The skies were cloudy but spirits were high as a total of 65 canoes and kayaks entered the relatively high and very chilly waters of the Madawaska River by the bridge at Little Madawaska Lake on May 15; the commanders and crew of the water crafts all eager participants in the 31st annual Madawaska River Run, sponsored by the Stockholm American Legion.
The temperature wasn’t what one would consider comfortable “boating weather,” but that didn’t stop some individuals who arrived ready to battle the waves and whitewater (okay — maybe a few waves, ripples and sweepers) clad in shorts and T-shirts while others chose jeans, sweaters and jackets.
As in most every year of the popular 5.3-mile river run, even the most casual observer wouldn’t miss the variety of head-gear that appears during an event such as this. It’s not just the accepted baseball caps, in a rainbow of colors, broadcasting one’s favorite sports team, race car driver or in some instances, a favorite brand of farm vehicle — or beverage. The chapeaus this year ranged in design from the aforementioned baseball caps to the bucket style; the serious bush/safari line; straw sun hats and knit caps to this year’s notables — the always popular (and expected) Viking helmet and the Daniel Boone raccoon-tail hat.
The kayaks and canoes themselves arrived in a variety of styles and colors; some showing proof of wear and tear; some small, some larger; while others were shiny and unscarred, perhaps announcing that the annual river run would be the craft’s maiden voyage. While the captains and their crew members were as varied as the types of hats participants were wearing or the ships they were racing in, the ‘gear’ that filled the bottoms of the arks also deserves mentioning.
In amongst the necessary water safety gear, including extra flotation devices there appeared to be everything from extra paddles (which would have come in handy for the team that snapped one of their paddles in half as they were straightening their craft at the beginning of the race); a variety of food items, rain gear; several dogs and of course a few random coolers — to prevent dehydration during the trek.
It was cool enough to discourage black flies and mosquitoes but the cloudy skies and threat of rain also saw a handful of “fair weather paddlers” stay home — at 10 a.m. 24 entries had registered but from that time until the first craft was sent afloat, a continuous stream of fashionably late participants filled over the bridge, raising the total to 65.
The following were deemed winners in the 31st annual Madawaska River Run in their respective categories:
Class A Racing, one man canoe — Fran Cyr, 52 :20.
Class B Mens recreation over 16’6”, 2 man canoe — Joey Bard and Derek Rowe, 54:30.
Class C Century; 2 person, canoe/kayak; combined ages equal or above 100; Bub and Kristi Anderson, 1 :13:28.
Class D, two person recreational under 16’6”; Bob Masse, Rylan Masse, 1:37:12.
Class E mixed recreational canoe open; Tom and Morgan Towle, 1:03:20.
Class F, women’s recreational canoe, open; Katie and Simone Michaud, 1:16:35.
Class G, junior division, 16yers or under, canoe; Ryder Soucy, 1:32:12.
Class K, men’s kayak: 1 man; First place, Andrew Susee, 56:30; second, Jeff Dubis, 58:20; River Bourgoine, 1: 03:05.
Class L, ladies kayak, one woman: first, Sherry Dubis, 1:02:25; second, Julie Latuscha, 1:05:05; and third Christa Galipeau, 1:07:50.
