Perfect water, weather for annual canoe race

    The Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race was run under sunny skies and perfect water conditions last Saturday in Houlton.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph
RIDING THE RAPIDS – Dan Murphy maneuvers through a bit of white water on the Meduxnekeag River during last Saturday’s annual canoe race to support Dollars for Scholars. It was sunny skies and perfect water conditions, as 80 boats made their way down the river.
    Eighty boats or 140 paddlers, put in the river for the eight-mile course with Houlton’s Fred Ludwig clocking the best time overall, finishing in the K-1 Long category with a time of 1:03:48.
    Despite the numbers being lower than expected for downstate racers – from the price of gas to news showing Aroostook County flooded and a rainy day from Bangor south –  race organizer Peter Blood was pleased with the new paddlers, especially the kayakers.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph
FATHER/SON – Hadley Boutilier and son, Ben, enjoy a trip down the Meduxnekeag River during last Saturday’s race. The duo competed in the OC-2 Junior/Senior Recreational Division.
    “They experienced a great time and perfect weather,” he said.
    Racers also enjoyed free food at the finish line, as well as numerous door prizes thanks to local businesses.
    The largest classes this year were the Junior/Senior and Mixed categories.
    “It was great to see families out racing,” said Blood.
Kim Sixberry photograph
WINNERS – East Grand School High School winners Aaron Henn, left, and Harvey Brittain bring back the traveling trophy to East Grand after winning the High School Division of the Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race  with  a time of 1:18:39. This is Brittain’s third spring race and he has taken first all three times in the High School Division.
    The results of the race, organized by Dollars for Scholars in memory of longtime Houlton principal Elwood Scott are as follows:
Racing Class
K-1 Short: first, Brian Foley,1:17:20; second, Dick Hanson, 1:18:18 and third, Earl Baldwin, 1:19:42.
K-1 Long: first, Fred Ludwig,1:03:48.
OC-1: first, Jim Parks,1:16:16 and second, Fran Cyr,1:18:27.
OC-2 Mixed: first, Tammy Kelly and Gary Brooks, 1:15:55.
OC-2 Junior/Senior: first, Clint Cushman and Crystal Nason, 1:15:51and second, Ryan and Dustin Hines,1:23:13.
Century: first, Peter Blood and Mike Sproul, 1:13:02 and second, Wayne Daggett and Dave Conley,1:16:50.
WINNERS – Winning the Law Enforcement Division of the annual Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race were Aaron Cross, front, and Ben Drew with a time of 1:19:38.

Recreational Class
(MACKRO)
OC-1: first, Brian Galipeau, 1:19:55 and second, Bill Deighen,1:20:04.
OC-2 Mixed: first, Paula and Bill Lunt, 1:13:59; second, Dan Wagner and Lisa Bates, 1:16:11; third, Justin Wardwell and Lori Perley, 1:16:56; fourth, Dale and Katie Cross,1:18:49; fifth, Mike Erskine and Tiffany Bates, 1:19:25 and sixth, Sandra Mitchell and Terry Wescott, 1:24:04.
Century: first,  D.W. Smith and Bob Hessler, 1:11:27 and second, Bob Miller and Joe Axford, 1:21:30.
BUSINESS WINNERS  – Coming in first in the Rotary Business Class of the Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race were Nick Fournier, front, and Rod Hemingway.

Recreational
OC-2 Short: first, Al Cowperthwaite and Jim McPartland, 1:28:07; second, Drew and Lacey Farrar, 1:33:24; third, Todd Collier and Nathan Hardy, 1:43:21 and fourth, Matt Day and Tyler Putnam, 1:51:27.
OC-2 Medium: first, Mike Wallace and Adam Bell, 1:23:18; second, Richard Hemingway and Matt Hovey, 1:23:20; third,  Ted Sussman and Michael Sussman, 1:24:57; fourth,  Michael Gudreau and Michael Gudreau, 1:27:20; fifth, Chris Bouvier and Roger Flewelling,1:36:00; sixth, Dennis Kerekes and Joseph Kerekes, 1:38:53; Paul Towle and Donald Cassidy and Ryan Duff and Nick Crane.
OC-2 Women: first, Molly White and Taylor Cochran, 1:37:02.
K-1 Short Men: first, Matt Swallow, 1:22:20; second, Curtis Harrison, 1:24:22; third, Peter Swallow, 1:28:00; fourth, Scott Galipeau, 1:32:16; fifth, Greg Swallow,1:34:21; sixth, Kevin Senal, 1:36:25; seventh, Dennis Tewchey, 1:42:43; eighth, Phil Brown, 1:43:02; ninth, Mark Putnam, 1:47:09; tenth,  Keith Brown, 1:48:14 and eleventh,  Dan Murphy, 1:49:36.
K-1 Short Women: first, Christa Galipeau, 1:38:14; second, Lindsey Patchell, 1:57:31
and third, Bonnie Patchell, 1:57:33.
K-1 Long: first, Barbara Wright,1:23:41; second, Kristy Swallow, 1:30:44 and third, Greg Swallow, 1:34:21.
OC-2 Mixed: first, Trevor Sheaves and Carolyn Devoe, 2:24:14.
OC-2 Junior/Senior: first, Tom and Landon Towle,1:22:44; second, Arden and Alex Williams. 1:25:28; third, Nick Chambers and Vance Gustin, 1:27:44: fourth,  Trevor London and Cody Lassonde, 1:28:47; fifth, Chris and Lucas Anderson, 1:34:49; sixth,  Cleve Kenyon and Scott Holmes, 1:35:59 and seventh, Pete and Tanner White, 1:36:55.
Open: first, Mark  and Christopher Giberson, 1:33:23 and Margaret Chabot and Amanda Charest, DNF.
DIPPING DOWN – Tyler Putnam, front, reacts to the canoe dipping into the white water as partner Matt Day hangs on for the ride during last Saturday’s Meduxnekeag River Canoe race.

Special Class
Rotary Business: first, Rod Hemingway and Nick Fournier, 1:19:31.
Law Enforcement: first, Ben Drew and Aaron Cross, 1:19:38; second, Crandall Shank and Jodi Williams, 1:25:01; third, Garry Ferrell and Jason Monarca, 1:25:55; fourth, Frank Bell and Chris Sullivan, 1:28:06; fifth, Andrew Coiley and Sean Bernard, 1:34:55.
High School: first, Harvey Brittain and Aaron Henn, 1:18:39; second, Logan Desmond and Nick Tarr (SACS), 1:27:01; third, Robert Cousin and Abe Brittain, 1:31:46; fourth, Dustin Morse and Jordan Crone, 1:32:52 and fifth,  Edward Bobitsky and Dustin Miller, 2:13:52.
College OC-1: first, Jason Cross,1:28:49.
K-1 Student: first, Ben Torres (Houlton),1:35:09.