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Published: September 12, 2009 11:15 pm
Weather cooperates for Great Land Run, Cherokee Strip parade
By Cass Rains, Staff Writer
The weather Saturday couldn’t rain on Enid’s parade.
Organizers and participants of Enid Cherokee Strip Celebration, which included The Continental Resources Great Land Run, parade and Western gunfight along with food and crafts, said they were pleased with the day’s event.
Some rain was present during the registration for the Great Land Run but let up by race time, said Brian Engle, Continental Resources vice president of public affairs.
“It turned out to be great weather for the run,” Engle said. “It was a very successful event.”
This year’s Great Land Run included a 5k run, 10k run and fun run. Engle said an estimated $85,000 to $90,000 was raised.
“It was a very successful event,” he said. “ As a title sponsor we are simply delighted with the opportunity to provide some serious funding to the Enid and Chisholm public school systems.”
Stuart Lisle, 26, of Oklahoma City, was the first place runner in the 10k race with a time of 34:02. John Kress, 23, of Enid, placed first in the 5k run with a time of 16:58.
Engle said the event would not have been as successful without the help of everyone involved.
“I’d like to especially thank Carl Recher, who served on behalf of the Enid Running Club as race director for his second year. He ran a positively outstanding race and event,” he said. “I also want to give a special salute to Kim White of Continental Re-sources who did an outstanding job with many of the administrative functions for the run. Without her work the event would not have gone nearly as smoothly.”
By 10:30 a.m. the Square was packed as the 93-entrant parade began and lasted until shortly after noon.
For brothers Carson and Jayten Rutledge, 8 and 7, of Hennessey, one word seemed to described the parade — cool.
“It was cool,” Jayten said. His favorite part of the parade was the finish, which included a group of longhorns from the Chain Ranch.
“It was good,” Carson said of the parade.
Horse-drawn carriage and pony rides also were available during the day’s celebration.
Carolyn Coots and her husband Wendell, owners of Red Hills Express, spent the day taking people for rides around the Square.
“They’re just so excited about these big horses,” she said of the kids at the celebration. “They just want to pet them and touch them.”
William Bryant, owner of Buffalo Creek Pony Rides, said the majority of kids were excited to go on a pony ride. However, there are some who aren’t brave enough just yet.
“Every now and then I’ll get one who doesn’t want to ride,” he said. “I’ll take them around once or twice and if they’re not having a good time I’ll give them their money back.”
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