The largest lacrosse tournament in the Southeast, known as the Georgia Southern Shootout, presented by Monkey Up Tournaments and Grassroots, is expected to bring 15,000 visitors to Gainesville Saturday and Sunday. It will be held at the Allen Creek Soccer Complex.
Meanwhile, Dingo Race Productions LLC is bringing two criterium bicycle races to Oakwood and Flowery Branch, also Saturday and Sunday.
The Georgia Southern Shootout brings 100 lacrosse teams to compete in one of 10 national qualifiers for the Dick's Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions in Florida. It is the only sanctioned qualifier in the state of Georgia.
Teams from Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Florida, Missouri and Texas are scheduled to participate.
"Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, so the amount of kids that will be here to attend is off the charts," said Tom DeBole with Monkey Up Tournaments.
He said the tournament has returned to Hall County because of the quality of the fields at Allen Creek Soccer Complex and the support of Mike Little, director of Hall County Parks and Leisure Services.
"Mike Little is just a phenomenal resource," DeBole said. "If it wasn't for him, the tournament would not be successful."
In addition to the tournament itself, local, national and international vendors will also be at the complex to promote their brands and participate in the event.
BICYCLE RACES
The Dingo Days of Summer Race Weekend will feature 12 races Saturday in Flowery Branch, with the first one starting at 11:00 and the last at 6:30. There will be eleven races Sunday in Oakwood, with the first starting at 9:00 and the last at 4:10.
The Flowery Branch race circuit is 0.7 miles in length; the one in Oakwood is 3.2 miles long. Race lengths will vary between 30 and 90 minutes and feature races in several age groups from 10 to 55+. In addition, there will be a "kids' race" in Oakwood Saturday at 12:10. (Click on the link below for a map of each race course and other information.)
Spectators are welcome and there is no charge to watch the races.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/7/263459