Recreation : Wallner Rides in Continental Competition

Christen Wallner of Westlake Village is the state representative at the American Continental Young Riders equestrian championships in Wadsworth, Ill., this week.

Competing in the team dressage and individual divisions, Wallner, 19, is vying with riders from throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The weeklong competition concludes Sunday.

Wallner is competing in the Young Riders championships for the second consecutive year. The former Agoura High student was selected the top young rider in California in 1987 and her mount, High There, was selected horse of the year.

In dressage, a horse and rider perform compulsory movements in an arena. Wallner also will be judged on speed and endurance riding over a cross-country course and on obstacle jumping inside an arena.

Go-Kart debut: Derek Wilcox of Thousand Oaks will compete in his first Grand National Go-Kart championships in Lubbock, Tex., beginning today.

Wilcox, 18, the son of actor Larry Wilcox, won his division in recent races in Oxnard and Santa Maria to qualify for the national championships.

Booted out: The Young Ireland’s, one of two Valley-based Gaelic football teams, was eliminated from the Western regional final of the North American Championships on Sunday in San Francisco.

The McDermotts, a San Francisco-based team, defeated the Young Ireland’s, 20-10. Martin O’Doherty of Newbury Park scored four points, including a three-point goal, to lead the Valley team.

Gaelic football teams from throughout the United States will compete in the championship tournament in San Francisco on Labor Day weekend.

Softball: The Los Angeles City Recreation and Parks Department will send two teams to the World Senior Softball tournament on Sept. 9-12 in Las Vegas.

More than 50 teams from throughout the United States are scheduled to compete in the 10th edition of the tournament. The Valley-based teams will compete in the 65-and-older and 70-and-older divisions.

A 15-member all-star team comprising players from the San Fernando Valley and Culver City placed fourth in the 70-and-older division in last year’s tournament.

Openings are still available on the 70-and-older team for next month’s tournament.

Information: 818-783-0738.

Drag boats: Racers from throughout Southern California will converge at Castaic Lake for the Sundance Sports National drag boat races Sept. 24-25.

Qualifying races are scheduled for Sept. 24 and finals will be held the next day. Racers compete in quarter-mile heats throughout the weekend.

In the Bill Todd Memorial last May at Lower Castaic Lake, 197 boats competed in 16 classes. Castaic Lake is the site of two drag boat races this summer, both sanctioned by the International Hot Boat Assn., which holds a series of 10 events, culminating with the World Finals on Nov. 11-13 in Phoenix.

Kicking off next month’s races will be a series of tune-up runs Sept. 23. The drivers of the speedy hydroplanes will tune up their boats and make any last-minute adjustments that Friday to prepare for the weekend races.

Information: 805-257-4922.

Bicycle races: The second Bike For Life races will be held at Kingsmen Park at Cal Lutheran on Saturday. There will be four races, beginning with a 62-mile race at 7 a.m. and a 25-mile race at 8 a.m. A 10-mile race will kick off at 9 a.m. followed by a 5-mile race at 10 a.m.

Information: 805-963-8848.

Swim meet: The City of Burbank on Saturday will stage a novice swim meet at McCambridge Park pool for youths 18 and younger.

Swimmers will compete in the backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle and butterfly. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the meet starts at 8 a.m.

Information: 818-953-8789.