Yearly bicycle poker race scheduled
CONNELLSVILLE – The city police association is making final preparations for its yearly bicycle poker ride, which is scheduled to take place Sunday. The annual fund-raiser allows the Connellsville Police Officers’ Association (CPOA) to sponsor several youth-oriented activities, including preschool safety programs, a scholarship program and award program for the students that take part in the safety patrol, according to department Capt. Ed McSheffrey, who also serves as event chairman.
“We’re hoping for a good turnout,” he said.
While registrations are slow coming in to the association, McSheffrey speculates those who have participated in past years will again take part in this year’s event.
“Everybody seems to wait to see what the weather is going to be,” he said.
The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures in the low 90s, with a chance of isolated thunderstorms – “not too bad for riding bikes,” added McSheffrey.
The ride begins at 1:30 p.m. at Yough Park, where participants receive a playing card for their “poker” hand. Throughout the 10-mile ride around the city and a portion of neighboring South Connellsville, riders will stop at three checkpoints and receive additional cards.
At the completion of the ride, the fifth card will be distributed at the park.
Trophies will be awarded to those with the best “poker” hand in four classes, including a male and female under age 30 and over age 30.
McSheffrey stressed that while bicycles are being used, each participant is encouraged to travel at his or her own pace.
“It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to complete it,” he said.
The association also will award two mountain bikes to a male and female participant, in addition to numerous door prizes that area businesses have donated.
At the conclusion of the event, the members will provide hot dogs and sauerkraut and beverages for the riders.
“Everybody has a good time, and it’s for a really good cause,” said McSheffrey.
Since 1978, the association has used the proceeds from the ride as part of a cash scholarship given to a Connellsville Area High School and Geibel High School graduate who plan to pursue a college education in law enforcement.
Additionally, members of the association take part in various preschool and elementary school safety programs and fingerprint children.
For their participation in the program, sixth-grade students that serve as safety patrols for two years are taken annually to a no-cost, three-day trip to Niagara Falls or Washington, D.C.
Registration forms are available at the Connellsville, Scottdale and Mount Pleasant police departments, the Connellsville Chamber of Commerce office and Bikes Unlimited in Connellsville.
The association will also accept registrations on the day of the race, from noon to 1 p.m. Cost is $12.
For additional information, call 724-626-5983.