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Drivers get down and dirty at Mudfest

Aug 7, 2016 | 6:02 PM

It was a filthy weekend in a small Saskatchewan town.

Dozens of ATV and truck drivers flooded Crystal Springs for the fourth annual Mudfest on Saturday, Aug. 6. They drove their quads and trucks through a 300 ft. trench filled with water, kicking up sprays of mud as they tried to get their vehicles through the sludge.

Organizer Jordan Clayton, who owns the Crystal Springs Hotel with his wife Emerald Debois, said they decided to start Mudfest after purchasing the hotel and realizing they needed a bit of a boost.

“We needed to make a little bit of fun in the middle-of-nowhere,” he said.

The trench was lined with watchers safely away from the mud spray on Saturday, who cheered whether a truck made it or not.

Clayton said they eased up on the difficulty this year, adding more water to make it easier for the drivers to make it through. He said last year the mud was much stickier and too many riders were getting stuck.  

As well, they added the truck class to fill any gaps left by ATV riders staying away after a tough previous year.

“Everyone’s got a vehicle, not everyone has a quad,” Clayton said. “It’s nice to see the trucks go through, they create a fun show.”

 

ssterritt@panow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit