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More Attractions and Activities News

• Recreation: Bonita's Gerardo pressing for new record
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• Fishing Report: Fay foils fishing

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Stacy Dachuk and her sister, Angela Snell, have had to take their horses to LaBelle or Arcadia to compete in rodeos.

But soon, they hope, they will be able to do so right here in Collier County.

The Collier County Fairgrounds has a new rodeo arena, and Dachuk is helping put together the South West Family Livestock Club to take advantage of it.

“We’re members of the club all the way in LaBelle,’’ Dachuk says. “We were real excited to find out they were having an arena here. It’s so much closer. With the fuel prices, we can have the same events and some new events without having to go so far away.’’

The club has started fundraising and is taking memberships. Its mission is to provide a family-oriented atmosphere for all ages. The club plans to have a wide variety of events, including team penning, breakaway roping, ranch sorting, team roping, cutting, as well as speed events such as barrel racing, goat tying, hair pin, and pole bending.

“We’re looking for sponsors for the club to help with the start-up costs,’’ Dachuk says.

The arena will have its first event, a bull-riding rodeo, on Saturday. Gates open at 5 p.m., with the first ride at 6:30 p.m. A live band and dance will follow from 9 p.m. until midnight. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-10. Children 5-and-under get in free.

For more information on the bull-riding this weekend, call 455-1444 or go to Web site at www.colliercountyfair.com.

Dachuk and Snell will be at the bull-riding with membership information on the Livestock Club. They can also be reached at swflc@yahoo.com.

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Naples’ 70-year-old Karl Wiedamann was one of four Americans to collect nine world records at the 12th FINA World Masters Championships in Perth, Australia, from April 15-25.

Wiedmann set world records in the 50-, 100-, and 200-meter breaststrokes.

“I had a meet that exceeded my wildest expectations,” Wiedamann said. “Going in, I was feeling that I had a good shot at winning at least one event. I wasn’t sure which one it would be.”

Wiedamann had missed a gold medal in 2006, then underwent major shoulder surgery.

“My coach, Chuck Slaght, did a great job,” Wiedamann said. “He put together a regimen in the (previous) five months that allowed me to really get my fast-twitch muscles up to speed, but also got my cardio going to support a 200 effort.”

Wiedamann won his first event, the 100-meter breaststroke, in record time.

* * *

The Back Country Classic is July 25-26 at its new site, the Port of the Islands Resort & Marina in Naples.

Up to $15,000 is available in cash and prizes for anglers competing for the biggest snook and redfish, with every angler receiving a custom fishing shirt, hat and other souvenir items.

All competitors will also enjoy an open bar during check-in and two dinners with complimentary Bud beers. Qualifiers will be invited to compete in the Caloosa Grand Championship, to be held at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa on Fort Myers Beach in November, where $45,000 in cash and prizes will be up for grabs.

All proceeds benefit athletic scholarships at Florida Gulf Coast University.

For more info, call director Ron Riley at (239) 671-9347 or visit www.dingdarlingdays.com for updates or call the refuge at (239) 472-1100.