Rip Gauthier Hunter Derby

Just a beautiful day to graze quietly ❤️❤️❤️

And more thanks to Joanna Solomon, Christina Rolston, Caroline Scime, Sharon Batista, Christine Wiggins, Jackie Tattersall, Jen Sweet, Laura Weller, Suzanne Deuel, Maddy Greco, Rachel Jaeger, Jenn Adam's and Craig Jackson - this is fantastic $ keep it coming!!

Thank you Andrea Lozynsky, Martha Bannock, Ian Woodley, Lois Mulligan, Maya Polson and Gillian Robinette ❤

This one's for you Krista❤ had to start the day right!

Look what we did last year 👏🙌😘

It's a Classic kind of day ❤

Looking out over a stunningly beautiful, yet eerily quiet derby field, I am filled with many conflicting emotions. First I am joyous that the weather is brilliant, a photographer’s delight, as it feels a marker in this strange time we are moving through that some things prevail. (I do believe the Ripper is signaling that all will ultimately be well.)



Then I am sad that on such a magnificent day I won’t see your happy and excited faces as you throw caution to the wind and gallop with abandon over the lush derby field with perma-grins ear to ear. I will miss Allan Donnan on the mike (remembering JT and Cliff too), all of you who over the years have judged, course designed, volunteered on in-gate, the office, the auction and everywhere in between, dressed up and/or stripped, prepared morning Baileys with coffee, BBQ’d, set up amazing themed picnics, sponsored, donated and dug generously into your pockets to ensure a good chunk of change headed to Headwaters to make life a little easier for those among us struggling with cancer.



I am blown away and so incredibly appreciative to all of you who have donated both directly to the hospital and through Ashley, Kev and Nicole’s page on line. A very special thank you to them for taking the initiative – it speaks volumes about the day and about them too. We are nudging $15K and on our way to the second piece of equipment! In a year where special event funding has fallen off the map organizations are struggling desperately to maintain their donations – I am really touched that the legacy of the Rip Gauthier Classic has generated a strong roster of committed donors – one of our main goals in initiating the Classic in 2003 was to build a day where we all came together for the sheer joy of our sport and to give back to something greater and more important than ourselves.



So today – saddle up and ride for the joy, with the memory of days past and with the anticipation of days to come. You are an amazing community of people whom I feel privileged to be among and to call my friends. So even though this year we have to let the field rest enjoy the day, put your hand in your pocket and raise a glass to making something better. Thank you more than you can know.



Go to: https://hhcfoundation.akaraisin.com/hhcpersonalpages/HunterDerbyClassic



At the risk of missing someone I want to thank:



Butch & Collette Ferneyhough

Cindy Bobbato

Nancy Love

Evan & Ashley Lewis

Pam Rennie

Jim Warren

The Martenfeld Family

Jeremy Cole

Mary Lou & Gerry Patava

JennyMercer

Sue & Mike Vito

Patti Sifton

Trish Lozynsky

Mitch Hampshire

Ashely & Kev Maxie

Danielle Glanc

Nicole Verkindt

Carole Cuddy

Caroline Hawson

Sarah West

Emily Steenson

Amy Aspin

Allan Donnan

Ardie Hastey

Katie Uloth

Brianne Thompson

Brittany Gisborn

Martha Younger

Jennifer Lecluse

Anne Auty

Ulla Brooks

Alyssa Dodson

Marjorie Patterson

Robin Ferguson

Mireille Gagnon

Melanie Denoon

Carrie Thomas

Sarah Vaselenak

Alexandra Mynne

Sarah Long

Alyssa Blumberg

Shandiss McDonald

Kelsey Perry-Carlsen

Ashley Grinyer

Hannah Taylor

Bob Gaston

Kristen Campbell

Ron & Luci McEachern

Rip Gauthier Hunter Derby Classic - Find or Create a Personal Fundraising Page - Headwaters Health Care Foundation Support the Hunter Derby Classic Many of you have been wondering about this year's Classic. I waited and waited, REALLY hoping that by now there was going to b

https://hhcfoundation.akaraisin.com/hhcpersonalpages/HunterDerbyClassic

Rip Gauthier Hunter Derby Classic - Find or Create a Personal Fundraising Page - Headwaters Health Care Foundation Support the Hunter Derby Classic Many of you have been wondering about this year's Classic. I waited and waited, REALLY hoping that by now there was going to b

At the time of year when I am normally in overdrive pulling the Classic together I have felt oddly off balance looking at a quiet field.
Although we can't play together in person this year we can however still make a difference. Two of our favourite costume stars - a certain new daddy and an amazing skeleton are doing their own little derby at home and donating to the Classic. What a great and thoughtful idea ❤👍🐎

WE CAN STILL BE EFFECTIVE IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE - there are 2 items listed on the Classic page towards which all donations will go. Please go to :

Many of you have been wondering about this year’s Classic. I waited and waited, REALLY hoping that by now there was going to be an improvement in the COVID situation that would enable me to host the Rip Gauthier Classic again this October. Over the last few months, I have received many messages saying that it would be a gift to be able to look forward to playing on the derby field, in light of the unusual circumstances we have all faced over these last several months. Thank you Craig for the courtesy of checking in with me re my decision.

While the field is at its best and I am truly saddened, I do believe the right decision is to cancel the Classic this year.

Given the exactitude and cost of the necessary protocols and the strong probability of a second wave most likely to hit somewhere between mid-October through November, it remains however in the best interests of the community, our industry and each and every one of us to do everything possible to limit the transmission of this virus.

Charitable organizations are suffering from the loss of special event income with all concerned trying to be innovative with substitutions and alternatives. The legacy we have built together in Rip’s name is truly meaningful and I urge you to renew your support of the Classic and cancer care at Headwaters by making a direct on-line donation at hhcfoundation.com . Don’t forget to note the Rip Gauthier Classic.

Thank you all for your continued enthusiasm and support - I truly look forward to the new year in the hopes that we are all able to mingle freely again.

Home A Base of Support Your donations are what make the difference Become a Supporter Donors have a tremendous impact on the thousands of patients cared for at Headwaters Health Care Centre each year. 7,567 GIFTS WERE MADE TO HEADWATERS