East Grand paddlers in season’s first canoe race

13 years ago

    East Grand students took part in the first canoe race of the season, the St. George River Race in Searsmont last weekend.
    The six-mile course offered a mix of flat water, class I-II rapids and a ledge drop.
    “The water level was very low for this time of year, but made for a forgiving run for those with little or no experience,” said Dave Conley. “Several students came home with a desire to practice harder and give Orono some stiffer competition in upcoming races.”
Contributed photo/Bev Row
sp-canoe-dcx2-pt-14PADDLERS — East Grand students who participated in Saturday’s St. George River Race in Searsmont include, back from left, Chet Kights, Chelsea Winiarski, Philip Farley, Cassidy Woo, Kevin Hagerty and Mitchell Bartlett; and kneeling Dave Conley, Arthur Russell and Kenneth Winiarski.

    Ten high school boats entered the race with Orono taking the top three spots. East Grand finished fourth, sixth and eighth in the race. The results for Danforth paddlers were: 4, Mitchell Bartlett and Kenneth Winairski, 1:02:47; 6, Chelsea Winairski and Philip Farley, 1:04:38; 8, Arthur Russell and Chet Knights, 1:21:15.
    This coming weekend is the Passagassawakeag Stream Canoe Race. Conley said that East Grand students will attend this race, but if the area does not receive a good amount of rain, water levels may be too low to hold the event.
    Other upcoming races include Marsh Stream Race, April 15; Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race, April 21; Machias River Race, April 29th, Meduxnekeag, May 5; East Grand Adventure Race, May 12; and the Aroostook River Fun Race, May 19.Contributed photo/Kevin Hagerty
sp-Canoe-dcx1-pt-14IN ACTION — Kenneth Winiarski (stern) and Mitchell Bartlett (bow) manuver around the rocks during the St. George River Race in Searsmont. The pair finished fourth out of a field of 10 High School boats with a time of 1:02:47.