Photo by Jenny Kirk Ghent native Pat Byrne, second from left, attempts to steer his rolle bolle while players Jason Boerboom, left, Jeff Byrne and Galen Boerboom look on during the Belgian American Days rolle bolle tournament on Saturday in Ghent.

GHENT — Getting out and enjoying the festivities seemed to be a common thread for people of all ages who came to Ghent on Saturday for the 65th annual Belgian American Days celebration.

As the rolle bolle capital of the world, there was rolle bolle, of course. Organizer Chauncey Welvaert reported that there were more than 100 people participating in this year’s tournament.

“There are 22 men’s teams and 13 novice teams,” he said. “It’s 65 years for Belgian American Days, and rolle bolle has been going on for all of that.”

At 75, Ghent native Pat Byrne might have been the oldest participant, but he certainly didn’t let age affect his game.

“I’ve lived in Ghent all my life and I’ve been playing in this for 65 years,” Byrne said. “I like the camaraderie with all the people — some who come from Canada, Illinois and Iowa. I learned on my own. My dad never played the game. I had two older gentlemen who were looking for a third player. I was 16 years old when they took me on their team (league play). So I bowled with those two for many years.”

On Saturday, Byrne teamed up with sons Jeff and Tim Byrne.

“I come back every year,” Jeff Byrne said. “We have a lot of cousins who come back to Ghent every year, too.”

Cousin Mike Byrne has played a lot of rolle bolle, but he was a spectator on Saturday.

“I used to play a lot,” Byrne said. “I like to watch, though. I’m too busy trying to reconnect with people.”

Byrne, who now lives in New York, said cousins come from as far away as Arizona, New York and Colorado.

“I still have my own bolle from when I was a kid,” he said. “It’s just what you did growing up. They call this the rolle bolle capital of the world for a reason.”

The Byrne team ended up defeating the three-person team of Galen Boerboom, Jason Boerboom and Dean Noyes 8-5 in the first match of the day. Each of the men’s teams played two games first in order to determine whether they’d compete in the A or B division. Welvaert said teams that went 1-1 competed in a third game to determine whether they moved up or down. Then they started the actual tournament.

“I have no knee joint and no kneecap,” Pat Byrne said as he pulled up his left pant leg and revealed a heavy-duty brace. “My leg could buckle without the brace. I can still play bolle, though, so that’s the important part.”

At least three competitors flew in just to take part in the tournament.

“We flew in just for this and we’re flying out right after,” said Shane Naert of Illinois. “We came into Marshall on a four-seater plane. The pilot is sitting at the airport.”

Iowa residents Jason Arens and Reynold Brown also made the trip with Naert.

“We’ve been coming since 1988 — just for the love of the game,” Naert said. “We love it. Everybody out here loves it. That’s why we came.”

The Challenge of the Lion Mud Run was also a Belgian American Days highlight for people of all ages. Hundreds turned out to either participate or watch the action.

“We had 100 who pre-registered,” volunteer worker Lori Folk said. “This is the third year they’ve had this and I’ve helped for all three years. Every year, it keeps growing.”

Folk, who lives in Marshall, estimated that between 25 and 30 people volunteered to assist with the event. Along with getting participants registered, people were throughout the obstacle course.

Runners started out with monkey bars, a zip-line over mud, horizontal tire, vertical tires, a mud pit to crawl through, fences to climb, a rock wall, two-high round bale climb, balance beams, mud hills and more.

“We were in the very first heat,” said Amanda Jerzak of Ivanhoe. “It was fun. The hardest part was going up the mud hills and then coming back down and having your feet just overwhelmed with mud. It’s like running with 20-pound weights on your feet.”

Jerzak tackled the course alongside husband Justin Jerzak, who joked that he should have been better prepared for the strenuous course.

“I was asked to go a couple of months ago,” he said. “But I haven’t run in months.”

Ivanhoe natives Stacy and Dan Popowski also enjoyed the experience.

“It was fun,” Stacy Popowski said. “It was the first time for all of us. The mud hills were the worst for me, too. You can’t move your feet and I lost my shoe.”

Ghent native Jacob Moe decided to try the timed competition this year after doing the untimed fun run two years ago.

“I did it as a personal challenge,” Moe said. “It was tough. I think the worst part was crawling under the tarp in the mud. It was soupy and you’re hunched over and tired.”

Moe, who was cheered on by his mom Shelly and his brother Robbie, enjoyed the experience, though.

“I really liked the rock wall built into the challenge,” he said. “I like the new obstacles like the zip-line. I want to do it again next year.”

Moe anticipated taking part in other activities over the weekend.

“I’m always loyal to Belgium American Days,” Moe said. “I come back when I can.”

Marshall youngster Brielle Felton-Krog didn’t mind getting muddy as she was eager to take part in the run.

“It was good,” 7-year-old Felton-Krog said. “I tried it because I thought it would be fun.”

Ghent native Andrea Weniger, who lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota now, competed for the second time in three years.

“My chest is burning,” she said. “I walked more last year, though, and I pushed it more this year. I’m competing against myself to see how much better I can do.”

A few of the obstacles posed challenges for Weniger, but she never gave up.

“My shoes were loosening up in the mud, so I couldn’t go any faster,” Weniger said. “The hardest part was climbing the walls because my upper body strength isn’t good. But it’s better than it was last year.”

Mud-covered brothers Joseph Miller, of Texas, and Jeremy Miller, of New York, posed with Ivanhoe native cousin Lincoln Jerzak after they finished the mud run. The former Porter siblings then posed for a few photos with the rest of the crew competing — Canby native Tami Peterson, Texas resident Sara Miller, Ivanhoe native Natalie Jerzak and Canby youth Owen Peterson.

“We were home visiting Dad and told them to come on over to this,” Tami Peterson said.

Natalie Jerzak said it didn’t take too much persuasion.

“I just heard about it last night and thought it sounded like fun,” she said.

Morlin Ramm came all the way from Germany to celebrate in Ghent.

“I was an exchange student two years ago,” Ramm said. “My little host sister is doing this (mud run) with me.”

There were many other activities scattered throughout the day, including a car show, petting zoo, inflatables, grand parade, street dance and 12-team softball tournament.