Paddlers take on the Meduxnekeag River

WHOA — Jeremiah Ireland, front, is caught off guard by the rapids on the Meduxnekeag River near Tate and Lyle, as his father, Jeremy controls the boat through the quick water.
    The Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race was held last Saturday with 77 boats hitting the quick, chilly water. The event benefited the local Dollars for Scholars chapter.
    Houlton’s Fred Ludwig was the overall winner paddling the eight-mile course in a time of 1:07.34, with Jeff Owen close behind and finished first in the open canoe one-person (OC-1) category with a time of 1:10.48.
    The results by category are as follows:
    K-1 long men: first, Dan Kelly, 1:17.35; second, Dick Hanson, 1:18.40; third, John Carter, 1:20.22; fourth, Brian Foley, 1:20.50; fifth, David McCrossin, 1:21.01; sixth, Larry Merrill, 1:21.36 and seventh, Earl Baldwin, Jr., 1:30.22.
    OC-1: first, Owen, 1:10.48; second, Fran Cyr, 1:20.21 and Jim Parks, 1:20.21 and third, Chris Dalton, 1:28.36.
    OC-2 Medium: first, Dan Kelly/Brian Kelly, 1:14.19; second, Andrew Deigham/William Deigham, 1:15.21 and third, Bob Martin/Mary Hart, 1:15.41.
FIRST — In the Law Enforcement Division of the annual canoe race,  Aaron Bell and partner Gary Ferrell were first with a time of 1:26.49.
    Open: first, Clint Cushman/Crystal Nason, 1:15.00.
    Junior/Senior: first, Matt Dingle/Max Dingle, 1:16.30 and second, Gary Brooks/Jordan Dysart, 1:22.24.
    Recreational Experienced:
    OC-1: first, Michael Sussman, 1:27.25 and second, Bob Millar, 1:42.47.
    OC-2 Mixed: first, Dale Cross/Caitlin Cross, 1:20.52; second, Aaron Cross/Cassie Cross, 1:23.41.
    Recreational:
    Junior/Senior (Junior 12 and under): first, Garth Bean/Ashley Little, 1:49.13.
    Junior/Senior (Junior 13-16): first, Tom Towle/Landon Towle, 1:22.17; second, Wayne Daggett/Daniel Webber, 1:28.21; third, Peter White/Tanner White, 1:31.51; fourth, Ervin Perfitt/Dylan Howland, 1:38.02; fifth, Matt Scott/Matthew Tarr, 1:40.54; sixth, Hadley Boutilier/Ben Boutilier, 1:42.14 and seventh, Arthur Russell/Liz Gilman, 1:54.25.
    K-1 Short Men: first, Michael Qualey, 1:29.44; second, Christa Galipeau, 1:34.09; third, Richard May, 1:41.36; fourth, Mark Putnam, 1:56.35; fifth, Chris Putnam, 1:57.34 and Nick Putnam, 1:57.39.
WIN — Rodney Hemingway, back, and Kevin Winslow of McPartland Plumbing and Heating won the Rotary/Business Category with a time of 1:21.08.
    K-1 Long Women: Kristy Swallow, 1:41.48 and second, Margene Young, 1:41.49.
    OC-2 Short: first, Mitchell Spear/Clay White, 1:35.21 and second, Robert Spinney/Chris Logue, 1:36.35.
    OC-2 Medium: Dennis Kerekes/Jon Harvey, 1:25.23; second, Dave Bates/Matt Swallow, 1:30.25; Mitchell Currie/Bruce Currie, 1:34.13; fourth, Josh Bennett/Kevin Sherman, 1:37.42 and fifth, Donald Devoe, Jr./Donald Devoe III, 1:45.40.
    OC-2 Women: first, Kailey Schmidt/Samantha Nadeau, 1:25.23; second, Molly White/Taylor Cochran, 1:37.55; third, Crystal Jackins/Jayne Anderson, 1:42.08 and fourth, Iva Sussman/Alexis Mann, 1:57.15.
    OC-2 Mixed: first, Dave Conley/Tammy Matula, 1:19.02; second, Brian MacDonald/Kelsey MacDonald, 1:35.27; third, Tom Moakler/Barbara Moakler, 1:41.27; fourth, Steven Johnson/Janna Johnson, 1:45.57 and fifth, Dianne Kopec/Mike Belliveau, 1:47.07.
    Open: first, Jeremy Ireland/Jeremiah Ireland, 1:25.35; second, Tiffany Bates/Lisa Bates/Wendy Robinson, 1:26.31 and third, Ted Sussman, 1:32.36.
    Special Categories:
    Rotary/Business: first, Rodney Hemingway/Kevin Winslow, McPartland Plumbing and Heating, 1:21.08.
    Law Enforcement: first, Aaron Bell/Gary Ferrell, 1:26.49 and second, Zeke Gaddis/Crandall Shank, 1:30.09.
IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE — Ted Sussman found himself in a tentative situation as he hits the water during the Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race last Saturday. Dr. Sussman has paddled the river many times, but an upset can happen to anyone.
    Social Security (both paddlers age 62 plus): first, Chip Loring/Terry Wescott, 1:17.24 and second, Peter Blood/Maber Cronkite, 1:18.28.
    High School: first, Alexander Introne/Eliot Lamb, Orono, 1:16.09; second, Andrin Holt/Schylar Collett, Orono, 1:17.59; third, Chris Introne/Daniel Perry, Orono, 1:19.37; fourth, Ben Koehler/Arabadjen Alsaal, Orono, 1:23.24; fifth, Samer Stewart/Mitchell Bartlett, East Grand, 1:29.06; sixth, Vance Gustin/Patrick Goodall, SACS, 1:29.41; seventh, Kenneth Winiarski/Cassidy Woo, East Grand, 1:30.43; eighth, Eugene Ivey/Caleb McGary, Houlton, 1:31.20; ninth, Joseph DeSisto/Cuarie Hamilton, Orono, 1:31.45; 10th, Calvin Hamilton/Yuval Boss, Orono, 1:32.18; 11th, Ryan Baptista/Walker Thornton, Houlton, 1:37.30; 12th, Joe Frazier/Jesse Boulier, SACS, 1:47.30 and 13th, Alex Brittain/Caleb Crocker, East Grand, 1:52.22.