Outdoorsmen test skills in competition

A cold and damp weekend welcomed the participants of this years 4-H Sportsmen's Pentathlon, held on the grounds of Alder Creek.

What was planned as a two-day event turned into a one-day affair due to less-than-favorable weather, and a lower-than-expected turn-out. A fundraiser for the 4-H Club of Deschutes County, the pentathlon is a series of competitions pitting teams of outdoorsmen in such events as archery, a chukar hunt, fishing, sporting clays, and GPS orienteering.

David White and Todd Williver created the pentathlon in an effort to help fund 4-H scholarships and youth programs due to a cutback in state funding.

Even at half of last year's turnout of 14 two-man teams, Williver still considers the event a big success.

"We raised just over $3,000 for the Deschutes County 4-H program," said Williver. "That money will be used for scholarships and programming for any and every 4-H youth in the county."

Seven two-person teams braved the snow and cold Sunday in an effort to find out which team would become the grand prizewinner of a 14-foot Fishcraft Stillwater lake boat.

This year's winners were Team BS, which consisted of Brenden Baird and Scott Belding of Powell Butte, who narrowly defeated last year's winners, Tom Rheuben and Dustin Kersavage of Sisters. The third-place finishers were the Treasure Valley Coffee team of Scott Higdon and Brad Mombert of

Bend.

Being the sportsmen they are, 2010 winners Rheuben and Kersavage donated their grand prize back to the organizers of the event.

After the event there was a dinner and auction at Brand 33 Restaurant at Aspen Lakes.

For information on future events and volunteer opportunities, contact Todd Williver at 541-548-6088 or visit http://www.deschutes4h.info.