Chuck Wagon Talk with Arnie Jackson
SINCLAIR SECURES SECOND TITLE
By Arnie Jackson
Aug 5, 2008, 09:49

          More power to him! That was the fans reaction as they watched 41 year old Hugh Sinclair, guide his Grande Prairie, Alberta based rig around the 5/8^th of a mile course in Strathmore, Alberta on Monday, August 4^th, 2008.

          Drawing barrel number three is not often considered ideal. Most drivers want the number one set of barrels in hopes of catching the rail position early on, but the 2008 Calgary Stampede’s Rangeland Derby Champion wasn’t the slightest bit worried. He’s run off all four barrel placing at the Strathmore Rodeo Grounds, so drawing the three set just meant he needed a good start. 

          Getting a good start was exactly what happened for the 4 times Calgary Stampede Champion as he dualed it out with Luke Tournier of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan running off the one barrel, jerry Bremner from Westerose, Alberta making his start off the number two barrel and the classy veteran Buddy Bensmiller from Dewberry, Alberta who was lined up right beside Sinclair off the four barrel.

          “What you want is a clean run, and we all did that” said Sinclair, reflecting on the championship final heat. “I had some of the best in the business to run against, so it was a thrill to come out the winner”.

          Winning seems to suit the quiet spoken WPCA reignsman very well. He had already posted eight WPCA show championsips, so it only seemed timely that he was able to add the 2008 World Professional Chuckwagon Association’s “Pro Tour Championship” to his growing collection of accomplishments.

          “You can’t win much if you don’t have great outriders” reasoned Sinclair, “And I had two of the best in Shawn Calf Robe and Chad Cosgrave”. The tour title is the first for the vetran northern Alberta wagon driver, but it gives him two of the three big titles available in any given racing season.

          Having won the $100,000 “Dash For Cash” at the Calgary Stampede’s Rangeland Derby on Sunday, July 13^th, 2008, adding the WPCA’s “Tour Title” to his credit book this year, set’s him up very nicely to be chuckwagon racing’s triple crown winner if he can capture the World Title at the Edmonton Northland’s Horse Power show, August 27^th – 31^st, 2008.

           Meanwhile, Sinclair will be looking to improve in the circuit points race category as he competes at the Battle of The North in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, August 6^th – 10^th, 2008 and then at the Red Deer Chuckwagon Championships, August 14^th – 17^th, 2008.

            Winding up the Strathmore Heritage Days races on a winning note was the ten times World Champion, Kelly Sutherland, from Grande Prairie, Alberta. Driving the Talk and Train From The Hear Now corporation, Sutherland rounded the Strathmore course in a blistering time of 1:12:00 penalty free. Sutherland completed the five day showdown in 12^th place overall with an aggregate time of 6:14:31.

          Only three shows remain in the 2008 World Professional Chuckwagon Association’s schedule, with the top wagons gunning for a bye into the 2009 Calgary Stampede.

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