2013 GERRY HOLMES AWARD RECIPIENT – KELLY LING

Each year, the Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze recognizes a dedicated volunteer with the presentation of the Gerry Holmes Memorial Award.

This year’s recipient is Kelly Lyng.

Kelly’s involvement started in about the third year of this rodeo when his sister Shelly, who was already on the committee, asked him to take a truck and trailer to Brandon to pick up some panels from the Keystone Centre.

He soon became involved organizing help for the rough stock end of the rodeo and for a time operated the out gate, where the animals leave the arena after each ride. He quickly decided that this was not the job for him, especially during the bull riding.

As Kelly had operated spot lights during the MRCA Finals, he was a natural fit when this rodeo began to use them in the opening ceremonies.

For the last 10 years, he has crafted the mirrors which the winners of the Gerry Holmes Memorial Award receive.

For a number of years, Kelly and his family, wife Cherie, daughter Rae and son Kelby, have brought horses and ponies to the downtown events on Thursday evening, offering free rides.

He served on the board of the Manitoba High School Rodeo Association, acting as its President when the Canadian High School Rodeo Finals were held in Virden from 2010 to 2012.

For at least the last 15 years, Kelly has been “in the trenches”, so to speak, organizing and working with the timed event cattle, keeping the right animal ready for each run. Never an easy job, especially with the heat in the former arena, it took on a life of its own.

This extensive and varied involvement in the Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze makes Kelly Lyng a fitting recipient of this year’s 2013 Gerry Holmes Memorial Award.

RECIPIENTS

2023 AWARD Joan Brown
2022 AWARD Kristine Dryden
2019 AWARD LYLE BROWN
2018 AWARD ED SPRAGGS
2017 AWARD LINDSAY WHITE
2016 AWARD HERB WARKENTIN
2015 AWARD DEBBIE KING
2014 AWARD JOCELYN HAGAN
2013 AWARD KELLY LYNG
2012 AWARD SCOTT BICCUM
2011 AWARD STEVE DRYDEN
2010 AWARD DR. EVERETT MORE
2009 AWARD DUNCAN CAMPBELL
2008 AWARD MONA KENDERDINE