DANFORTH, Maine — The 14th annual East Grand Adventure Race was held May 11 in the communities of Danforth, Weston and Bancroft.
Seventy-one entrants participated in the challenging bicycling, running, wall climbing, mud crawling and wood cutting competition hosted by the East Grand School Outdoor Education Program.
Phoebe and Mariam Foss of Weston, photo, compete in the family division along with five other team members in three kayaks and a canoe.
(Courtesy of Dave Conley)
The annual race takes place in the towns of Danforth, Weston, Bancroft and sometimes in Brookton and features a “compass run,” where runners are transported to the starting line and teams are released every minute-and-a-half. The distance is between 1 and 1.5 miles, and each pair of racers is given a map and bearing (point A to B), before the start. The runners must then figure out declination and direction of travel using a compass.
Next is a 10-mile biking leg of the race, followed by a canoe/kayak portion.
The Davis family won the open division with a time of 3:31:55, while second place went to Isaac Crone and Matthew Shay, 3:45:02. Following in third place was the relay team made up of Angela and Mike Cowger, daughter Izzy and Maddie Cowger, Alissa Beals, Phoebe and Mariam Foss with a time of 4:48:00.
In the high school division, the winners (and overall winners) were Kell Fremouw and Jonah Edgar of Orono, 2:31:58. Second place went to Noah Sixberry and Luke Grenier of Danforth, 2:44:37 while Nolan Mabee and Eli Ewer finished in third with a time of 2:52:19.
Rod McLain of Stockton Springs took 2nd place in the Baskahegan Stream Canoe Race Saturday, May 11, with a time of 2:38:35. The course was shortened to just under 20 miles due to wind on Baskahegan Lake.
(Contributed photo)
In the high school mixed division, Anna Drinkert and Ashton Mabee of Orono were first at 2:44:06, while Daisy Drinkert and Eli McGill of Orono were second at 3:25:48.
In the adult men’s division, Emmanuel Boss of Orono, 2:32:43, was first, followed by Bryson McDonough and Aiden McDonough of Bangor, 3:35:48. Winners in the Jr/Sr. division were William Cliff of Springfield and Benji Gilman of Danforth, 2:50:59.
In the family division, which had the most entries, first place went to Tasha Brown, Tara Brown, Kyle Carter and Dawson Carter of Danforth, 2:50:54. Second place went to Craig and Kristen Whiting, Larry Dean, and Nic and Heidi Parker of Danforth, 2:59:08, while third place went to Wayne, Danielle and Jenna Daggett of Topsfield and Danforth, 3:40:29.
A total of 14 racers in nine boats competed in the separate Baskahegan Stream Canoe Race, which was shortened from 34 miles to just under 20 miles due to wind on Baskahegan Lake. Finishing in first place was Ben Randall of Sabattus with a time of 2:33:20, followed by Rod McLain of Stockton Springs, 2:38:35; and Ray Wirth of Monroe, 2:47:35.
Allissa Beals of Houlton scales the climbing wall Saturday during the East Grand Adventure Race.
(Courtesy of Mike LaReaux)
Checking their bearing on the compass run are Noah Sixberry, left, and Luke Grenier of East Grand High School who took second place in the boys high school division and fourth overall with a course time of 2:44:37.
(Courtesy of Michael LaReux)
