B.C. Open Gold Panning Championships

Experience a day or weekend in the country

Activities for the entire family

Gold Pan Toss, Dirt Toss, “Gold Rush”, Claim Staking, Metal Detecting, and Bannock Baking. Bring a GPS and exchange items to hunt for the “Pin Exchange” or “Everything Goes” Geo Caches.

Events open to all. Gold nugget prizes for all events.

Support our $1 Nugget Raffle

Antique equipment display, prospecting, and hiking trails.

Can wear Klondike Period costumes.

Visit the Cherryville Artisans Shop (beside Frank’s General Store) on the way.

Café on site or bring a picnic and enjoy the grounds.

Visit the Cherryville Museum on site.

Gold Panning Competitions for Juniors, Teens, Novice, Intermediate

and Experts. Flat Pan Event.

Schedule of Events 2009

Friday, May 15

6:30 pm: Flat Pan Event- Friday Special- Nugget Prize- $5.00

9:30 pm (Approx) - Night metal detecting competition. No lights allowed.

Evening Music- From the Cherryville area, Mountain Mama Trio

and Lonely Mountain Musicians. Followed by open mic. Everyone welcome!

Saturday, May 16

7:00am - 9:00am - Pancake Breakfast for $4 (kids under 6 - $3)

9:00 am - Metal Detecting Competition – screwdriver like tool needed -$5

9:00 am - 4:00 pm Games for all- Pan Toss, "Gold Rush", Claim Staking, Dirt Toss,- $2-$5

10:00 am - 4:00 pm Mixed Elimination Rounds for BC Open Gold Panning Competition

10:00 am – Flat Pan Eliminations- all ages-$5.00

1:00 pm – Grudge Match for Experts -$5.00

1:30 pm - Youth under 16 Metal Detecting Competition - $3.00

4:45 pm - Panning Consolation Round

5:30 pm - Steak Barbecue – “Big Steve’s Catering” of Lumby for $13

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Bannock Baking Competition-$5

Evening Music- From Castlegar, The Blueberry Pickers. Followed by a musical jam session. Everyone welcome!

Sunday, May 17

7:00am - 9:00am - Pancake Breakfast for $4 (kids under 6 - $3)

8:30 am- Gospel Songs

9:00 am - Metal Detecting Competition

9:00 am - 2:30 pm – Games for all-Pan Toss, "Gold Rush",

Claim Staking, DirtToss

10:00 am - 2:00 pm - B.C. Open Gold Panning finals, Flat Pan Finals

2:30 pm - B.C. Open Championships - top 3 panners from all adult categories

3:00 pm – Flat Pan Championship- top 3 from finals

3:30 pm - Presentation of GOLD NUGGET Trophies

4:00 pm - Raffle Draw – 1st -14.9 grm. Ominica Gold Nugget,

2nd- Pewter Placer Miner in Dome, 3rd- Pendant and Bolo Tie,

4th- Placer Miner Dressed Bear with Gold in Pan

For further information

2009 B.C. Open Chair: Diane Fulbrook 1-250-503-1035 e-mail

Accommodation Reservations

Gold Panner Campground 1-250-547-2025

Lodge Inn Retreat 1-250-547-0110 (15 minutes away)

For further accommodation information visit www.cherryville.net

The Vernon Placer Miners' Club Sponsors

18th Annual

B.C. Open Gold Panning Championships

and Family Fun Days

May 15, 16 & 17, 2009

Gold Panner Campground - Cherryville, B.C.

(Located just 60 km East of Vernon on Highway 6

- past Lumby en route to Nakusp)

Cherryville Home Page

Rules & Regulations

(Revised January, 2009)

This contest is open to all gold panners in the world. There will be two primary categories, youth and adult. Youth will be separated into two competition categories based on age Juniors- under age 13 and Teenagers- ages 13 to under16. A Youth who has won 3 First places on the Circuit will be moved to an Adult catagory, deemed proper, as judged by 3 Professional panners from the Circuit and our Head Judge.

Adult competition categories will be defined by experience - Novice, Intermediate, and Expert. A final BC Open Competition will be held on Sunday between the top 3 Novice, Intermediate and Expert adults to determine the BC Open Gold Panning Champion. A BC Open Youth Champion will also be named.

Saturday

As the gold, gravel and all other rules are identical for all competitors, youth and adults will pan at the same time. Competitor's scores will then be separated according to their respective category.

Youth - Juniors under 13 and Teenagers 13 to under 16 years old will compete for nuggets. The top 3 winners in each category will receive nuggets. In addition, the score of each competitor will be combined with their Sunday's score to determine best panner in the Youth competition.

Adults - The Novice and Intermediate elimination rounds will be held on Saturday only. Adults to determine the top 10 finalists in each category. The rest will be able to enter a Consulation Round Gold Rush for a Nugget at 4:45pm. There will be a Grudge Match competition for all Experts on Saturday afternoon.

Sunday

Youth - Juniors under 13 and Teenagers 13 to under 16 years old will again compete for day prizes. The top 3 winners in each category will receive nugget prizes. In addition, the score of each competitor will be combined with their Saturday's score to determine B.C. Open Youth Champion.

Adults - The top 10 from Novice and Intermediate eliminations and all Experts, will pan off for prizes in their individual category. The top three from the adult finals will compete in the B.C. Open competition to declare a B.C. Open Gold Panning Champion.

AWARDS

Youth - The three panners registering the highest scores in each of the two youth categories will receive nuggets for each days competition. In addition, a Nugget award will be presented to the top competitor who has the highest combined score from Saturday and Sunday.

Adult - Gold nugget awards will be presented to the panners in each of the three adult categories who record the highest score in the Sunday finals. In addition, the top three panners from the finals of each category (Novice, Intermediate and Expert) will then compete to determine the BC OPEN GOLD PANNING CHAMPION. The three panners who record the highest score in this, the BC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP round will receive gold nugget awards. In addition, the winner will receive $100 in cash, and invitations to compete in the World Invitational Gold Panning Championships held in Taylor, BC; the Ft. Steele Championships and in the elimination's for the International Gold Panning Championships in Edmonton, Alta.

CATEGORY DEFINITIONS - takes into consideration all winnings on the Competitive Gold

Panning Circuit which includes Cherryville, Edmonton, Taylor, Ft. Steele, Yukon, United States and others.

1. The youth categories are open to all persons under the age of 16, regardless of experience. There are two youth categories, Juniors under 13 years and Teens under 16 years. Or as deemed proper by a judging panel.

2. Note: previous youth competitors who have reached the age of 16 will advance to the adult categories as follows

If contestant has not placed, OR PLACED ONCE in any previous Youth event (Teenager -age 13 to 16) move to novice.

If contestant placed two or more times in any previous youth events (Teenagers13 to 16) their choice of intermediate or expert.

Once the choice is made and recorded, the decision is final for all competitions and may not be changed.

3. The novice competition is open to those panners, 16 years of age or older who have limited or no panning experience. If you pan regularly or do clean-up for a mine, you sholud be in Intermediate.

4. The intermediate competition is open to panners, 16 years of age or older with panning experience or who have placed first, second or third in a previous novice competition. The committee asks your co-operation in deciding for yourself the level of your experience.

5. The expert competition is open to any panner, 16 years of age or older who has placed twice in any Provincial, State or other recognized competition. Note: Any panner who has placed once in any Provincial, Territorial, State or other recognized competition, may enter either the intermediate or expert category. Once a competitor has elected to advance to the Expert category, his decision is irreversible.

6. Prior to a competitors first round of panning, the competition committee, chaired by the chief judge, has the sole right to review and reassign a competitor to an alternate category. The committee's decision is final. If it is found that a competitor is in the wrong category after panning, they may also be moved.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

1. A standard 14 inch metal gold pan bearing a number will be used. Only pans supplied by the competition committee will be permitted.

2. The gravel for this contest will be selected from the banks of the Monashee River and shall be thoroughly washed and screened. The gravel will consist of equal amounts of sand and gravel (less than 2.5 cm) and will be placed in unnumbered buckets. All buckets will contain similar quantities of gravel.

3. Natural placer gold will be used. There will be 1 large piece (12 mesh), 4 medium sized flakes (16 - 18 mesh) and 10 small flakes (30-50 mesh). The medium and small flakes originate from Monashee Creek, and the large from the Klondike. PLEASE TAKE NOTE: All gold is thin flake and may float if not properly sunk to the bottom of the pan. Considerable variation will be apparent in the size of the small flakes. The gold will be randomly distributed throughout the gravel in the bucket.

COMPETITION RULES

1. When announced, the panners will select a bucket of gravel and proceed to the panning trough corresponding to their number on the registration sheet. The panner is responsible to ensure that the pan number corresponds to his registration number and the panning tub number.

2. Both pan and bucket of gravel must be placed on the ground prior to the starting judge commencing the countdown.

3. The starting judge will ask the competitors to take their position. He will then commence a countdown from 3 to 1 (3-2-1-GO). On the word 'GO' panners will commence panning. (Note: panners may elect to pan only a portion of the bucket contents or pan the entire contents at one time.) Bucket must be clean at end of panning. Any gravel left will be counted against you.

4. An eight-minute time limit will be allowed for panning in each round. As all competitors in the elimination rounds have the same time limit, all categories, including all youth, can pan at the same time.

5. Competitors must place their pans on the table with the pans located on the corresponding panning number prior to the expiration of the eight minute time limit. Please stand facing your pan with your hands at your sides. Do not move or turn, until all competititors have placed their pans on the tables. Hands must not touch the pan once the eight-minute time limit has elapsed. The Head Judge will then say "you may leave the table" A 20 point penalty will be assessed any competitor whose hands have not left their pan on the table by the eight-minute time limit.

6. INTERFERENCE WITH OTHER COMPETITORS MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.

You will be disqualified if by moving you disrupt a panners path to his number or cause him to loose his pan before the Head Judge has dismissed you.

7. The fastest time among two or more identical top scores will not be declared champion unless there is a tied score after the first round of pan-offs within a particular category (see Advancement to Finals).

JUDGING

1. Ten points will be awarded per flake, regardless of size, for a total possible score of 150.

2. Only gold that is clearly visible to the judges will be counted. No attempt will be made to uncover or seek gold covered by sand. If, in the opinion of the judges, one flake may be partly covering another, the gold will be moved for verification.

3. Points will then be deducted for sands and gravels remaining in the competitor's pan. Up to a maximum of 9.9 points may be deducted. Points deducted will be predetermined by the judges and calculated by measuring the amounts of sand and gravel remaining. Gravel left in the bucket after time has been called will be assessed a penalty of 10 points per centimeter.

ADVANCEMENT TO FINALS AND BC OPEN

1. A maximum of ten panners in the Intermediate and Novice categories, plus all Expert panners, will advance to the finals to determine the winners of their respective categories.

2. A tie will be declared only when identical scores occur when determining:

The competitors to advance to the finals of each category

The competitors to advance into the finals of the BC Open

The placing (first, second or third) of competitors in each of the finals and the BC Open.

A new contest (a pan-off) will be conducted between the tying panners. The same material will be used as stated in rules 3 and 4 but the time limit will be reduced to 4½ minutes. The rules will remain the same as stated above.

If after the first round of a pan-off, there still remains a tie within a category, a second pan-off will be held. The same material will be used as stated in rules 3 and 4 but the competitor with the most gold showing, in the fastest time will be declared the winner. Panning must be completed with the pan placed on the judges' table within a 4 1/2 minute time limit. Each panner WILL BE TIMED from the word 'GO' to the time hands are free from the pan when placed on the table. Two minutes will be added to the competitors time for each flake lost. NOTE: Deductions for sand will only be applied if there is a tie in total time.

Should any contestant desire to register a complaint pertaining to any scope of this contest, they should do so prior to the completion of the elimination rounds. The point or points in question will be decided by a count in a show of hands among participating finalist contestants only. The judges and organizers only responsibility will be to adjust or maintain the rule in question according to the preference of the majority.

Head Judges decision is final. He may defer to a committee of three selected professionals for help.

2009 BC Open Gold Panning

Championships Information

Welcome to the 18th Annual BC Open Gold Panning Championships - May 15th, 16th & 17th, 2009. I hope that you will come and join us for whatever the weather has in store for us on the May long weekend at the Gold Panner Campground in Cherryville, B.C. We keep on going in sun, rain or sleet, so be dressed for it all. Nothing can keep a miner from finding his gold. We have some small and large canopies to help keep everyone happy.

All ages can join in the games: Pan Toss, Dirt Toss, Claim Staking for $2.00. The Gold Rush, Metal Detecting and Bannock Baking are $5.00. Every game has a nugget prize and they run from 9 am- 4 pm. with a break at noon.

The Gold Panning is Youth under 16 - $5.00 (includes both Sat. and Sun.) and Adults 16 and over is $10.00. You are guaranteed 2 pannings. If you are not in the top 10 in your category in the Eliminations on Saturday, check at 4:30 pm, then you get to pan in a consulation round at 4:45 pm for a nugget in a Gold Rush round. You must come yourselves, as we won’t be chasing you down. Anyone missing the Saturday eliminations will have a chance to enter the Expert Rounds on Sunday morning if they want to still compete. Experts will have a consulation round at 11:30am, Sunday. Please read the rules very carefully and the schedule for times. Print a copy off for your reference.

Steve and Elton will be flipping pancakes and ham for the early risers from 7-9 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. Adults - $4 and kids under six - $3. Don't arrive late as they have other activities they will be going to at 9am. Any help will be appreciated.

Don’t forget your instruments and singing voices for the entertainment; and skits are welcome too. Let’s have some fun.

The raffle tickets will be ready in January. If you can take a few books to sell, contact Donna Smith at e-mail or (250) 545-3832 and she will send some to you. Every ticket sold helps pay for the insurance and keeps the costs of the BC Open down so we don’t need to put the prices up. We don’t have any control over the Steak Dinner or Campground prices.

Contact me at e-mail or (250) 503-1035.

Diane Fulbrook

2009 BC Open Chair

Tickets will be sold for next Game

as first one starts and will continue

as such all day. Players must be

present at ticket booth when tickets

purchased. Buy for one game at a time

NO REFUNDS if you miss an event.

DO NOT buy tickets for a games event

near your panning time. We will not wait.

Claim Staking-Listen for the start and finish time for each claim staking event. After 25 stakes have been sold, a time of 5 minutes each will be given to complete your staking and return hammer to starting line.

No heel to toe or other measuring devise to be used or you will be disqualified.

Only one trip down field for each event.

Previous BC Open Winners

2009 Tony Lizpguboff

2008 Al McWilliams

2007 Al McWilliams

2006 Al McWilliams

2005 Al McWilliams

2004 Joe Wilflingsider

2003 Joe Wilflingsider

2002 Scott Rea

2001 Willie Sherstobitoff