The Yukon’s competitive dirt bike season opened Sunday with a rip-roaring hare scramble held at the Schirmer family ranch.

Bikers of all ages took to the course, which included plenty of obstacles to keep things interesting.

The property is located near Kookatsoon Lake off the Klondike Highway, south of Whitehorse.

As usual, the day began with a 20-minute prologue race through the obstacles – including parked cars, chopped logs and a series of ramps – to determine start positions, and was followed by a 15-minute competition between peewee-aged racers along single track and open trail.

At 1:30 p.m., the main event featured riders tackling an A or B loop, depending on their experience and ability.

After winning the prologue race, Shawn McFarland went on to win the Expert A class, with Tim and Sam Schirmer finishing second and third, respectively, on their home turf.

Jarrid Davy earned victory in the Intermediate A class, followed by Neil Ryckman and Chris Lane, while Ben Labelle and Brent Law finished one-two in the Intermediate B division.

Antje Beaman claimed the Novice title, her son Cole took the Junior U15 class, and Brody Ryckman won the junior over-15 category.

Meanwhile, Seth Adams won the mini class, and Landon Locke took the peewee division.

The popularity of the races continues to rise, Antje Beaman said of the hare scramble format, which sees riders complete multiple laps around a marked course.

“There’s more people coming out now due to the races that we have,” she said. “We have a few young guys now, like the Schirmers ... of course the community is not as big as we would like.”

The Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association, now in its fourth year of operation, continues to seek permits to hold races on public land such as the Stinky Lake sewage lagoon.

The riders will meet again Aug. 24 for a second hare scramble.