2007 Event Recaps

January 24 - Coaches of Inspiration
(Wenatchee Convention Center)
Over 300 coaches, athletes and families jammed the Grand Ballroom at the Wenatchee Convention Center for the 2nd Annual Coaches of Inspiration Awards. In all, 41 coaches were honored in nine different youth sports. Darcy Bruggman, Paul O'Connor and Joe Gurnard received Exceptional Coaching Honors and Carolyn MaGee received an Exceptional Achievement Award honoring her 11-years of coaching the Eastmont swim program. (Photo courtesy of Tammy Gurnard)

March 2-4 - Special Olympics Winter Games
(Mission Ridge, Ice Arena & Throughout the Wenatchee Valley)
1,400 athletes, 450 coaches, 400 volunteers and over 3,200 spectators filled the Wenatchee Valley to the brim for the Washington State Special Olympics Winter Games. US Olympic gold medalist Jill Bakken and four Seattle SeaGals were wonderful celebrity ambassadors. This event alone meant over $500,000 to our economy in money spent on hotels, food and entertainment. (Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Washington)

March 31 - Wenatchee Valley Duathlon
(Wenatchee Confluence State Park)
Typically gray and chilly weather greeted nearly 100 athletes for the 2007 Wenatchee Valley "Du." The "Du" represented the first of five events presented by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and supported by the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council. (Photo courtesy of Al Neace & www.NCWDigital.com)

April 14 - Alcoa Ridge to River Relay
(Mission Ridge to Walla Walla Point Park)
Olympians Torin Koos and Laura Valaas created a celebrity buzz for the 2007 running of the Alcoa Ridge to River Relay Race. Quite a snowfall greeted competitors at the starting line high upon Mission Ridge. A cross-country and downhill ski, run, bicycle and paddle later and iron men, women and teams crossed the finish line in front of a great crowd at Walla Walla Point Park. In all, 487 people participated in R2R in '07. While the numbers were down, it's expected a new emphasis on fun and teams will renew interest in the race for '08. (Photo courtesy of Al Neace & www.NCWDigital.com)

April 21 - Wenatchee World Jr. Ridge to River Relay
(Walla Walla Point Park)
837 children swarmed all over Walla Walla Point Park for the Wenatchee World Junior Ridge to River Relay. Fun was had by all, even adults, as the kids dressed in like uniforms and ran, paddled, biked, navigated the obstacle course and grabbed a swim-noodle to cross the finish line. (Photo courtesy of Deanna Bollinger)

April 22 - Wenatchee Marathon
(Centennial Park)
475 runners of all walks and persuasions gathered in downtown Wenatchee for this year's Sunday running of the Wenatchee Marathon. In all, 400 of those participating were from outside the Wenatchee Valley, representing a significant economic impact to our community. Runners had choices of a full marathon, a half marathon, 10K, 5K and kids run. Those who participated said they very much appreciated the many aid stations and portable restroom facilities. Cheerleaders even lined the route to root on runners. (Photo courtesy of Jon Brunk)

May 5 - Apple Blossom Run
(Orondo Avenue)
The annual tradition of the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival in Wenatchee included, yet again, the Apple Blossom Run prior to the Grand Parade. 1,240 men, women and children hoofed it from Triangle Park down Orondo Avenue in front of 10's of thousands of people preparing to watch the parade.

May 12-13 - Wenatchee Criterium & Omnium Stage Races
(Downtown Wenatchee & Malaga Roads)
The course was again set in the heart of downtown Wenatchee for the Twilight Criterium this year. Riders and spectators alike reveled in the atmosphere, the music and the fast-paced thrills and chills of cyclists pedaling frenetically over a six-block course. Cyclists then challenged the hills of Malaga for Sunday's Omnium. In all, 346 participants took part in the two day event in Wenatchee.

June 9 - Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary Apple Century Ride
(Walla Walla Point Park)
800 riders rode either 50 or 100 miles in the 20th Annual Apple Century Ride. That's excellent considering a change of traditional weekends as well as competition from a ride in Chelan, the same day, ALSO called the Apple Century Ride.

July 21-22 - Cycle Washington Memorial Ride
(Redmond to Wenatchee)
A small but enthusiastic group of hearty riders road from Redmond to Cle Elum on day one and from Cle Elum to Wenatchee on day two of our inaugural Cycle Washington Memorial Ride. Volunteer support from RSVP's around the state was incredible and we look for even more participation in 2008 when the route will be the same. Work has already begun on planning the 2009 route…stay tuned! (Photo courtesy of RSVP)

August 18 - Hot August Days Tour of the Columbia Basin
(Walla Walla Point Park)
99 brave souls boarded bicycles and pedaled through the heat of North Central Washington during a summer Saturday. Cyclists had a choice of 50, 120 or 150 mile excursions. 55 locals and 44 out-of-towners celebrated the ride's ending at Linden Tree Park with baked potatoes, a beer garden and rock music.

August 19 - Apple Capital Triathlon
(Daroga State Park)
An unusual August rainstorm greeted participants at the start of this year's Apple Capital Triathlon. Record numbers who turned out didn't mind, as 235 people participated. The Triathlon Association, in fact, had to turn people away because they couldn't support all those who wanted to participate. (Photo courtesy of Jon Brunk)

September 15 - Tour DeVine
(Wenatchee Valley)…
The burgeoning wine industry in the Wenatchee Valley is reflected in the popularity of the annual Tour DeVine Bike and Wine Tour. This year, 258 riders trekked from Wenatchee to near Peshastin and back, taking in the scenery as well as a scrumptious feast at ride's end.

September 29 - Dam 2 Dam Thumbs Up! Bike Tour
(Orondo and Wenatchee Valley)…
Mike and Dani Utley have made the Dam2Dam Thumbs Up! Bike Tour the largest hand-cyclist event in the country. This year, over 50 hand-cyclists participated amongst the 806 riders. Dam2Dam is now pushing Apple Century for the largest ride in the Wenatchee Valley. (Photo courtesy of www.mikeutley.org & www.theinteractivecompany.com)

March-September - Softball in Wenatchee
(Wenatchee and East Wenatchee)…
Take your pick, O'Terry's Jack and Jill, Sterling Invite or Raider Rumble…whatever the tournament, softball is king in the Wenatchee Valley. In 13 tournaments between March and September, 5,083 people played softball on a co-ed, men's, women's or girl's team. That's 4,027 people from outside the area. To put that into dollars and cents, according to statistics used by similar sports council's around the country, factor $99 a day per person traveling into the area for a sports event spent on accommodations, food and entertainment. That's nearly $400,000 brought into the Wenatchee Valley economy just from those PARTICIPATING in softball. Factor in that each participant represents 1.3 people, and that's an additional $118,000. Not bad for just 13 events. Imagine if we had more fields!!!