John O'Connor
News Editor

It was the quintessential Santa Claus parade—cold, windy, but full of colourful floats and charismatic characters marching through the downtown core of Merritt.

And, of course, the big man himself walked his way through, handing out sugary things to the kids as a precursor to the much bigger things he will hand out in about four weeks.

Mr. Claus and about 600 Merrittonians made up the 64 registered groups that floated through the 2010 Country Christmas Santa Claus parade Friday night.

"Thousands of Merritt residents and visitors were entertained by the lit-up floats," said parade organizer Gail McKee. "It is estimated that there were more than 600 persons riding, walking, or driving the various entries."

The last float of the evening featured Santa in a chimney with Mrs. Claus and an elf looking on.

Following the parade and a busy weekend of various Country Christmas events going on around town, organizers examined each float entry to decide on a total of six awards.

"The parade awards were determined by three volunteer judges," said McKee. "Four categories plus school spirit and the best overall are tabulated from a combined entry of 40 points per float."

Norgaard Ready-Mix topped the list, winning best overall, while another ready-mix, Phoenix Ready-Mix, won for best lights. Upper Nicola Band won best theme while Lower Nicola Band picked up two awards for best school spirit and enthusiasm. Mar-King Logistics won for best originality.

"It is sort of an employee initiative and they worked very hard on it," says Norgaard spokesperson Clara Norgaard.

The Norgaard truck was converted into a snowman.

When it comes to Merritt cowboy Ty Pozzobon, don’t let his age and youthful appearance fool you. He is one tough hombre, and a rodeo competitor through and through.

Pozzobon, who just turned 19 on Tuesday, is in Edmonton, Alberta this week, competing in the bull riding event at the Canadian Finals Rodeo.

Action officially got underway at the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association event on Wednesday night, and culminates with the last performance on Sunday afternoon.

The CFR is one of the biggest indoor rodeos in the world. Over five days, there are six action-packed, white-knuckled, adrenalin-in-the-dirt performances at Rexall Place, home of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers.

The best rodeo athletes from Canada, the United States and even Australia are competing against the best stock, and the clock, for prize money and bragging rights. This year’s prize money totals $1.32 million.

Pozzobon began his quest this week for a championship bull riding title on the heels of an incredibly successful CPRA season.

In his first year of eligibility on the Canadian professional rodeo circuit, Pozzobon finished second in the standings behind Jesse Torkelson of Winfield, Alberta. His CPRA earnings alone totaled a hefty $26,352.

Pozzobon’s amazing accomplishments in year one of his pro rodeo career have earned him the CPRA’s “Rookie of the Year” honor. He was officially recognized for the achievement at a CFR award’s banquet on Thursday night.

The competitor that he is, Pozzobon isn’t content with all that he’s accomplished so far. He’s definitely going for the victory in Edmonton.

“I want to win, that’s for sure,” he said from the family ranch 15 km west of Merritt. “I think that I have a good chance.”

Pozzobon went on to add that the top four finishers at the CFR also get a bye directly into next year’s Calgary Stampede, one of the most prestigious events on the professional rodeo calendar.

Only the top 12 bull riders in the CPRA standings made it to the CFR. Pozzobon and the 11 other cowboys in the bull riding event, are guaranteed six rides this week. Each go-round pays out $10,700 in first place money, and pays down to fifth place. All earnings this week are added to the year-long winnings to determine who is the overall Canadian Finals Rodeo champion.

“It’s anybody’s to win, stated Pozzobon, “and I’m definitely going for it.”

Pozzobon certainly has the pedigree to back up his bold statements. His grandfather, Marino, is a legend in the rodeo world. And both his dad, Luke, and his uncle, Mark, were bull riders before him.

“I owe a lot to my dad,” said the younger Pozzobon. “He encouraged me, and taught me almost everything I know.”

There’ll be a whole mess of family and friends – almost 30 to be exact – in Edmonton to cheer Pozzobon on.

“It means a lot to me,” Pozzobon acknowledged, “having all that support behind me.”

Pozzobon stated that consistency is a key to success in one of the world’s most dangerous sports, and it’s something that he feels is one of his strengths.

“I felt that I had a really consistent year,” he said, “which isn’t easy.”

Overall athleticism is another of Pozzobon’s fortés, as the former stand-out rep hockey goalie is blessed with tremendous flexibility and cat-like reflexes – definite assets in an event that is never the same from one ride to the next.

“Bull riding always throws something different at you,” he said. “They’re animals after all. You have to expect the unexpected.”

Win or lose in Edmonton, Pozzobon will have very little time to savor his successes or dwell on his defeats. From the Alberta capital, he will make his way immediately to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for the Canadian Professional Bull Riders Finals the very next weekend.

Pozzobon will be a bit more of a long shot in the PBR wind-up event as he only competed on the circuit a limited amount this season. He goes into the Finals 17th in the point standings and 28th in earnings.

“I was kinda hurt for a part of the season this year,” explained Pozzobon, “especially in late August and into September. I cut back my rodeo schedule, and focused on the CPRA events so that I could qualify for the CFR in Edmonton.”

Pozzobon’s shoulder and wrist are “all healed up” now, he said, thanks in no small part to the wondrous workings of Dr. Teara Ashby at Balance Chiropractic in Merritt.

“I feel really good, Pozzobon declared. “Dr. Ashby’s amazing. I can’t say enough about her.”

Following Saskatoon, Pozzobon will have just a short while to catch his breath before he leaves for Las Vegas, Nevada and a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event on December 4-5.

Pozzobon will be competing in the Permit Holders Challenge, a competition exclusively for first-year members of this American-based rodeo organization.

“The event’s going to be held indoors at the South Point Casino,” he said. “Just the top five permit holders ride off. It should be pretty exciting.”

With next year’s pro rodeo circuit set to begin in earnest in January, Pozzobon has precious little down time ahead. It’s made his schooling yet another challenge. The rodeo scholarship student at Odessa College in Texas has been forced to do most of his courses on line, and get to college rodeo competitions as best as he can.

One thing’s for sure. There’s never a dull moment in Pozzobon’s busy life, and it doesn’t appear as though there’s going to be any for the foreseeable future.

You can follow Pozzobon’s progress this week at the Canadian Finals Rodeo by going to: www.canadianfinalsrodeo.com

John O'Connor

News Editor, Merritt News

(in photo) Second World War radio operator Lou Birk.

John O'connor Photo

Had artillery radio operator Lou Birk not hidden in a body-sized hole in the ground during a an attack by enemy fighters at the Battle of Ortona, he might not be alive and able to tell his story from his Merritt apartment today.

The 94-year-old served Canada as a radio operator on the battle lines, where he passed orders back and forth from commanding officers to soldiers.

My job as a radio op is to get the news at five o'clock…not news, but messages from the army," says Birk, comfortably nestled in his reclining chair in a one-bedroom apartment at The Florentine.

Birk, who was born in Winnipeg and spent most of his youth growing up at the St. Boniface convent in Manitoba during the Great Depression, joined the army in 1939 and was quickly dispatched to England when he was only 23 years old. His battalion then hit France in 1940, and they found themselves back in England for three more years.

"They told us to go back in any way shape or form, but go fast," recalls Birk, imitating what seemed to be an order from a higher up.

Birk would make two tours to Africa and Sicily before the big war in Italy.

"I was on the frontline for 18 months in Italy."

"You know why we are at war? The reason England and all those countries were in there is because the United States was in there. Common sense will tell you. When the Battle of Britain was on—which I was there then right through to 1944—the United States volunteered to go over and help England, New Zealand, Australians…everybody, and of course, the Americans had a lot of money."

"I've got a story of my life right there; there's no booze and no women in it," says Birk, motioning towards the shelf full of VHS cassettes below his TV. Alongside an assortment of videos is a pile of papers and a grey booklet with black binding.

"It's my whole life history, more or less."

Birk says he had a lady from downtown put together a compilation of his writings about his childhood and his experiences in the war—The Lou Birk Memoirs.

Birk's 38-page memoir is detailed, full of pictures, and highly descriptive of the many battles the young soldier had seen.

"I've got shell shock. I've had that since 1942, I think."

"These guys in Afghanistan, they're all going to come back with shell shock. You cant help it. Shells are rounding near you, they explode, and you see guys get killed. That's war," says Birk.

The memoir details some very unpleasant scenes, including dead young people strewn across household furniture sitting exposed to grey skies in half-blown up houses and even perched in trees in various parts of Europe.

"It's all a significance to me because my wife was in the army too," says Birk. "She was one of those that was proud as hell. And there was good reason, I guess. We were married 56 years. I think that was one of the reasons she married me: because I was in the war."

Birk's late wife, Roberta, has been gone since 2003 and Birk has memorialized her life through photos and plaques.

"We are a special couple," reads Birk's memoir. "As General MacArthur put it, 'Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.' How true—we will fade away."

For the time being, Birk has his memoirs, his collections of tapes and photos, but he can't help but wonder what the future holds, especially for today's armed forces.

"God only knows what's going to happen the next 10 years."

"I don't agree with this Afghanistan. I don't agree with any of that. We haven't been attacked by anybody. I know why we're there and it's because the States are there. I know enough about politics," says Birk with concern.

"How can you keep peace in a war? You can't. The minute the enemy sees you there…they figure you're helping—which we are—they'll shoot."

Birk will be a part of the Remembrance Day ceremonies today at the Merritt Cenotaph and in the Merritt Civic Centre.