Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

We are in the midst of another Sequim Irrigation Festival and it looks like another big weekend as we welcome the strongmen, both weight lifters and loggers. As I write this prose, Sequimites probably are lining up their pickup trucks and flatbed vehicles with the tailgate pointing toward Washington Street to get ready for the big Irrigation Festival parade on Saturday.

The Sequim Run-Off was last Saturday. That event used to kick off the big Saturday festivities but since has moved to a week before the parade and logging show. Athlete's Choice used to sponsor three runs, the Lincoln Park, the Robin Hill and the Run-Off, as part of a series but entries the past few years have been sparse so only the Run-Off continues as this time.

The Jesse Marunde Invitational Strongman Competition started when Sequim's strongman Jesse Marunde brought some international stars to Sequim three years ago and they put on a great show downtown. They moved to Tarcisio's for two years and now will be Friday night at the logging show site.

They will put on a great show from 6-8 p.m. to honor Marunde's memory.

The big guy died in 2007 but the event continues.

Callie Marunde and Kevin Nee will be masters of ceremonies for the event.



The Log Show

The Sequim Valley Lions started this one 21 years ago and it has grown and grown every year with Kevin Kennedy and Dave Bekkevar honchoing the entire affair now run by the city.

Chain saw carvers will start Friday night at 6 p.m., the tractor pull will take place, special displays will be set up and the midway, with yummy food and the beer garden, will get going, then the strongmen. The popular fireworks caps the first night at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday events open at 10 a.m., but parade-goers will get to see the entire show beginning right after the parade. The show goes until about 5 p.m. and it's a donation-driven event, so put plenty of bucks in the collection plate when you enter.

Pole climbing is amazing, and ax throwing, pole falling, hot saws, power saws, hand bucking, lawnmower races and more make it a family fun day. Speaking of hot saws, those hummers are huge. The guys hook up a large chain saw bar to a car engine and fire away. Hot saws can cut through a big diameter log in a matter of four or five seconds.

Helpful hint: Dress in layers and bring a coat or jacket as the Sequim wind can make the area quite chilly by late afternoon. When you sit in the grandstands, sit close together so more people can squeeze in.



Scooter Chapman can be reached via e-mail at scooter@olypen.com.