Staff Writer
HOULTON — The Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race has one class in particular that organizers would like to see built up. It requires youthful paddlers who are looking for a good time. However, in the process of having fun, paddlers will go against some stiff competition, if they want to bring the traveling trophy and the “pride of the ride” to their school. The high school division is looking for more paddlers to fill its roster. A year ago, only East Grand and Southern Aroostook students participated in the division.
East Grand School reclaimed the traveling trophy last year, as Harvey Brittain and Aaron Henn overtook second-place finishers Nick Tarr and Logan Desmond of Southern Aroostook. In 2007, Southern Aroostook Community School paddlers Tarr and Nick Chambers snapped East Grand’s five-year winning streak.
A pitfall that organizers have encountered since moving the race to the beginning of May for the Maine Canoe/Kayak Racing Organization (MaCKRO) schedule is it bumps into Scholastic Aptitude Testing (SAT) time for juniors. With this obstacle, the division has curtailed in participants.
So, who could be challenging for the win this season? Are there any more paddlers who will step up to represent their schools? Hodgdon and Houlton paddlers have been lacking in the last couple of years. But, this year, Houlton High School will be represented, as several youth have taken the registration form from Houlton’s guidance department, including senior Patrick Longstaff.
Longstaff will be participating in the river race for the first time with senior partner Levi Prosser.
“It’s my senior year and Levi convinced me to do it,” he said. “I think it’s great to have this division in the race since not many high school students get this opportunity to represent their school and community.”
But, for Longstaff, it won’t be so much about competing against the more seasoned racers of East Grand, but backing the cause for which the race benefits.
“They have quite the program down there,” said Longstaff, who heard about it through Todd Willard, Houlton physical education instructor and former East Grand teacher.
“We are out there to have fun and hopefully finish,” Longstaff added.
The Houlton race supports the Dollars for Scholars, and raises nearly $1,000 each year. During the event, volunteers, including senior students, work at the event. Houlton senior Colleen Fitzpatrick will be on the banks selling 50/50 tickets.
“The Hodgdon seniors will also be working with us,” she said. “We’ve been able to attend Dollars for Scholars meetings and to listen in to get a better understanding of the process.”
“The money definitely helps students who plan to attend college,” added Longstaff. “It helps students with their education. It would be nice for everyone to come and support Dollars for Scholars. It’s a great cause.”
The race is set for Saturday, May 2. Registration for the Meduxnekeag River race will be from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Wellingtons on the Station Road in New Limerick. For those wanting to pre-register, Blood will take those registrations at his home at 3 Washburn St. in Houlton. Early registration guarantees a race T-shirt.
A new division this year is the Senior Citizen category. Either both paddlers or a single paddler must be 62 or older.
The Houlton race has 30 categories, and a paddler will be placed in a division to race against other paddlers of equal ability and similar equipment. Paddlers will strike out at 10 a.m. from the Wellington residence and finish the eight-mile course at the boat landing under the Highland Avenue bridge.
Organizers are hoping for a good weather and water conditions.
