Blade Runners’ lawn mower racing

Posted on July 31, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

Shaunavon Standard

The Boomtown Cup lawnmower races returned to Shaunavon last weekend (July 18), delivering a high-octane show in front of another massive crowd.

This year’s event featured a significant format change, with organizers splitting the competition into two categories: stock and modified racing.

The new format proved popular with both competitors and fans, attracting a total of 26 entries.

The racing action remained competitive throughout the evening, with both category finals going down to the wire.

Derrick Bolton won the stock category, beating another strong contender Evan Horn in the final. Tanner Allemand, filling in for his injured brother Tyler, finished in third place.

The evening’s featured event saw Tyler Gallis capture his second career Boomtown Cup title. Gallis edged out KC Ronning in a highly competitive 10-lap finale that kept spectators cheering until the checkered flag waved. Justin Zacharias finished in third place. The other three finalists in the modified finals were Brock Hunter, Kirk Amon and Riley Kornfeld.

While weather conditions were nearly ideal, this year’s race saw more crashes than earlier installments.

In one notable incident, two mowers crashed near a spectator barrier.

While an ambulance was called to the scene as a precaution, the racer involved was able to walk away from the crash.

Beyond the main heats, the event maintained its focus on family-friendly entertainment. A kids’ race featured a large field of entries across two groups, with participants competing in electric motorized units. The festivities concluded with the Powder Puff race.

The event’s success extended beyond the track to auxiliary activities, including a food booth, beer garden and a cabaret, all of which enjoyed good crowds.

Spectators lined three sides of the track to follow the action, while the west side served as a dedicated space for pit crews and drivers.

The drivers competed in a series of preliminary heats before the final qualifying playoff rounds.

Since its inception, the Boomtown Cup has generated well in excess of $300,000, with funds distributed to a number of community projects over the years.

The organizing committee – comprised of Jodey and Carrie Entem, Allan and Jess Ronning, Riley and Dielle Kornfeld, Tyson and Breanne Skjerven, and Greg and Tara Coburn – expressed their gratitude to the volunteers, sponsors, drivers, and the large number of fans whose support continues to make the races a cornerstone of the local summer calendar.