Bainbridge Rotary gears up for 2nd Chili Cook-Off and River Rides event
BAINBRIDGE – Whether you are after tastebud-tantalizing chili or a scenic bicycle tour to enjoy the fall foliage, you won’t want to miss the Bainbridge Rotary Club’s next fundraising event.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, the service organization will host its Second Annual Rotary River Rides & Chili Cook-Off at General Clinton Park. It’s all for a good cause, of course – actually two, as the event will support both the Bainbridge Food Pantry and the Bainbridge Free Library.
According to organizer Dale Fox, an avid bicyclist and long-time Rotarian, the idea for the joint fundraiser grew out of a fall ride he organized a few years ago. While he had “thrown together” the ride for he and a few friends, word spread and in the end more than 25 people participated. Knowing that the Bainbridge Rotary was looking to expand their fundraising efforts, he volunteered to organize something similar as a fundraiser. And, thus, the Rotary River Rides were born.
“It’s not a race,” he explained, but rather an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Susquehanna and Unadilla River Valleys. Three rides of varying lengths will be offered including a 100-mile century ride which begins at 8:30 a.m. and a 50-miler at 11 a.m. A third 25-mile ride for more novice riders will begin at 12:30 p.m. Each ride will leave from General Clinton Park in Bainbridge, and riders should register 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Rotary volunteers will provide support and sag wagons along the route.
The cost to participate will be $30 per rider for the century ride, and $25 for both the 25- and 50-mile rides. Those pre-registering on or before Sept. 20 will receive a $5 discount.
Where does the chili fit in? That is Fox’s doing as well.
“There are so many chili recipes out there, and everyone seems to think theirs is the best,” he said. Now the self-proclaimed “foodie” is making sure they have a chance to prove it.
According to Fox, any team of 2 to 4 people is welcome to enter the cook-off. Last year, competitors included a business and several community groups. The cost to participate will be $35 per team on the day of the event, or $30 in advance.
“They can make any type of chili they want,” the organizer explained. But be forewarned: Despite Fox’ assertion that they have been relaxed slightly from the International Chili Cook-Off rule book from which they were taken; the rules are strict. Competitors will have just three hours to make their finest chili from scratch. All of their ingredients – which they must supply themselves – must be prepared on the premises. No pre-cooking!
Teams must also supply their own cooking equipment, tables, stoves, grills, fuel, a tent, etc. While hot water will be available, electricity is not and open fires are not allowed.
Registration and set-up will begin at 11 a.m. on the 26th, with the competition itself starting promptly at noon. Teams will have until 3 p.m. to prepare at least two gallons of chili for tasting and judging. At 4 p.m. the winners will be announced and cash prizes awarded for top place finishers, the coveted people’s choice award and the best decorated booth.
For those who would rather eat chili than try their hand at making it, there will be the opportunity to do plenty of that as well for the small fee of $2 per person. Children under 10 will be able to taste for free.
According to Fox, the best time to taste will be between 2 and 4 p.m., which is also the time RRR riders will be returning to General Clinton Park. As bicyclists return, they too will get to enjoy chili, he said, which will be prepared for them by the Bainbridge Rotary.
The event started off small in its first year, with just 25 riders and five entries in the chili cook-off. But that didn’t stop them from raising a sizable amount of money between the entry fees and event sponsorships.
“We raised over $1,000 last year,” Fox reported, which went to a Rotary charity committed to fighting polio. This year, the Bainbridge service organization is setting its fundraising sights even higher and planning to keep the money they raise closer to home. This year, he said, the money raised will go toward both stocking the shelves of the local food pantry and helping to upgrade the library’s computer system.
More information and entry forms for each event can be found at the Bainbridge Rotary Club’s website, www.bainbridgerotaryclub.org, or obtained by calling Dale Fox at 967-8755.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, the service organization will host its Second Annual Rotary River Rides & Chili Cook-Off at General Clinton Park. It’s all for a good cause, of course – actually two, as the event will support both the Bainbridge Food Pantry and the Bainbridge Free Library.
According to organizer Dale Fox, an avid bicyclist and long-time Rotarian, the idea for the joint fundraiser grew out of a fall ride he organized a few years ago. While he had “thrown together” the ride for he and a few friends, word spread and in the end more than 25 people participated. Knowing that the Bainbridge Rotary was looking to expand their fundraising efforts, he volunteered to organize something similar as a fundraiser. And, thus, the Rotary River Rides were born.
“It’s not a race,” he explained, but rather an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Susquehanna and Unadilla River Valleys. Three rides of varying lengths will be offered including a 100-mile century ride which begins at 8:30 a.m. and a 50-miler at 11 a.m. A third 25-mile ride for more novice riders will begin at 12:30 p.m. Each ride will leave from General Clinton Park in Bainbridge, and riders should register 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Rotary volunteers will provide support and sag wagons along the route.
The cost to participate will be $30 per rider for the century ride, and $25 for both the 25- and 50-mile rides. Those pre-registering on or before Sept. 20 will receive a $5 discount.
Where does the chili fit in? That is Fox’s doing as well.
“There are so many chili recipes out there, and everyone seems to think theirs is the best,” he said. Now the self-proclaimed “foodie” is making sure they have a chance to prove it.
According to Fox, any team of 2 to 4 people is welcome to enter the cook-off. Last year, competitors included a business and several community groups. The cost to participate will be $35 per team on the day of the event, or $30 in advance.
“They can make any type of chili they want,” the organizer explained. But be forewarned: Despite Fox’ assertion that they have been relaxed slightly from the International Chili Cook-Off rule book from which they were taken; the rules are strict. Competitors will have just three hours to make their finest chili from scratch. All of their ingredients – which they must supply themselves – must be prepared on the premises. No pre-cooking!
Teams must also supply their own cooking equipment, tables, stoves, grills, fuel, a tent, etc. While hot water will be available, electricity is not and open fires are not allowed.
Registration and set-up will begin at 11 a.m. on the 26th, with the competition itself starting promptly at noon. Teams will have until 3 p.m. to prepare at least two gallons of chili for tasting and judging. At 4 p.m. the winners will be announced and cash prizes awarded for top place finishers, the coveted people’s choice award and the best decorated booth.
For those who would rather eat chili than try their hand at making it, there will be the opportunity to do plenty of that as well for the small fee of $2 per person. Children under 10 will be able to taste for free.
According to Fox, the best time to taste will be between 2 and 4 p.m., which is also the time RRR riders will be returning to General Clinton Park. As bicyclists return, they too will get to enjoy chili, he said, which will be prepared for them by the Bainbridge Rotary.
The event started off small in its first year, with just 25 riders and five entries in the chili cook-off. But that didn’t stop them from raising a sizable amount of money between the entry fees and event sponsorships.
“We raised over $1,000 last year,” Fox reported, which went to a Rotary charity committed to fighting polio. This year, the Bainbridge service organization is setting its fundraising sights even higher and planning to keep the money they raise closer to home. This year, he said, the money raised will go toward both stocking the shelves of the local food pantry and helping to upgrade the library’s computer system.
More information and entry forms for each event can be found at the Bainbridge Rotary Club’s website, www.bainbridgerotaryclub.org, or obtained by calling Dale Fox at 967-8755.
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