The 26th Annual Crowsnest Cross Country, hosted by the Brooks Motorcycle Club and organized by Corner Grass Racing Team (CGRT) sponsor David French of A&E Racing, ran on the Labour Day long weekend. Sadly, CGRT was not able to be represented by first-year pro, Ryan Linderman, who was still healing from a broken bone in his hand that required surgery in early August.

Shane Cuthbertson, who has won this event numerous times, suffered from an infection in his elbow and spent the weekend at home on IV antibiotics.

Carrying the CGRT torch was Victoria Hett, who tested her fitness and stamina by competing in the Night Rooster and the Big Rooster. Both events were hosted by the Penticton Off Road Motorcycle Club. The Night Rooster is a two-and-a-half-hour hare scramble starting at 8 p.m., requiring lights and a deep volume of heart.

Hett, who was set up with a helmet light and a light bar, grabbed the holeshot and rode into the night with the pack in tow. She succumbed to pressure during the first lap and was passed, but maintained her second place to the finish. Drama did not escape Hett, however, as during her last lap, her front brake line failed. Fortunately, the gap to third was sufficient for her to make it to the finish without further incident in second place.

Once she replaced her brake line and maintained her Valley Motosports Husaberg TE 250, Hett lined up for the day race, the Big Rooster. She started in fifth, rode hard for over three hours and finished just behind her starting position in sixth place. Normally battling for the lead, the two-and-a-half-hour event from the night before took its toll on Hett’s energy levels for the day event. It was a great effort from her to maintain her number 3 position in the series with four events left.