The weather had a lot to do with the strong showing at the Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race on Saturday. The race raised $2,800 for the local Dollars for Scholars chapter. Taking on the river were 169 paddlers in 90 crafts.
In K-1 LONG, Fred Ludwig, who was the race’s overall winner, paddled the eight-mile course in a time of 1:07:06, while Larry Merrill was second in a time of 1:25:08 and third place went to Paul Hemmingway with a time of 1:44:09.
Bob Dean won the K-1 SHORT division crossing the finish with a time of 1:20:09, followed by Paula Lunt, 1:21:24; Nic Lunt, 1:21:53; Dan Kelly, 1:22:07; Dick Hanson, 1:24:52 and Earl Baldwin, 1:26:41.
In OC-2 MEDIUM, Chris Francis & Mark Ranco were first in a time of 1:13:11, followed by Dan Wagner & Matt Dingle, 1:13:16.
For OC2- MIXED, first place went to Tammy Kelly & Bob Hessler, 1:21:04 and second, Brooks & Hartt, 1:21:45.
Fran Cyr won the OC-1 clocked at 1:24:12.
There were large turnouts in the race’s Special Classes.
Winning the HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION were Nick Chambers & Nick Tarr (SACS) paddling to the finish with a time of 1:27:07, followed by Zachary Faulkner & Ben Williams (Danforth), 1:29:12; Eric Anderson & Jerusha Benn (Houlton), 1:47:50; Aaron Henn & Aaron Brittain (Danforth), 1:48:34 and Peter Hagan & Anna Caron (Houlton), 1:53:03.
Frank Bell & D.W. Smith (Ron Muir’s paddling partner) overtook their competitors to land first in the LAW ENFORCEMENT CLASS with a time of 1:25:26, followed by Ben Drew & Scott Martin, 1:26:11; Jerry Hammond & Tom Horton, 1:26:13; Jason Monarca & Gary Ferrell, 1:31:23; Crandall Shank & Brent Conley, 1:41:08; Danny Ardell & Shawn Serra, 1:47:51 and Billy Hovey & Taylor Hovey, 1:50:48.
Continuing their domination in the ROTARY CLASS was Rodney Hemingway & Nickolas Fournier — McPartland Plumbing— with a time of 1:25:31; Richard Hemingway & Kevin Winslow —McPartland Plumbing—1:34:00; Carol Cromwell & Ron Dupont, 1:37:31; Mark Jackins & Elroy Crone —Louisiana Pacific — 1:49:01; Dave Bates & Jennifer Ruth —Houlton Pioneer Times—1:54:37; Floyd Boyett & Oliver Cromwell —Boyett Flooring —2:08:14.
In the HIGH SCHOOL KAYAK DIVISION, Renee Hemingway came in at 1:44:12 and for the COLLEGE KAYAK CLASS, Patrick Ward & Micah Carton finished with a time of 1:28:50.
In the Recreational Experienced classes, for OC-2 MEDIUM, Mike Sproul & Mark West were first with a time of 1:23:17, followed by Bob Martin & John Carter, 1:25:23 and Tim Billings & Peter LaPlante, 1:34:44.
In OC-1, Bill Lunt was the top finisher paddling to a time of 1:25:51, while Peter Blood was clocked at 1:28:30 and Robert Winslow, 1:37:03.
In OC-2 JUNIOR/SENIOR CLASS, Dick & Brian Kelly finished atop the rankings with a time of 1:21:30, followed by Clint Cushman & Crystal Nason, 1:22:54; Greg Shute & Kyle, 1:32:47 and Aaron Winslow & Jackson Winslow, 1:33:43.
In the CENTURY CATEGORY, Tom & Maber Cronkite were first-place finishers at 1:20:07, while in the OPEN DIVISION, Terry Wescott & Bob Miller were clocked at the finish line with at time of 1:19:56.
The Recreational classes also had a strong turnout of paddlers.
In the K-1 MEN, first, Daniel Baumert, 1:28:55, followed by Gregg Swallow, 1:39:33; Peter Swallow, 1:40:33 and Scott Galipeau, 1:47:12.
Barbara Wright finished first in the K-1 WOMENS’ CLASS with a time of 1:31:00, while Connie Dowe was clocked at 1:45:06; Kristy Swallow, 1:47:03 and Kendra Thornton, 1:47:03.
Winning the OC-2 SHORT CLASS, Mike Qualey & Josh Qualey, 1:30:12; Bruce Currie & Mitchell Currie, 1:33:28; Kyle Hipsley & Josh Berry, 1:37:39 and Dan Bollanger & Terry Beaton, 1:42:48.
In OC-2 MEDIUM, Tom Towle & Rob Langner were first with a time of 1:27:17, followed by Dennis & Sam Wright, 1:28:59; Formann & Matthew Swallow, 1:29:01; Logan Feeney & Mike Brockway, 1:30:06; Nathaniel Sixberry & Richard Parks, 1:31:17;Jim & Andy McPartland, 1:33:52; Michael Gudreau I & Michael Gudreau II, 1:40:12; Andy Coiley & Shawn Bernard, 1:42:03; Jason Ganntham & Sean Allaire, 1:44:15; John Hodgson & Jeremy Wedderman, 1:51:01; Jon Harbison & Justin Jipson, 1:51:16 and Jeff Scott & Thomas Lee, 1:52:09.
Matt Scott and Tammi Matula came in first in the OC-2 MIXED with a time of 1:32:47, followed by David Brown & Roxie Brown, 1:39:56; Kurtis Tarr & Leanne Hemingway, 1:41:02 and Stephen & Holly Burtchell, 1:42:55.
Winning the OC-2 JUNIOR/SENIOR DIVISION, Keith Kingsbury & Logan Brewer, 1:35:15; Peter & Clay White, 1:35:15; Arden & Alex Williams, 1:38:58; Diane & Dustin Hines, 1:42:24 and James Watson & Jordan Benn, 1:46:42.
First place in the OC-2 CENTURY CLASS were Dave Conley & Wayne Daggett with a time of 1:22:46 and second, Torrey & Jennifer Sylvester, 1:43:53. In OC-2 WOMEN, first, Amy Scott & Naomi Gillette, 1:45:01 and Josie Watson & Jessica Philbrook, 1:59:31.
Topping the OPEN CLASS, Chad Pearson & Jaci Peabody, 1:33:59; Ryan Hines, Angela Wotton & Emma Hines, 1:41:45; Chris, Aaron, and Lucas Anderson, 1:42:36; Skip & Michael Cleary/David & Sarah Harbison, 1:53:45 and Chris & Mark Putnam, 1:55:32.
