Gravity never fails to challenge Hill Dash runners and Running of the Balls on High Street

Free A&W hamburgers, a Bayview Brewing Company/Ladysmith Kinsmen beer garden, a Surtees Realty bouncy castle, kids zone and more treated participants well on June 17 for the Hill Dash and Running of the Balls, a partner event between Ladysmith Downtown Business Association and Ladysmith Resources Centre Association.

Crowds cheered on the racers of all ages and combinations in the Hill Dash before a loader from David Stalker Excavating dumped some 1,000 coloured balls from the top of High Street at Third Avenue to the delight of excited ticket holders and their friends.

Top three prize-winning balls in the Running of the Balls were:

1st - Francois Keen, ball 822, $500 prize;

2nd - Tyler Strazza, ball 781, $300 prize;

3rd – Kimberly Nguyen, ball 696, $100 prize.

Rick Rake, LRCA manager of communications and events, thanked all who participated in "this exciting programs fundraiser and friend-raiser."

Tylor Nelson, co-owner of Ladysmith Crossfit and vice-president of the Downtown Business Association was thrilled with the Hill Dash turnout, the fit competiitors and the public who came to support the runners.

LRCA Facebook page HERE features a cross-section of photos from the day (June 17).

Media coverage and a short video of the event highlights can be found HERE.

LRCA thanks Ladysmith Home Hardware for transporting and providing 180 landscape ties for the event.  Thanks too to David Stalker Excavating for releasing the coloured balls from his loader.

Hill Dash sponsors deserve a round of applause as well.

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Running of the Balls ticket sellers went the extra mile this year.  Those individuals included star seller Brian Trueman, current and past LRCA board members and staff, Ladysmith Town Councillors Duck Paterson and Ray Gourlay, and Neck of the Woods General Store.  Take a well-deserved bow!