B.C. Open Gold Panning Championships 2007 Cherryville, B.C.
NO GATE ADMISSION
OPEN TO EVERYONE, NOT JUST GOLD PANNERS
Fun for the whole family, I will be there….
Experience a day or weekend in the country Activities for the entire family
Gold pan toss, Dirt Toss, “Gold Rush”, Claim Staking, Metal Detecting, and Bannock Baking. Bring a GPS and exchange items to hunt for the “Pin Exchange” or ” Everything Goes” Geo Caches.
Events open to all. Gold nugget prizes for all events.
Antique Equipment display, Prospecting, and Hiking trails.
Wear Klondike Period Costumes.
Visit the Cherryville Artisan’s Shop beside Frank’s General Store on the way. Café on Site or bring a picnic and enjoy the grounds.
Gold Panning Competitions for Children, Teens, Novice,
Intermediate and Experts
Schedule of Events 2007
Friday, May 18
Friday: 3:30 pm- Planting the Roses in the Clare Hewson Memorial Garden
9:30 pm (Approx) – Night metal detecting competition. No lights allowed.
Evening-Music- Mac & Faye McIlveen & Monashee Ramblers. Bring an Instrument and join in
Saturday, May 19
9:00 am – Metal Detecting Competition screwdriver like tool needed
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Games for all- Pan Toss, “Gold Rush”, Claim Staking, Dirt Toss,
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Mixed Elimination Rounds for BC Open Gold Panning Competition
1:00 pm Grudge Match for Experts
4:45 pm – Panning Consolation Round
5:30 pm – Steak Barbecue “Big Steve’s Catering” of Lumby
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Bannock Baking Competition
Evening Music-Mac & Faye McIlveen and the Monashee Ramblers with Guest Apperances
Join Mac and Faye with your instruments , singing voices and skits
Sunday, May 20
9:00 am – Metal Detecting Competition,
9:00 am – 2:30 pm Games for all-Pan Toss, “Gold Rush”, Claim Staking, Dirt Toss
10:00 am – 2:00 pm – B.C. Open Gold Panning finals
2:30 pm – B.C. Open Championships – top 3 panners from all adult categories
3:30 pm – Presentation of GOLD NUGGET Trophies.
4:00 pm – Raffle Draw prizes- 11 gram Yukon gold nugget- $600; Okanagan Opal Pendant- $140,
Klondike Commemorative Coin-$100, Turner Garden Bird-$50, Miner Dressed Bear & Gold-$45
For further information
2007 B.C. Open Chair: Diane Fulbrook 1-250-503-1035 e-mail
Accommodation Reservations
Gold Panner Campground 1-250-547-2025
Weeping Willow Bed and Breakfast 1- 888- 547- 9275
The Lodge Inn & Retreat 1 – 888- 547 0110
For further information visit www.cherryville.net/accommodation.html
Competitors’ Information
Welcome to the16th Annual, 2007 BC Open Gold Panning Championships. It is the year that the World’s are being held at Dawson City, Yukon, so many of the competitors will be practicing hard, getting ready for it. Should make the BC Open real exciting!
The panning rules have changed slightly. Youth: Child will be called Junior. Youth that have been a Champion three times on the Circuit will be moved up to an Adult category as deemed proper by a committee consisting of Dave Coupland, Rod Walker, Scott Rea, Ken Montie and Ted Turner. They all have been working with me to better our competition. After all pannings, before time is called, you will place your pan on the table, with hands down on the table and stay still, facing your pan until all competitors have placed their pans down. The head judge will then say “you may leave the table”. Hopefully, this will stop the collision that happened last year.
We have purchased 4 Easy Up tents that will cover the panning tubs. Everyone will have the same panning conditions incase of intermittent rain showers. Also the audience will have space for chairs undercover and close to the panning tubs. We were able to do this as all the Raffle tickets were sold in 2006, giving us extra funds to make improvements for all to benefit from. Please help us by selling a book or more in 2007.
Bring rain gear for when you’re playing the games and moving about. We never know what the weather will be. I was astounded by the fortitude of the participants out there in the rain. That shows dedication. Thank you for making the 2006 BC Open such a success.
We will be planting the rose bushes in the Clare Hewson Memorial Garden at the Goldpanner on Friday afternoon May 18th at 3:30 pm. Join us for the dedication.
Mac and Faye McIlveen and the Monashee Ramblers will headline our music. They would like all musicians to bring their instruments and voices and join them on stage.
Children under 13 years old entering the Bannock Baking Contest must have an adult with them to help with fires and supervise them.
A tentative poster is now posted but watch for changes as further plans are made.
The Goldpanner Campground will open in January to take reservations. The Weeping Willow Bed and Breakfast and Weeping Willow Lodge, Inn, and Retreat are open now. See poster for phone numbers. Join us for lots of fun, entertainment and competitions.
Diane Fulbrook 2007 BC Open Chair
Rules & Regulations
(Revised for 2007)
This contest is open to all gold panners in the world. There will be two primary categories, youth and adult. Youth will be separated into two competition categories based on age Juniors- under age 13 and Teenagers- ages 13 to under16. A Youth who has won 3 First places on the Circuit will be moved to an Adult catagory, deemed proper, as judged by 3 Professional panners from the Circuit and our Head Judge.
Adult competition categories will be defined by experience – Novice, Intermediate, and Expert. A final BC Open Competition will be held on Sunday between the top 3 Novice, Intermediate and Expert adults to determine the BC Open Gold Panning Champion. A BC Open Youth Champion will also be named.
Saturday
As the gold, gravel and all other rules are identical for all competitors, youth and adults will pan at the same time. Competitor’s scores will then be separated according to their respective category.
Youth – Juniors under 13 and Teenagers 13 to under 16 years old will compete for day prizes. The top 3 winners in each category will receive prizes. In addition, the score of each competitor will be combined with their Sunday’s score to determine best panner in the Youth competition.
Adults – The Novice and Intermediate elimination rounds will be held on Saturday only. Adults to determine the top 10 finalists in each category. The rest will be able to enter a Consulation Round Gold Rush for a Nugget at 4:45pm. There will be a Grudge Match competition for all Experts on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday
Youth – Juniors under 13 and Teenagers 13 to under 16 years old will again compete for day prizes. The top 3 winners in each category will receive nugget prizes. In addition, the score of each competitor will be combined with their Saturday’s score to determine best Youth panner.
Adults – The top 10 from Novice and Intermediate eliminations and all Experts, will pan off for prizes in their individual category. The top three from the adult finals will compete in the B.C. Open competition to declare a B.C. Open Gold Panning Champion.
AWARDS
Youth – The three panners registering the highest scores in each of the two youth categories will receive prizes for each days competition (prizes for Saturday and nuggets for Sunday). In addition, a Nugget award will be presented to the top competitor who has the highest combined score from Saturday and Sunday.
Adult – Gold nugget awards will be presented to the panners in each of the three adult categories who record the highest score in the Sunday finals. In addition, the top three panners from the finals of each category (Novice, Intermediate and Expert) will then compete to determine the BC OPEN GOLD PANNING CHAMPION. The three panners who record the highest score in this, the BC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP round will receive gold nugget awards. In addition, the winner will receive $100 in cash, and invitations to compete in the World Invitational Gold Panning Championships held in Taylor, BC; the Canadian National Competition in Barkerville; the Ft. Steele Championships and in the elimination’s for the International Gold Panning Championships in Edmonton, Alta.
CATEGORY DEFINITIONS – takes into consideration all winnings on the Competitive Gold
Panning Circuit which includes Cherryville, Edmonton, Taylor, Barkerville, Ft. Steele, Yukon, United States and others.
1. The youth categories are open to all persons under the age of 16, regardless of experience. There are two youth categories, under 13 years and Teenagers13 – under 16 years. Or as deemed proper by a judging panel.
2. Note: previous youth competitors who have reached the age of 16 will advance to the adult categories as follows
A. If contestant has not placed, OR PLACED ONCE in any previous Youth event (Teenager -age 13 to 16) move to novice.
B. If contestant placed two or more times in any previous youth events (Teenagers13 to 16) their choice of intermediate or expert.
Once the choice is made and recorded, the decision is final for all competitions and may not be changed.
3. The novice competition is open to those panners, 16 years of age or older who have limited or no panning experience. If you pan regularly or do clean-up for a mine, you sholud be in Intermediate.
4. The intermediate competition is open to panners, 16 years of age or older with panning experience or who have placed first, second or third in a previous novice competition. The committee asks your co-operation in deciding for yourself the level of your experience.
5. The expert competition is open to any panner, 16 years of age or older who has placed twice in any Provincial, State or other recognized competition. Note: Any panner who has placed once in any Provincial, Territorial, State or other recognized competition, may enter either the intermediate or expert category. Once a competitor has elected to advance to the Expert category, his decision is irreversible.
6. Prior to a competitors first round of panning, the competition committee, chaired by the chief judge, has the sole right to review and reassign a competitor to an alternate category. The committee’s decision is final. If it is found that a competitor is in the wrong category after panning, they may also be moved.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
1. A standard 14 inch metal gold pan bearing a number will be used. Only pans supplied by the competition committee will be permitted.
2. The gravel for this contest will be selected from the banks of the Monashee River and shall be thoroughly washed and screened. The gravel will consist of equal amounts of sand and gravel (less than 2.5 cm) and will be placed in unnumbered buckets. All buckets will contain similar quantities of gravel.
3. Natural placer gold will be used. There will be 1 large piece (12 mesh), 4 medium sized flakes (16 – 18 mesh) and 10 small flakes (30-50 mesh). The medium and small flakes originate from Monashee Creek, and the large from the Klondike. PLEASE TAKE NOTE: All gold is thin flake and may float if not properly sunk to the bottom of the pan. Considerable variation will be apparent in the size of the small flakes. The gold will be randomly distributed throughout the gravel in the bucket.
COMPETITION RULES
1. When announced, the panners will select a bucket of gravel and proceed to the panning trough corresponding to their number on the registration sheet. The panner is responsible to ensure that the pan number corresponds to his registration number and the panning tub number.
2. Both pan and bucket of gravel must be placed on the ground prior to the starting judge commencing the countdown.
3. The starting judge will ask the competitors to take their position. He will then commence a countdown from 3 to 1 (3-2-1-GO). On the word ‘GO’ panners will commence panning. (Note: panners may elect to pan only a portion of the bucket contents or pan the entire contents at one time.)
4. An eight-minute time limit will be allowed for panning in each round. As all competitors in the elimination rounds have the same time limit, all categories, including all youth, can pan at the same time.
5. Competitors must place their pans on the table with the pans located on the corresponding panning number prior to the expiration of the eight minute time limit. Please stand facing your pan with your hands at your sides. Do not move or turn, until all competititors have placed their pans on the tables. Hands must not touch the pan once the eight-minute time limit has elapsed. The Head Judge will then say “you may leave the table” A 20 point penalty will be assessed any competitor whose hands have not left their pan on the table by the eight-minute time limit.
6. INTERFERENCE WITH OTHER COMPETITORS MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.
7. The fastest time among two or more identical top scores will not be declared champion unless there is a tied score after the first round of pan-offs within a particular category (see Advancement to Finals).
JUDGING
1. Ten points will be awarded per flake, regardless of size, for a total possible score of 150.
2. Only gold that is clearly visible to the judges will be counted. No attempt will be made to uncover or seek gold covered by sand. If, in the opinion of the judges, one flake may be partly covering another, the gold will be moved for verification.
3. Points will then be deducted for sands and gravels remaining in the competitor’s pan. Up to a maximum of 9.9 points may be deducted. Points deducted will be predetermined by the judges and calculated by measuring the amounts of sand and gravel remaining. Gravel left in the bucket after time has been called will be assessed a penalty of 10 points per centimeter.
ADVANCEMENT TO FINALS AND BC OPEN
1. A maximum of ten panners in the Intermediate and Novice categories, plus all Expert panners, will advance to the finals to determine the winners of their respective categories.
2. A tie will be declared only when identical scores occur when determining:
a. The competitors to advance to the finals of each category
b. The competitors to advance into the finals of the BC Open
c. The placing (first, second or third) of competitors in each of the finals and the BC Open.
A new contest (a pan-off) will be conducted between the tying panners. The same material will be used as stated in rules 3 and 4 but the time limit will be reduced to 4½ minutes. The rules will remain the same as stated above.
If after the first round of a pan-off, there still remains a tie within a category, a second pan-off will be held. The same material will be used as stated in rules 3 and 4 but the competitor with the most gold showing, in the fastest time will be declared the winner. Panning must be completed with the pan placed on the judges’ table within a 4 1/2 minute time limit. Each panner WILL BE TIMED from the word ‘GO’ to the time hands are free from the pan when placed on the table. Two minutes will be added to the competitors time for each flake lost. NOTE: Deductions for sand will only be applied if there is a tie in total time.
Should any contestant desire to register a complaint pertaining to any scope of this contest, they should do so prior to the completion of the elimination rounds. The point or points in question will be decided by a count in a show of hands among participating finalist contestants only. The judges and organizers only responsibility will be to adjust or maintain the rule in question according to the preference of the majority.
Head Judges decision is final. He may defer to a Committee of 3 selected Professionals for help.