Jesse Chillihitzia of Merritt gives Qwez a pat as they cross the finish line, winning the Mountain Race during the final performance of the 95th Annual Williams Lake Stampede July 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake)
The third and final performance of the 95th Annual Williams Lake Stampede on Sunday, July 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake)
The third and final performance of the 95th Annual Williams Lake Stampede on Sunday, July 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake)
The third and final performance of the 95th Annual Williams Lake Stampede on Sunday, July 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake)
The third and final performance of the 95th Annual Williams Lake Stampede on Sunday, July 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake)
The Mountain Race is one of the most popular, daring events at the Williams Lake Stampede. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Williams Lake Stampede mountain race Day 1 results are as follows: 1. Jesse Chillihitzia Merritt, 2. Darren Sulin Towdystan, 3. William Smithers, 4. Oliver Lindley Merritt, 5. Shae Spiker and 6. Conway Lulua Nemiah Valley. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Williams Lake Stampede mountain race Day 1 results are as follows: 1. Jesse Chillihitzia Merritt, 2. Darren Sulin Towdystan, 3. William Smithers, 4. Oliver Lindley Merritt, 5. Shae Spiker and 6. Conway Lulua Nemiah Valley. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Darren Sulin held the lead for most of the race, when at the last moment, Jesse Chillihitzia passed him. Williams Lake Stampede mountain race Day 1 results are as follows: 1. Jesse Chillihitzia Merritt, 2. Darren Sulin Towdystan, 3. William Smithers, 4. Oliver Lindley Merritt, 5. Shae Spiker and 6. Conway Lulua Nemiah Valley. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Shae Spiker competes in the first mountain race at the Williams Lake Stampede June 29. Williams Lake Stampede mountain race Day 1 results are as follows: 1. Jesse Chillihitzia Merritt, 2. Darren Sulin Towdystan, 3. William Smithers, 4. Oliver Lindley Merritt, 5. Shae Spiker and 6. Conway Lulua Nemiah Valley. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Darren Sulin (left) and Jesse Chillihitzia laugh and shake hands after a tight race Thursday evening. Williams Lake Stampede mountain race Day 1 results are as follows: 1. Jesse Chillihitzia Merritt, 2. Darren Sulin Towdystan, 3. William Smithers, 4. Oliver Lindley Merritt, 5. Shae Spiker and 6. Conway Lulua Nemiah Valley. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)This year’s Mountain Race at the 95th Annual Williams Lake Stampede was all about one horse and one rider.
Jesse Chillihitzia of Merritt won the Mountain Race overall after winning all four races through the weekend.
Chillihitzia gave all the credit to Qwez, a very fast Arabian/Quarter horse. In every race Chillihitzia and Qwez pulled off a pass-from-behind on the track to win before a cheering crowd.
“It was all him pretty much. He’s really fast,” Chillihitzia told the Tribune after receiving his championship buckle from organizer Jimmy Lulua.
“We came last year but just for the experience. This year he wasn’t even breaking a sweat the last two days.”
Chillihitzia said he rides Qwez, but the horse is owned by Lenora Starr.
Riding in the famed Mountain Race is something Chillihitzia has wanted to do for some time.
“I wanted to do it for quite a while, actually quite a while.”
Longtime mountain racer Darren Sulin of Towdystan did not ride in the final race Sunday after breaking his collarbone during a fall in the race Saturday afternoon.
He had been ahead of Chillihitzia in previous races only to have Chillihitzia pass him on the home stretch.
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