16 vehicles participated in the club’s Dennis Keis Memorial Poker Run on May 25th, with drivers and passengers taking a scenic tour to collect their playing cards from various locations around the island. Back at the Agi Hall, where the Lions were on hand with hot dogs and burgers, participants tried to make either the best or worst poker hand. The trophy for the best hand—a remarkable royal flush (a 1 in 3,867 chance from seven cards drawn from eight decks, if I’ve done my math right)—went to Moira Rockwell, while the worst hand prize was won by George Holt & Dar Mace. Don Coles won a prize for having a joker, and numerous door prizes were won by other attendees.

 

 

The event was good fun, and raised $185 for People for a Healthy Community.

May 28th, beautiful day, mustered at Twin Beaches Mall at 10:00am, 9 stops around Gabriola Island, each car received a playing card at each stop. Participants then proceeded to our Community Hall where the Gabriola Lions Club provided excellent food as usual.

Cruisers member Fred Withey analyzed all the poker hands and determined if any had a prize winning joker followed by the winners of the best poker hand and the worst poker hand. This was followed by a sizable number of door prize draws.

Volunteers handing out cards at the 9 stops were: Moira Rockwell, Randy Phillips, Glen Gray, Verenia Saxon, Catherine Phillips, Tony Leeming, Steve Wohlleben, Val Lofvendahl, and Wayne Knibbs.

Dennis Keis was the hall organizer, assisted by Carol Martin and Steve Smith.

Michael Hubbard and Blair Mann were our excellent photographers.

Poker winners were:

High hand: Don & Teresa Switzer got the trophy
Low Hand: Russ & Rosemary LaBelle
Joker: Ken & Shirley Nicholson

Draw tickets winners were: Dennis Keis, Verenia Saxon, Tony Leeming, Terry MacFarlane, Carol Craig and Tom Williams from Ladysmith

Mustering and Leaving

At the Community Hall

Eight volunteers mustered at the museum at 10:00 and headed out to their spots. About 15 club members plus 10 visitors from the Old English Car Club mustered at 11:00, received instructions and maps from President Wayne and headed out to 8 stops at 11:30.

All drivers and passengers convened at the Community Hall following their collection of 8 playing cards, one at each stop. The Lions Club graciously set up their BBQ for a lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs and cold drinks, while the club offered coffee, tea and hot chocolate inside.

Fred Withey analyzed the poker hands after he took away one card from each. Prizes were awarded for the best poker hand, the worst hand and to the 2 individuals who selected jokers. Following that door prize draws were held to give away great items acquired by our Swag Chairperson Catherine.

Gabriola Cruisers current and past Presidents (Wayne and Steve) meet with PHC Executive Director, Brenda Fowler to present the Club's recent donation of the proceeds from the Club's Poker Run to PHC's food bank program.

Mustering at the Museum

Cruisers volunteers hand out poker cards at the 8 stops

Outside at the Community Hall

Inside at the Community Hall

 

Meeting at the Agi Hall

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Everyone is driving and collecting cards, photos courtesy of Chris, Larry, and Dennis

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Wonderful drinks and food at the Golf Club

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Many thanks to Di Atherton for organizing this fine event, with assistance from Jill, Randy, Catherine, Lori and Warren.

10 vehicles and about 25 people took part. Also thanks to our volunteer marshals. These photos are courtesy of Catherine Phillips and Warren Hiebert.

Cars left from the Credit Union parking lot, separated by 3 minutes. Each car was given a set amount of time to reach each checkpoint. If you arrived on time or late you received 2 poker cards, but if you arrived early only 1 card was received.

The first heading was down the ferry hill to turn left onto Easthom,  then left onto Harrison, up the hill to turn left onto Pat Burns. The first checkpoint was at Pat Burns and Stephens. Cars then headed along Stephens to South Road to proceed to the Golf Course for the second checkpoint. The third checkpoint was at Silva Bay, followed by the fourth at Robert's Restaurant. From there we headed back down the ferry hill before turning onto Taylor Bay Road and heading to the fifth checkpoint at the Malaspina Galleries parking area. Finally it was on to our last stop at The Surf Pub.

The Surf had set aside a parking area for us and we headed into the pub for drinks and snacks, camaraderie, and the awarding of Poker Hand prizes for best high and low hands. Everyone else received a prize of some sort. Thanks to the members who organized everything at the Surf.