


Perfectly matched in their strides.
Grandpa likes that.

Still perfectly matched. Grandpa likes that even better!

(Sorry that the video is so lousy. Mary took it for me using my phone.)

Grandpa (Far side) 22.43 seconds -VS- R & R 22.34 seconds

It was one of the best races of the season, so far.

But then, we knew it would be. Talking to Grandpa earlier in the morning he knew it would be tight. He was going to give 'em a race. Wasn't going to hand them a win.

It doesn't show it in the video that earlier in the race he had to check his team, as they got to close to Ron's. Grandpa says he wanted to get close to the other team, because his horses race faster that way. If not for brushing the other team I personally think that he could have won.

Better luck next week Grandpa!!! You make us all so proud!

The first chariot races of the season.

Nate Critchlow and the Critchlow Quarter horses team.

Neal Critchlow and another of their teams

Rylee and her activities between races.

Ron Richards and the Richards Family team

Ron Robinson

Nate and another Critchlow team.

Severe concentration is needed!!! Lol.

More of Rylee's antics between races.

I must apologize to all, that my

battery died before Grandpa's race

started and I got zero photos of him.

Sledding at the Old Powerhouse in South Willow canyon.

Kyle. He made our train crash everytime he went with us!

We love him because he took the day off to go with us. Thank you Ky!
Rylee and Ashlee racing JD.

Hold on tight Ryles!!!!!!!!

I guess Rylee didn't hold on tight enough. Her, Ashlee and Hank came out of the sled in one laughing heap!

Cody after a crash. Knocked his beannie crooked.

Cody, JD and Kyle.

The boys racing.

The girls.

Loren and Jolynn after getting down the hill.

Isn't she cute in her warm weather gear?

The crash that will be felt for days.

We all felt young on the sledding hill.

Too bad our bodies are old and sore after sledding.

Ashlee one of the crash Queens.

Her and Rylee never made it down the hill without crashing.

We dubbed them the crash Queens.

Hank

Loren

Brothers

At the end of the day.