40th World Gold Panning Championship in Taylor this weekend

Top level competitors from all over the world will be descending on the Peace Valley, to compete in the Class "A" Championship, which will be judged on speed panning, skills panning and fine gold panning. There is also a "B" class for non-professionals and a "C" class for beginners. There will also be a claimstaking category for Adult/Juvenile competitors, a metal detecting category which is for open Adult/Juvenile and an open Bannock baking category.

For those not gold panning, there will also be a variety of family activities, including a cherry pit spitting competition, a frisbee toss, a petting zoo, horseshoe tournament and a root beer chugging contest.

The festivities will begin Friday, August 3 at 6 p.m., with the official opening of the competition set for 7 p.m. Panning begins Saturday, August 4, with Class "C" running from 12-5 p.m. and Class "B" beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday evening will also feature a barbeque, a bannock baking contest and a family campfire. The World Invitational Class "A" Gold Panning Championships will hit the dirt Sunday, August 5, with competition beginning at noon.

Looking to defend his title for the fourth year in a row will be Quesnel’s Scott Rea, who has won the championship division the past three years in a row, and has won the event five out of the past seven years. The annual competition has been held in Taylor since 1972, and the Class "A" event has attracted panners form as far as Holland, Australia, the USA and the Yukon.

For more details on the weekend, visit the event’s website.