PORT HARDY — Turnout was light, but enthusiasm was high as the B.C. Rivers Day celebration kicked off with a 2.5-k fun run Sunday at Quatse River Campground.
Steve Holm of Port Hardy was the top overall finisher and top adult male, covering the course along the twisting trail system beside the river in 10 minutes, 39.8 seconds. Jaylon Grenier followed and was the top youth finisher in a time of 13:50.52. Youth runner-up Mason Masales was third overall, in 17:53.49.
Sandy Grenier, running the event with a teacup-sized dog, was fourth overall and the first woman finisher, in 20:13.43. She also teamed with her son and Masales to win the “Fastest Family” prize of a one-year pass to the Quatse Salmon Stewardship Centre and a campground pass. Individual winners claimed prizes of T-shirts, water bottles, salmon centre passes and stuffed animals.
The race was a first-time event, and came a year after the first scheduled Rivers Day event at Quatse was cancelled by heavy flooding.