Hogs for Hospice once again wows large audience

By Mark Ribble

A vital aspect of the community was given a huge leg-up on the weekend as thousands descended upon Leamington’s Seacliff Park for the annual Hogs for Hospice Motorcycle Rally, August 4-6.

Things kicked off Friday night with a rock and roll concert night featuring Creed lead singer Scott Stapp and his band, with opening act Honeymoon Suite.

Both acts brought some lively rock songs and great memories back to the park for a packed hill and pit area at the Sunset Amphitheatre.

Honeymoon Suite’s last visit to Leamington was in about 1985, where they played a concert at the height of their popularity at the Roller Alley

— now the Leamington Portuguese Club. Stapp performed many Creed hits, including a moving rendition of Arms Wide Open.

Canada’s Honeymoon Suite hit the crowd with hits like Burning in Love and New Girl Now, both hits from 1984.

The afterparty at the Roma Club was packed with concert-goers and local residents who wanted to enjoy a good time.

Saturday morning’s Tour The Tip had area residents lining the streets leading to Point Pelee as about 1,000 motorcycles made the trip through the area. Many of them made the trip to Kingsville, where the streets were closed to welcome the riders for a few hours of music, food drink and celebration.

Lots of activity, meanwhile, was happening at Seacliff Park, where many watched the shows of the FMX Pro-Riders group, who put on exciting aerial jumps along Seacliff Drive.

Food and merchandise vendors lined the pathways of the park, giving the event a true festival atmosphere.

Saturday night, the lineups were indicative of the crowd gathering inside the confines of the concert venue as over 6,000 people jam-packed the Sunset Amphitheatre hill and pit area for the country music show.

A Thousand Horses got the crowd warmed up nicely for headliner Jake Owen, who hit the stage around 9 pm, performing hits like Beachin’ and The One That Got Away.

According to Hogs committee member Joe Oswald, this was the first concert they’ve held in the event’s history where it was sold out before the event, with no tickets available at the gate.

Sunday included the Biker Games Rodeo put on by the Bad Examples Riders Club, who also held a junior biker rodeo prior to the adult version.

Oswald and his committee — Donnie Pacheco, Dave Hodare, Brian Cornies, Tim Iles, Kevin Safrance and Benji Mastronardi — orchestrated a perfect weekend for all involved.

Oswald was quick to credit the over-400 volunteers who work hard before, during and after the event and also the corporate sponsors, who make the event more financial- ly feasible to put on. Volunteers were visible in their orange or white t-shirts at every turn, whether out on the streets directing traffic, at the gates, or throughout the park helping shuttle people back and forth.

Oswald said the weekend couldn’t have gone any better.

“I don’t know if there’s a better word than perfect,” he said.

The true winner of course, is the Hospice, Erie Shores Campus, which will benefit from the weekend proceeds and those of the 50-50 raffle, which was sitting at just over $300,000 at press time.

Tickets for that are available until Thursday at 11:59 pm by visiting hogsforhospice.com.

JAKE OWEN WOWS THE CROWD SATURDAY

SCOTT STAPP ROCKED THE PARK ON FRIDAY.

Honeymoon Suite lead singer Johnnie Dee salutes the crowd to open the Friday, August 4th concert on the Sunset Amphitheatre stage.

Brothers in Arms’, the Hogs for Hospice organizing committee thanked the concert patrons and volunteers just before the appearance of Scott Stapp.

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Volunteers are a crucial part of the success of the Hogs For Hospice event. Pictured for a morning shift of cleaning the event grounds are Eila Keane on the left and Rise Keane on the right, along with their mom

Working hard serving up pancakes and sausages over the weekend and raising $5,000 for our local hospice are, from left, volunteer Seok Ryu, Bruce Medcalf, Dave Dillon and Jim Mannell of the Lions Club.

Xtreme FX of Windsor offered free rides for kids in the bike rodeo area. Seen here is Oliver Ingratta taking a spin.

The “We Love Hogs” signs were out in full force on Saturday night as the crowd awaited Jake Owen.

This couple was happy to pose for a photo on Saturday as they awaited Jake Owen’s arrival on stage.

Wheatley was well represented at the Jake Owen concert on Saturday night.

Just over 1,000 riders took part in the official Tour The Tip ride Saturday morning, August 5. Here, they pass by the Leamington Marina.

FMX Pro-rider Kassie Boone does a mid-air handstand, while fellow rider Jarrett Pronk follows her lead at the aerial show on Saturday afternoon along Seacliff Drive.

A Thousand Horses lead singer Michael Hobby points out to the crowd as the rocking country band set the tone for Jake Owen on Saturday night.

Iron By The Beach, a custom bike show, attracted plenty of entrants and spectators alike on Saturday afternoon.

This couple had fun donning their unique helmets for the Tour The Tip Ride on Saturday morning.

This young competitor had soem help from a member of the Bad Examples Riders Club during the Junior Bike Rodeo on Sunday afternoon.

These ladies arrived early enough to score a prime position along the bottom-of-the-hill railing for Saturday’s country music show featuring A Thousand Horses and Jake Owen.