46 paddlers, 10 cyclists compete in Fun Run
PRESQUE ISLE — Undaunted by cool and damp weather, an enthusiastic and motivated group of 46 paddlers and 10 bikers struck out May 21 from Washburn’s Thomas Brewer Park and followed the Aroostook River eight miles to the PI Fish and Game Club.
LAUREN JACOBS
of Presque Isle
won the one-woman novice canoe category
with a time of 1:13:56.
PATRICIA CONDON
of Castle Hill
competed in the women’s novice kayak division
while husband Herman
won the mens novice kayak category
with a time of 1:03:11.
MAPLETON’S Vicky Murchison
placed second
in the women’s novice kayak category
with a time of 1:19:47.
Her husband Adam
crossed the line four seconds later
in the mens novice division.
When the dust (or rather wet dirt) had cleared, the two-man canoe team of Mark Ranco of Bangor and Ron Bomberger of Manheim, Pa., turned in the fastest time of 54 minutes, 20 seconds to take top honors in the fourth annual Aroostook River Fun Run.
Presque Isle cyclist John Saucier, 11, collected the best hand in the Fun Run Bicycle Poker Run with three aces. The Aroostook River Fun Run is sponsored by the Presque Isle and Washburn Rotary Clubs.
PADDLERS,
young and not so young,
participated May 21
in the fourth annual Aroostook River Fun Run.
John Graves and Dan Stewart, left canoe,
represented the Century Division
while East Grand’s Peter Apgar and Josh Jones
were among the middle-schoolers.
FATHER-SON team of Chris Morse and 11-year-old Josiah of Presque Isle posted a time of 1:04:39 to win the two-person experienced kayak category.
Josiah also won the Old Town kayak grand prize drawing.
Other division winner in the canoe/kayak race which featured 32 boats were:
Fran Cyr of Caribou won the highly competitive one-man experienced canoe division with a time of 58:51, just a second ahead of another Caribou paddler, David McCrossin. Rounding out the class were Jim Parks of Presque Isle at 1:01:31 and Dave Conley of Weston at 1:12:02.
The father-son team of Emmanuel and 7-year-old Itai Boss of Orono posted a time of 1:04:08 to win the two-person novice kayak category. Another family member, Emmanuel’s wife Lee Karp-Boss, won the one-woman novice kayak division with a time of 1:09:48.
THE SONNTAG FAMILY
of Presque Isle
participated in the Bicycle Poker Run segment
of the Aroostook River Fun Run.
Jennifer and Michael are Rotarian volunteers
and their children,
Sarah (on the trail-a-bike) and Grayson were competitors.
Other times in the competitive one-woman novice kayak category were Patricia Condon of Castle Hill, 1:15:46, Vicky Murchison of Mapleton, 1:19:47; Ginny Joles of Mapleton, 1:19:52 and Gina Leblanc-Eggert of Presque Isle, 1:20:10.
Second behind Ranco and Bomberger in the two-man experienced canoe division were Daren Rowe and David Chamberlain, both of Caribou, at 55:14.
Another father-son duo, Chris Morse of Presque Isle and his 11-year-old son Josiah, recorded the best time in the two-person experienced kayak division with a time of 1:04:39.
Sarah Stoddard and Tammi Matula, both of Danforth, won the two-women novice canoe category with a time of 1:15:18.
A SPIRITED GROUP of youth
made the long trip from East Grand School
to the Aroostook River Fun Run
to compete in the middle-school and high school categories.
They are part of an outdoor eduation program
taught by Maine guide Dave Conley of Weston.
ROTARIAN Don Samiya
deals the final cards
to Bicycle Poker Run participants
Grayson Sonntag, center,
and John Saucier.
HELPING TO FEED
the 100-plus
who participated in this year’s Fun Run
were Becky Sperrey, center, and Alana Gagnon of TAMC,
one of the events’s sponsors.
Waiting for a burger is Edie Shea of Caribou.
Stockholm’s Will Sweetser and Sarah Dominick won the experienced couple canoe section with a time of 54:56
Crossing the finish line together, Christa Galipeau of Presque Isle won the one-woman experienced kayak race with a time of 1:10:48 while husband Scott was the fastest experienced male kayaker at 1:10:45.
Herman Condon of Castle Hill won the one-man novice kayak challenge with a time of 1:03:11 followed by Jeff Pangburn of Presque Isle, 1:08:44; Adam Murchison of Mapleton, 1:19:51; and 78-year-old Lendal Johnson of Caribou, 1:21:20.
Lauren Jacobs of Presque Isle won the one-woman novice canoe category with a time of 1:13:56 while Blaine’s Sylvanus Pierce, 67, won the one-man novice canoe division with a time of 1:25:49.
Peter Blood, 65, of Houlton and Clint Cushman, 71, of Hodgdon were best in the senior division (both paddlers over age 65) with a time of 59:03 in their canoe. In the century category (combined age over 100), Presque Isle neighbors John Graves and Dan Stewart turned in the best time of 1:20:54.
The high school/college division saw William Popov of Presque Isle win the one-person kayak category with a time of 1:03:28 while Kenneth Winiarski III and Samari Stewart, both East Grand students, won the two-person canoe race at 1:07:02. Another EGHS team, Mitchell Bartlett and Ashley Greenier crossed the finish line just 9 seconds later.
Cassidy Woo and Chelsea Winiarski, another East Grand team, won the junior high division with a time of 1:09:39 followed by classmates, Jeff Miller and Philip Farley, 1:15:04; Josh Jones and Peter Apgar, 1:20:13; and Billy Apgar and Gaye Cassie, 1:21:32.
Other Bike Poker Run participants included Edie Shea, Jude Shea, Eliot Sleeper, Grayson Sonntag and Sarah Sonntag.
Proceeds from the Aroostook Fun Run will benefit the Ashland Girl Scout organization whose members volunteered at the event.
