Staff Writer
The spring canoe races are well under way, with East Grand students and other local paddlers competing in the last few races.
EXPLAINING — Mike Patterson, foreground, with the East Grand Crew discusses how to run a Marsh Stream rapid the day before the canoe race. Patterson, a Master Maine Guide who lives in Belfast has spent a lifetime guiding on rivers from Maine to the Yukon and the desert Southwest. He also made his deer hunting camp on Basin Pond in Monroe available for the students to stay overnight prior to the race.
The annual Meduxnekeag River Canoe/Kayak Race is scheduled for Saturday, April 30 at 10 a.m., with the Kenduskeag River Canoe Race this weekend.
In the opening race held March 26 on the St. George River, Houlton’s Fred Ludwig paddled the course in a time of 42:03 for first place overall and first place in the Kayak division. The next weekend, Ludwig again was atop the standings, finishing with the fastest kayak in the Passagassawaukeag River Race on April 2 in a time of 45:04 for top spot.
In the Souadabscook Sprint, Dan Flammini of Patten teamed up with Jason Cross for a fourth-place finish in a time of 13:23 in the OC-two-man medium recreation experienced canoe category. The twosome partnered in the Souadabscook downriver race on April 9 with another fourth in a time of 1:05:07.
Last Sunday, 11 East Grand School Outdoor Education students took to the Marsh Stream Short Race, along with a few other local paddlers.
In MaCKRO’s high school recreation division, Orono’s Ben Koehler/Isaac Arabadjis finished first with a time of 39:03, followed by second-place finishers Billy Holmes of Danforth/Kevin Haggerty of Brookton, 39:36; third, Chet Knights of Danforth/Kenneth Winiarshi of Forest Township, 42:38; fourth, Neil Noble of Weston/Samari Stewart of Danforth, 42:40; fifth, Chris Guillaume of Glenburn/Elliot Lamb of Orono, 44:42 and Mitchell Bartlett of Weston/James Barry of Danforth, 45:33.
In the junior/senior division, Jeremy Durost of Howland teamed with Logan Crone of Danforth for second place with a time of 38:30. Chelsea Winiarski of Forest Township and Dave Conley of Danforth were fourth with a time of 41:46 and Cassidy Woo/Tammi Matula, both of Danforth, were fifth with a time of 43:58.
In the high school division after two races, East Grand is fourth and Orono is first through third.
In the OC-2 Mixed Experienced division, Tom Cronkite of Etna and Liz Gilman of Danforth were top finishers in a time of 38:13.
RAPID — East Grand students Sameri Stewart, bow, and Neil Noble, stern, running a rapid on the Marsh Stream. The pair had a shot at winning their division but an upset on the final stretch put them in fourth place in the high school division with a time of 42:40. They were two of eight who joined the ‘swim team’ over the course of two days on the Marsh Stream.
