Last Sunday I was offered an opportunity I could not
tum down: Over the years I have made mention in various
columns of the varied exploits of the Derby Club, and on
Sunday Danny Tweed came along with some notes he had
laid out for me on the club's activities over the years and
their present aims to make the club even better and
stronger.
Dan is president of the club today and has had a lot to
do with it since he was old enough to get a licence. He has
held various posts in the organi7.ation over the past years
and as prexy be is going to endeavor to make the
necessary changes to make the club even more suc-

cessful.
During its formative days as the Orwell Derby Club,

its name derived from the hotel under the ownership of
"Frenchy" Bousquet It offered to sponsor the club's
formation in 1952, and several well-known local sportsmen
formed the nucleus to get it started. Jack Cox, Alfie Albo
Sr., Milt Stinson, "Whiz" Topliff and Tommy Gibbons
were among the original members of the club. '
One of the original activities of the club was the Derby
Day which wu held ootile third Saturday in June of every
year since its inceptiea. it was originally held at the old
mill site and the catch fif the day was cooked on an old saw
blade. Various forms of sport were held on Derby Day to
enliven the proceedings. As well as the fishing, there was
a tug-of-war across the creek where the losers got dunked
in the-creek. I remember one time when Harry Gregory
•as our anchor man and he looped the end of the rope
around the base of an old stump and when the opposition
pulled themselves into fatigue, we had no trouble pulling
them into the creek. Also there was a greasy pole climb,
swimming races up the creek against the current, ball
games and bocce.
Over the years the club has acquired quite a nwnber
of supplies including a trailer equipped with a propane
griddle; this has seen the menu of Derby Day change
practically every year from chili, stew, through chicken,
beef, pork and steak barbecues. The club also has its own
camping supplies and any member can avail himself of
their use at no cost.
Incidentally, this year's Derby Day will be June 22 at
Big Sheep and the menu will be barbecue baron of beef
and all the trimmings.
The club membership voted to change the name of the
club to the Kokanee Derby Club when the Columbia
Brewery offered its sponsorship in 1983. The membership has fallen from around 200 to approximately 150
over the past couple of years and the aim is to get it back
to its former strength. The $8.00 membership fee includes
free displays, cold plate snack and beverage at the annual
meeting, free admission to Derby Day with free meal and
free beverages, and eligibility to enter any or all of the
trophy categories at no charge. Membership monies also
go to supporting the B.C Wildlife Federation, Trail
Wildlife Association and other worthwhile projects.
Among other projects are community involvement in
such tblngs as the sponsorship of trophies and medals for
best boy and girl athlete in both elementary schools in
Rossland, donations to the Girl Guides, sponsorship of
Golden City Days Log-sawing competiton, and the sum of
fm.00 to the Trail Wildlife Association to assist in a sheep
transplant
The club's involvement in the BCWE and the TWA is
connected with fish and game management practices and
input to the gov~t and their biologists regarding
restocking of Big and Little Sheep Creeks and other
wildlife and habitat preservation problems.
1be sponsor has agreed to supply all new trophies in six
fishing categories along with small keeper trophies in
each, plus hunting trophies for non-typical and typical
male and whitetail deer and black bear. All will be on
display at the Uplander Hotel.
Plus these, the club will sponsor the Jack Cox
Memorial Trophy for best Dolly Varden and the sponsor
1-1

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its name derived from the hotel under the ownership of
"Frencby" Bousquet. It offered to sponsor the club's
formation in 1952, and several well-known local sportsmen
formed the nucleus to get it started. Jack Cox, Alfie Albo
Sr., Milt Stinson, "Whiz" Topliff and Tommy Gibbons
were among the original members of the club.
One of the original activities of the club was the Derby
Day which wu held ooSbe third Saturday in June of every
year since its inceptiaa. it was originally held at the old
mill site and the catch f/f. the day was cooked on an old saw
blade. Various forms of sport were held on Derby Day to
enliven the proceedings. As well as the fishing, there was
a tug-of-war across the creek where the losers got dunked
in the-creek. I remember one time when Harry Gregory
was our anchor man and he looped the end of the rope
around the base of an old stump and when the opposition
pulled themselves into fatigue, we had no trouble pulling
them into the creek. Also there was a greasy pole climb,
swimming races up the creek against the current, ball
games and bocce.
Over the years the club has acquired quite a number
of supplies including a trailer equipped with a propane
griddle; this has seen the menu of Derby Day change
practically every year from chili, stew, through chicken,
beef, pork and steak barbecues. The club also has its own
camping supplies and any member can avail himself of
their use at no cost.
Incidentally, this year's Derby Day will be June 22 at
Big Sheep and the menu will be barbecue baron of beef
and all the trimmings.
The club membership voted to change the name of the
club to the Kokanee Derby Club when the Columbia
Brewery offered its sponsorship in 1983. The membership has fallen from around 200 to approximately 150
over the past couple of years and the aim is to get it back
to its former strength. The $8.00 membership fee includes
free displays, cold plate snack and beverage at the annual
meeting, free admission to Derby Day with free meal and
free beverages, and eligibility to enter any or all of the
trophy categories at no charge. Membership monies also
go to supporting the B.C Wildlife Federation, Trail
Wildlife Association and other worthwhile projects.
Among other projects are community involvement in
such things as the sponsorship of trophies and medals for
best boy and girl athlete in both elementary schools in
RossJand, donations to the Girl Guides, sponsorship of
Golden City Days Log-sawing competiton, and the sum of
$225.00 to the Trail Wildlife Association to assist in a sheep
transplant.
The club's involvement in the BCWE and the TWA is
connected with fish and game management practices and
input to the g o v ~ and their biologists regarding
restocking of Big and Little Sheep Creeks and other
wildlife and habitat preservation problems.
'lbe sponsor has agreed to supply all new trophies in six
fishing categories along with small keeper trophies in
each, plus bunting trophies for non-typical and typical
mule and whitetail deer and black bear. All will be on
display at the Uplander Hotel.
Plus these, the club will sponsor the Jack Cox
Memorial Trophy for best Dolly Varden and the sponsor
will add the Kokanee Cup for the best Kokanee.
While the club has always catered towards males,
consideration is being given to a Family Day at either
Little Sheep or Nancy Greene Lake.
Oops! I forgot to give you those fishing categories so
here they are: biggest fish on Derby Day, biggest Eastern
Brook of the year, plus one for the biggest by a retiree,
biggest Rainbow, Dolly Varden and Kokanee.
A draw to raise funds is to be held sboortly and tickets
will be on sale •from all executive members and at the
Uplander. Prizes for this will be a video recorder and
movies from Rock Island, a spotting scope from Wises,
and a portable gas barbecue.
Among the active members of the club at ~ present
time are Bob Glover, Graham Jones, Rob Newton, Mark
Martin, Brian Eyres, Kim LaFond, Bob Peebles, Ross
Armour, Joe Rosse, and Dave Tweed Jr. For information
you might phone Danny at 364-1492 or 364-4771 or Mark
Martin at 362-7192.
Till next time, then!