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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021
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Area friends prepare for tough mountain bike race BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor
They first came together years ago over a glass of their favorite beer at Casual Pint Ocotillo in Chandler. The more that Frank Gavin, Chad Eby and James Welsh spoke, they realized they all shared a common love for biking. Whether on the road or on one of Arizona’s several mountain trails, the three men continued to bond over a sport they all fell in love with at different times in their lives. On Aug. 16, they will take not only their friendship but their love for the sport to a whole new level when they compete in the Leadville 100 in Leadville, CO. “I’m thrilled to be a part of this race,” Gavin said. “It’s kind of a double-edged sword. I’m excited to compete but I wish it came earlier. But overall, I feel privileged to race and to do it with them.” One of the most well-known cross-country mountain bike races in the United States, the Leadville 100 is a 100-mile race that will start and finish in the central Colorado city that is home to just under 3,000 people. It is often thought of as one of the most challenging races in the world, as riders climb more than 2,000 feet on the course. The first Leadville 100 race took place in 1984 to attract tourism to the small city. Since then, it has attracted
From left: Chad Eby, Frank Gavin and James Welsh are preparing to compete in one of the toughest mountain bike races in the world, the Leadville 100 in Colorado on Aug. 16. (Pablo Robles/Staff)
some of the most experienced riders from across the country. Due to the pandemic, the number of racers was limited to just 2,000 people. Hopeful participants must apply and be accepted to race. Often, riders wait several years before they are finally able to compete at an official capacity. That was the case for Gavin.
The 73-year-old Chandler resident has ridden bikes for 45 years. He began on a road bike before taking on mountain trails. Even now after a bout with cancer that has limited his performance, he trains five days a week – four days on the street or mountains and one day in his local gym doing core work. Gavin applied to compete in the
Leadville 100 several times but was never accepted. But this year, after convincing Eby and Welsh to apply as a two-man team, all three men received the notice they would be able to race. “All three of us got accepted and I don’t know how that happened,” Gavin said. “I’m 73 and they are in their mid40s. I have one son who is in his mid40s. Both these guys are young enough to be my sons. “The conversations we have, the rides we go on, it keeps me young. The only thing that frustrates me is I can’t keep up with them.” Having the opportunity to race in the Leadville 100 after just one application was a bit of a surprise for Eby. He and Welsh had to quickly make plans to take time off work to head to Leadville early to train. Luckily, both still work from home due to the pandemic. Welsh, who in year’s past traveled out of the country on several occasions for Intel, hasn’t traveled for work since the coronavirus first took hold of the country last year. As the owner of The Pint Ocotillo, Eby, a Chandler resident, also had to move back his five-year anniversary party at the pub. It will now take place on Saturday, Aug. 21. Eby has ridden bikes for most of his See
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Sun Lakes Rotarians reflect on busy year SANTAN SUN NEWS
The 2020-21 session of the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes was a busy one despite the curbs imposed on some activities by the pandemic, Club President Jon Lyons told members recently. Throughout the year, club members devoted time and close to $90,000 to local, domestic and international community service organizations as well as East Valley schools, teachers and students. Its work included Classy Closets projects at Anderson Junior High, Humphrey Elementary and Chandler Traditional Academy; the Arizona Patriot Guard – Sun Lakes Help the Homefront Drive; A World in Motion mentoring efforts and on-site support at Chandler’s Auxier Elementary School and Strong Foundations Academy. The club also supported AZCEND, Chandler Boys/Girls Club, Chandler Cares Center, the Chandler–Fry’s gift cards to families in need and Chandler YMCA. The club also distributed 3,200 dictionaries to Chandler Unified School District third graders; facilitated the delivery of 1,744 children’s books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library; and participated in FANS Across America, Harvest Compassion, Matthew Crossing Food Bank, Neighbors Who Care, One Small Step that provided a sweatshirt
Sun Lakes Rotary Vice President Stephen Phair presented a thank you gavel plaque to club President Jon Lyons during the club’s annual report meeting at Cottonwood Palo Verde Country Club. (Dr. Honora Norton/Special to STSN)
and pair of socks to every student at San Marcos Elementary School, the “Drive-by Veterans Celebration/Parade at Auxier Elementary School; Positive Paths scholarships to women, Project Healing Waters’ Recovering Veterans Support. Sun Lakes Rotarians also supported a number of Rotary International programs like its Navajo Water, Mexico/USA Friendship Exchange, PolioPlus Day, International Peacebuilder Club Program.
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes also thanked its corporate and local sponsors: Earnhardt Automotive, New Horizon Farms, Good Sound Audiology, State Farm Insurance Agency, Built By Referral Realty, DC Steakhouse, Hornecek Golf, and Renaissance Luxury Senior Living. Other sponsors included Moors & Cabot Investments, Hon-Dah Resort & Casino, Home Instead, Robson Adult Communities, Sir Speedy, Harrah’s AK-CHIN Dental Associates, Saba & Romanin Dental Associates, Young Home Team, Ameriprise Financial Services, Ocotillo Foot & Ankle Center, Santa Roger, McCleery & Cole Families, Trust Bank, Swagel Wootton Eye Institute, Debbie Wiltse State Farm, Rob Romanin Sun Lakes Dentistry and Classy Closets. Rotarian of the Month awards went Elaine Ralls, Phyllis Carr, Terrie Sanders, Judi Edmonds, Maureen Alger, Scott Faver, Bill and Val Crump, Don Robins, Margie Wright, Stephen Phair, Camille Casteel, and Howard Rudge. Service Above Self awards went to Don Robins, Terrie Sanders and Judi Edmonds while the John K. McCain Good Guy/Gal Trophy went to Maureen Alger and Rotarians of the Year were Bill and Val Crump. Teacher of the Month awards went to Donna Gustafson, San Tan Junior
High; Lisette Bingold and Cassie Itsell, Navarrete Elementary; Katherine Barton, Basha Elementary; Lisa King, Weinberg Gifted Academy; Jamie Cordova, Casteel High; Allison Lewis, Sanborn Elementary; Kristin Tollefson, CTA Liberty; and Rosie Marie Bogue, Galveston Elementary. Rotary Club of Sun Lakes Sandy Lundberg Educator of the Year Award was Rajani Rastogi. Service Above Self Scholarships were awarded to Lily Steenhard, Casteel High, and Aris Shi, Hamilton, while a vocational scholarship went to Adrianna Camachio of Chandler High. The STEM Programs Award went to Joe Greene, Perry High and the 4-way Test Speech Contest winner was Navaneeth Unnikrishnan, Hamilton High. The club continued to meet via Zoom after its initial meeting of the year in July 2020 and moved into a hybrid format in April, with in-person sessions at Sun Lakes Palo Verde restaurant. The club continues to hold a combination of weekly morning and late afternoon meetings and details are available at sunlakesrotary.com. During the year, the club welcomed new members Kim Rector, Kandi Skrabala, Don Peterson, Dan Halloran, and Dr. Honora Norton with the following sponsors: Marge Wright, Chuck Hawkins, Dick Thomas and Gary Whiting.
