The annual Gilpin County Fair brought the community together for three days of rides, contests, and rodeo action
This item is available in full to subscribers.
At this time, we ask you to confirm your subscription at www.themtnear.com, to continue accessing the only weekly paper in the Peak to Peak region to cover ALL the news you need! Simply click Confirm my subscription now!.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Questions? Call us at 303-810-5409 or email info@themountainear.com.
Please log in to continue |
Don't try this at home.
A Stellar Trick Rider sees the world from a different perspective.
See you later, alligator.
The bulls were big, bad, and surly.
Kayley McGuire took third place in the bull riding.
Hang on tight, it's going to be a wild ride.
On top of the world one minute, the next sprawled out on a mat.
Jumping for joy.
Single jack leg at the mining competition.
A cup of food draws the attention of two hungry goats at the petting zoo.
There's gold in that thar pan.
Kids' faces have been Suz-Q-Z's canvas for 30 years.
A young cowboy taking in the rodeo from the stands.
Rope tricks on horseback.
GILPIN COUNTY — It’s been said that “nothing is certain in life, except death and taxes.” With our last breath hopefully far in the future, and taxes presumably paid, there is one other thing that can be predictably relied upon: the Gilpin County Fair.
Year after year the fair brings the mountain community together like nothing else can. An engaging and entertaining mid-summer break, hundreds of people turned out on July 17 through 19 at Gilpin County Fairgrounds with no particular agenda in mind except to socialize and enjoy whatever there was to see and do.
The rides and games had been relocated from the gravel parking lot to the paved lot next to the Community Center. Anyone in need of a lift was launched high in the air on the bungee ride. The mechanical bull’s undefeated record remained intact as everyone who dared board was shown the matt, often sooner than later.
There was a bounce house and a bounce house course for kids to play in and negotiate. Suz-Q-Z the clown diligently painted children’s faces. Students from Gilpin High School took turns in the dunk tank raising money for the VFW.
Log splitting came naturally for many local residents accustomed to stoking their woodstoves in wintertime. A popsicle-eating contest kept others occupied. Once their brain-freeze headaches had passed, there was an archery contest to observe in the Barn. Music played under the big top throughout the three-day event.
Skills of hard rock miners were on display during the mining competition held at the northwest corner of the grounds. There was guaranteed gold in every pan for those attendees who tried their luck at gold panning.
Two rounds of Mutton Bustin’ gave youngsters a shot at emulating their cowboy and cowgirl heroes. Whether they bested their ovine adversaries or not, all of the kids were winners and were presented ribbons. Following the first round, the Stellar Trick Riders dazzled the crowd with daring displays of horsemanship.
At 2 p.m. on Saturday, it was time for the grandaddy of them all: the rough stock rodeo. Eight seconds doesn’t seem like a long period of time until you try to spend it atop a bucking bronco or belligerent bull. Riggin Austin was the only saddle bronc rider to last the full eight seconds, good for first place and $1,050.
Bull riders did somewhat better with three qualified rides among them. Alberto Espinoza outdistanced the field with a score of 74 points, taking home a purse of $1400. Iskandar Campo won $840 for his second-place 65-point ride. One of two cowgirls in the bull riding this year, Kayley McGuire secured third place and $560 with her score of 62 points.
