2023 Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Champions
Spray Lakes Sawmills Outfit
(L-R): Outriders Nolan Cameron and Brendan Nolin, Trey MacGillivray, Tristen Shaw, Taygan MacGillivray,
Driver Layne MacGillivray, Loreena McGillivray, Spray Lakes Sawmills’ and Lorna and Barry Mjolsness,
Century Downs Racetrack and Casino General Manager Jackie Morrison, Paul Griffin, Sara Lavigne,
Kim Friesen and Karl Swenson Presenting
Photo By Shellie Scott
The curtain has closed on the 2023 WPCA Pro Tour, and one might argue that in the 100 years from time the first chuckwagon races were run at the Calgary Stampede back in 1923, this was the finest season on record.
It was a big day at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino as the 2023 season wrapped up on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Rocky View, Alberta. There was a lot on the line as Layne MacGillivray, Jamie Laboucane, Chanse Vigen and Chad Fike would compete in the Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Championship Dash where they will be racing for $75,000.00 cash. When the wagons crossed the finish line for the last time in 2023, it was 2023 Calgary Stampede Cowboys Rangeland Derby Champion Layne MacGillivray, driving the Spray Lakes Sawmills outfit, and along with outriders Nolan Cameron, Chance Flad and Brendan Nolin, who capped off a fine season by capturing the season ending Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Championship.
MacGillivray won the Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Championship with another track record run of 1:18.86 from barrel position number 1. Chad Fike placed second from barrel number 3, a slight 15 one-hundredths of a second behind the champion Layne MacGillivray. Jamie Laboucane, who crossed the finish line in first place but was penalized 2 seconds for creating a false start, grabbed third from barrel position number 2, while the newest World Champion Chuckwagon Driver Chanse Vigen, placed fourth from barrel position number 4 in an exciting race to end the 2023 season.
There was $60,000.00 in cash up for the 32 drivers in the first eight heats of the afternoon who did not qualify for the Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Championship Dash. Heat winners included Obrey Motowylo in heat #1, Rae Croteau Jr. in heat #2, Chance Thomson in heat #3, Jordie Fike in heat #4, Mitch Sutherland in heat #5, Jason Glass in Heat #6, Kurt Bensmiller in heat #7 and Kirk Sutherland in heat #8.
Layne MacGillivray’s track record run was the 5th track record in as many days at the Century Downs World Chuckwagon Finals. He was followed closely by Chad Fike who also ran in the Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Championship Dash, with Kurt Bensmiller, Kirk Sutherland and Jamie Laboucane posting the five fastest times on the last day of racing.
Layne MacGillivray made it a clean sweep of the Century Downs World Chuckwagon Finals, as in addition to winning the Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Championship this afternoon, last night his Spray Lakes Sawmills outfit, and along with outriders Nolan Cameron and Brendan Nolin won the Century Downs Racetrack and Casino Aggregate Championship after posting the best aggregate time of 5:25.10 over the first 4 days of the Century Downs World Chuckwagon Finals.
2023 World Chuckwagon Champions
(L-R): Shellie Scott, Todd Oakley, Derek Kent, Brie Vigen, Driver Chanse Vigen, D.J. DeSutter
Century Downs Racetrack and Casino General Manager Jackie Morrison Presenting
Photo By Shellie Scott
Two World Champions were declared Saturday night as Chanse Vigen won the World Chuckwagon Championship for the first time in his career. Vigen, a five-time World Champion Outrider, won his first World Championship as a chuckwagon driver by just 3 points over Jamie Laboucane in one of the most hotly contested World Championships of all time. Ethan Motowylo won his first career World Outriding Championship over three-time and defending World Champion Outrider Rory Gervais in what was a very close race as well.
Equine outfit of Excellence winners included Champion Right Leader “MAX” of Chanse Vigen’s outfit, Champion Left Leader “WILDCAT” of Kris Molle’s outfit, Champion Right Wheeler “ROCCO” Chad Fike’s outfit, Champion Left Wheeler “MARSHMALLOW” of Jamie Laboucane ‘s outfit and “ED” of Jason Glass’ outfit and “RUNNER” of Obrey Motowylo’s outfit were the champion Outriding Horses.
In the season long Elite Team Series, Team Strathmore Stampede, consisting of Chad Fike, Kris Molle, Jason Glass and Chance Bensmiller won the inaugural Elite Team Series Championship. Team Strathmore Stampede and Lammle’s Western Wear finished the new team series in first place with 2721.5 championship points, and claimed the championship by 81.5 points over Team Century Downs represented by Dustin Gorst, Layne MacGillivray, Jordie Fike and Chanse Vigen. Team Battle of the Rockies and Henry’s Western Wear & Saddlery placed third, followed by Team Ponoka Stampede and the Jones Boys Saddlery & Western Wear and finally Team Grande Prairie Stompede and Keddie’s Tack and Western Wear.
And that will conclude a very memorable 100th Anniversary of Chuckwagon Racing. Congratulations to the 2023 World Champions, driver Chanse Vigen and outrider Ethan Motowylo, and to all of the Champion Drivers and Outriders at all the stops along the WPCA Pro Tour and the Calgary Stampede. Many thanks to all the corporate partners, broadcast partners, support staff and chuckwagon fans all along the 2023 WPCA Pro Tour. Enjoy a safe and prosperous off-season, and we will see you all in 2024.
Billy Melville
