FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Several athletic competitions were held during this year’s Maine Potato Blossom Festival, which wrapped up Sunday.
Five teams participated in the July 14 double-elimination three-on-three basketball tournament, with the team of Doug Sharpe, Austin Dufour, Andrew Forsman and Isaac Cyr prevailing with a record of 4-1. Finishing second was the team of Keith Edgecomb, Shawn Smith, Chad Johnson and Dick Emerson with a record of 3-2.
In the junior girls’ softball tournament held Thursday, six teams participated in the single-elimination format that saw the team from the Ashland Recreation Department defeat Fort Fairfield in the championship game, 11-2. Fort Fairfield had downed Caribou in the quarterfinals and Presque Isle in the semis to reach the final, while the Hornets road to the title game featured a first-round bye and a triumph over Washburn in the semifinals. Also participating in the tournament was Mars Hill.
Friday was the day of the annual swim meet, which was moved from July 15 due to rainy weather. Age division winners and runners-up were the following: 8 and under girls: first, Keely Bailey-Parsley of Washington, 28 points; second, Hannah Chartier of Fort Fairfield, 18; 8 and under boys: first, Anthony Betencourt of Fort Fairfield, 21 points; second, Graedon King-Rosado of Fort Fairfield, 20; 9-10 girls: first, Harper Johnson of Texas, 28 points; second, Madison Hedrich of Presque Isle, 21; 9-10 boys: Micah Calhoun of Mapleton, 28 points; second (tie), Max Schupback and Josh Schupback, both of Fort Fairfield, 17.
Also, 11-12 girls: first, Izabelle Higgins of Presque Isle, 23 points; second, Rhylee Kinney of Presque Isle, 20; 11-12 boys: first, Matthew Hedrich of Presque Isle, 28 points; 13-14 girls: first, Madelyn Wing of Mapleton, 28 points; second, Sophie Lambert of Presque Isle, 20; 13-14 boys: Joshua Watson of Presque Isle, 28 points; 15-18 boys: first, Kyle Kilcollins of Presque Isle, 28 points; second, Ryan Watson of Presque Isle, 22.
The three-person scramble golf tournament was on Saturday at Aroostook Valley Country Club. Thirty six three-person teams were involved and vied for gross titles. In Div. I, the St. Quentin, New Brunswick team of Dennis Beaulieu, Billy Beaulieu and Gino Ouellette was the winner with a 63. In second, from Tobique First Nation, N.B., was Norval Sappier, Noah Nicholas and Warren Trembley, also with a 63.
For Div. II, the team of John McCrea, Larry Gardner and Tim Nightingale shot a 66 to take the top spot, while the Perth-Andover, N.B. trio of Dave Dove, Ralph Dove and Mark DeMerchant was the runner-up with a 66.
The 5-Miler Road Race took place Saturday, with Curtis and Gabrielle Wheeler of New Sweden capturing the overall titles. Curtis Wheeler’s winning time was 27 minutes and 24 seconds, while his wife, Gabrielle, crossed the finish line in 31:02, which was good for eighth overall out of 56 competitors.
After Curtis Wheeler, the remainder of the top five included Justin Fereshetian of Mars Hill in second at 29:17, Evan Graves of Caribou in third at 29:34, Seth Hubbard of Fort Kent in fourth at 29:58 and Paul Johnson of Fort Fairfield in fifth at 30:28.
Johnson was also recognized as being the first Fort Fairfield resident to finish. This year’s race marked the first time that Arthur Thompson of Limestone had missed after 40 in a row. An injury prevented him from participating.
Stephanie Beaulieu of Fort Fairfield took the walker’s division, which included 18 others, in 55:06. Age group winners for the run included 14 and under males: John O’Mara; 15-18 females, Madelaine Johnston; 15-18 males, Luke Bailey; 19-29 females, Paige Selant; 19-29 males, Fereshetian; 30-39 females, Trisha House; and 30-39 males, Graves.
Also, 40-49 females, Angela Ewings; 40-49 males, Steven Desmond; 50-59 females, Anna Bernard; 50-59 males, Carl Soderberg; and 60-69 females, Debra Scott.
The Spudcycle Classic bike race and tour capped off a busy week Sunday. Thirty riders turned out to participate in the annual 25-mile event despite wet roads and light rain. Justin Perry of Easton overtook Andrew Bouchard of Caribou at the finish line to take top honors in the event with a winning time of 1:02:46. Also finishing with a time of 1:02:46 was Bouchard, along with third-place finisher Thad LaVallee of Worcester, Mass., fourth-place finisher Richard Sirois of Grand Falls N.B., fifth-place finisher Justin Fereshetian of Mars Hill and sixth-place finisher Seth Hubbard of Fort Kent.
First place for the women went to Julie Bouchard of Caribou in a time of 1:27:38 with second place going to Stephanie Beaulieu of Fort Fairfield in 1:33:04. Age division winners included Fereshetian, Perry, LaVallee, Mark Rossignol, Marcel Bastide (who was also the most senior rider), Sarah Beaulieu, Bouchard and Verla Ridley.
