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| Darian Durant (#4) fires a pass downfield in the 2016 Labour Day Classic. |
Traditionally, the Labour Day long weekend clash between the
visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the host Saskatchewan Roughriders provides the
perfect celebration weekend for Rider Nation and a great CFL rivalry. The celebration
for Rider Nation part is helped by the fact the Roughriders have won 14 out of
the last 15 Labour Day Classics.
The lone Bombers victory came in 2016 thanks to a 43-yard
walk-off field goal by kicker Justin Medlock. That allowed Winnipeg to take the
final Labour Day Classic ever played at Taylor Field 28-25.
Of course, the Roughriders have a massive advantage as this
game is usually a sellout, and the crowd in most years sounds louder than any
other home game in that respective season.
While most of the stadium is full of Roughriders fans, a
sizable following usually follows the Bombers from Winnipeg to Regina for this
game.
For a number of years, there was a time fans from out of
town started arriving in Regina on Friday night to party. The party ran Friday
and all day Saturday leading to game day on Sunday.
Following the game, the parties usually continued all
through the night and people began returning home on Monday.
I’ve been to 19 Labour Day Classic games with the first
coming in 1996. The Roughriders have posted a 17-2 record in those contests.
Star quarterback Cody Fajardo lead the Roughriders to victory in last year’s game.
Star quarterback Cody Fajardo lead the Roughriders to victory in last year’s game.
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| Cody Fajardo (#7) slings a pass in the 2019 Labour Day Classic |
Starting around 2004, I began taking photos of the
happenings on the Labour Day Classic weekend. From 2004 to 2011, those photos
were usually taken on a disposable film camera.
I got my first digital point a shoot camera in 2012. Yes, I
was late to the game getting to the digital camera world with my own equipment.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos from the parties that
took place post-game at Bart’s on Broad from the late 1990s through to 2006. As
a result, there are no pictures of the Blue Bomber Cheer and Dance Team, which
was then known as the Blue Lightning Dance Team, doing a performance to “Don’t
Cha” by the Pussycat Dolls.
Of course, that song has the chorus lyric, “Don’t cha wish
your girlfriend was hot like me.”
Trust me, that was an epic night at Bart’s.
Trust me, that was an epic night at Bart’s.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy checking out these photos. I could
have posted a tonne more, but I though this supplied a good sampling.
A dream scoreboard for Roughriders fans
The Saskatchewan Roughriders down the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
52-0. For many Roughriders fans, their favourite Labour Day Classic game is the
2012 contest.
Drum guy rallies the fans
Bombers walk-off win in 2016
In 2016 at the final Labour Day Classic game at Taylor Field,
kicker Justin Medlock nails a 43-yard walk-off field goal to give the Bombers a
28-25 victory over the Roughriders.
“This Is Our House”
Here fans are waving rally towels the team gave out before
that year’s Labour Day Classic game as “This Is Our House” played throughout
the stadium.
Lauther’s walk-off 2019 Roughriders win
After this kicked went through the uprights, Lauther and
punter Jon Ryan made a mad dash to Pil Country in the south end zone, where
Lauther ultimately drank a beer. The celebration capped that year’s Labour Day Classic.
Fans prefer rock over banjos
They brought this sign out before the Labour Day Classic
that year and it said, “Rider fans play more than banjos! Rock on Riders!!!”
Sheets meets the public
Here Sheets signs autographs for the gathering of fans that
wait outside the Roughriders dressing room after the 2013 Labour Day Classic.
Sheets would be the MVP of the Roughriders Grey Cup championship win later that
year.
Gainer loves meeting the public too
Durant TD celebration
Rally at “Wayne’s World”
Fans takes over south end zone
Harris on the run
Rider Cheer Team entertains
Carter aims to muscle out of a tackle
Reaves family reunion
In the front on one knee is Jordan’s proud father Willard,
who was a star running back for the Bombers in the 1980s. Willard Reaves was
voted the CFL’s most outstanding player in the Bombers Grey Cup championship
year in 1984.
We can all be friends
I just bought the Blue Bomber Cheer and Dance Team calendar
off them. Remember folks, it is always better to make love and not war.
If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.
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