Raider Days, 25-year celebration on tap

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This article was published 26/08/2015 (3165 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s the biggest weekend of the year on the local minor football calendar as the Eastman Raiders host their annual Raiders Days as well as a celebration to mark the 25-year anniversary of Eastman Raiders football in Steinbach.

The weekend gets underway at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Raiders Field at A.D. Penner Park as the Pee Wee Raiders host the North Winnipeg Nomads. The formal 25^th anniversary program will follow at approximately 12 noon, which will include a presentation to Eastman Raiders founder Paul Beauchamp. Then three more games will follow Saturday afternoon as all seven Eastman teams will be in action throughout the course of the weekend.

Also on Saturday members of the U of M Bisons football team will be on hand to mingle with spectators and players.

On both days there will be a huge inflatable obstacle course for the kids, a bake sale, and a dunk tank (bring a tin for the bin for a chance to dunk the coaches).

Sunday’s schedule also begins at 10:00 a.m. with the Bantam Raiders taking on the St. Vital Mustangs. Two more games will be follow at 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Three special guests from the Winnipeg Blue Bombes will be on hand on Sunday including Bomber mascots Buzz and Boomer and former Blue Bomber great Doug Brown.

Eastman Raiders president Sean Walsh said they had hoped to have B.C. Lions star Andrew Harris, who started his football career in Steinbach and played three years with the Raiders, attend on Saturday. Although Harris had hoped to work to work it into his schedule, the Lions, on a bye this week, return to practice on Saturday, so he was not able to attend. Harris is currently the leading rusher in the Canadian Football League.