Water low, day sunny for river race

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo
PRESIDENTIAL PADDLER — Saturday’s annual Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race in Houlton drew a variety of fun-loving paddlers. Included in the race were “President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle,” better known as Southern Aroostook Community School students Dylan Porter and Olivia Raymond.
    It’s official, the Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race had the largest high school class of any canoe race in the state so far, said organizer Peter Blood.
COLD DUMP – This kayaker hit a ridge and upset during Saturday’s Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race. Despite low water levels, the weather was sunny and warm. More than $2,000 was raised for Dollars for Scholars.
    East Grand School had five boats in the race and won the Meduxnekeag High School traveling trophy for the eighth time in nine years. But, East Grand lost to Orono by 24 seconds in the High School Challenge.
    More than $2,000 was raised for Dollars for Scholars.
YOUNG PARTICIPANTS – The Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race has a class for everyone, Paddling in this year’s race were Mike Sussman and his partner
    “The water was low, but the weather superb,” Blood said.
    There were 86 canoes/kayaks and 145 paddlers. Not only do those participants make the race, but so does the generosity of sponsors, Blood added.
    “Without sponsors, there would be no profit,” he said. “Without door prizes donated by local businesses, the canoe race would not be a success.”
    Another item highly sought after by many paddlers from outside Aroostook County are potatoes donated by Good Farms.
Father-and-son team Nic and Jarrett Fournier
    The results of the May 1 race, in memory of Elwood Scott, longtime principal of Houlton High School, are as follows:
    Racing Class:
    K-1 Long: first, Fred Ludwig, 1:17:01.
    OC-1: first, Fran Cyr, 1:39:02.
    OC-2 Medium: first, Dick and Brian Kelly, 1:34:30 and second, D.W. Smith and Sean Soucy, 1:40:04.
    OC-2 Mixed: first, Mary Hart and Bob Martin, 1:37:16; second, Terry Wescott and Sandra Mitchell, 1:43:40 and third, Dale and Kate Cross, 1:46:04.
Recreational Class (MaCKRO):
    OC-1: first, Brian Galipeau, 1:44:41 and second, Peter Blood, 1:47:04.
    OC-2 Medium: first, Chris and John Neptune, 1:43:30.
    OC-2 Mixed: first, Tammy Kelly and Chip Loring, 1:37:31 and second, Bob and Katie Hessler, 1:39:58.
High school seniors Corey Woodworth and Jacob Peabody
    OC-2 Junior/Senior: first, Maxwell and Matt Dingle, 1:38:10.
Recreational:
    OC-2 Short: first, Bruce and Mitchell Currie, 1:52:53; second, Robert Spinney and Chris Logan,    1:58:08 and third, Clay White and Mitch Spear, 2:03:45.
    OC-2 Medium (15 percent class): first, Michael Sussman and Andy Mention, 1:41:10 and second, Kyle Stevens and Patrick Ward,    1:48:13.
    OC-2 Medium Rec: first, Allen and Jody Sharpe, 1:49:41 and second, Jim McPartland and Al Cowperthwaite, 2:46:43.
    OC-2 Junior/Senior local (junior 12 and under): first, Pete and Tanner White, 1:57:29; second, Hadley and Ben Boutilier, 2:14:43 and third, Nic and Jarret Fournier, 2:18:31.
    OC-2 Junior/Senior local (junior 13 and older): first, Neil Noble and David Conley, 1:44:13; second,      Brian and Greg Griffin, 2:02:43 and third,     Winarske and Michale Armstrong, 2:05:34.
    OC-2 Mixed: first, Dennis and Dawn Kerekes, 1:54:19 and second, Rob and Tina Brown, 1:59:05.
    OC-2 Women: first, Amber Howe and Rhonda Ireland, 1:59:59; second, Ashley Laking and Taylor Cochran, 2:06:58 and third, Pat Allen and Andrea Brabek, 2:16:40.
    K-1 Short (men): first, Aaron Anderson, 1:59:45; second, Mike Gudreau, 2:05:47 and third, Nick Putnam, 2:38:37.
    K-1 Short (women): first, Christa Galipeau, 2:07:21; second, Margaret Chabot, 2:10:46 and third,  Melissa Wilcox, 2:35:34.
Ben Corey and Sam Dunbar
K-1 Long: first, George Niles, 1:46:44.
Special Class:
    Rotary Business: first, Rod Hemingway and Kevin Winslow, 1:45:31; second, Shane Quint and Kevin Carton, 1:48:14 and third, Dave Bates and Fay York,    2:05:33.
    Law Enforcement: first, Aaron Cross, 1:45:35; second, Gary Ferrell and Aaron Bell, 1:51:50 and third,  Jason Monarca and Mitchell McPhee, 2:00:51.
    High School: first, Schyler Collett and Brandon Smith (Orono), 1:47:40; second, Andrew Gilman and Aaron Henn (Danforth), 1:48:04 and third, Nic Tarr and Logan Desmond (Southern Aroostook), 1:51:35.
    College student: first, Jason Cross and Dan Flammin,  1:41:14.
    K-1 student: first, Crystal Nason, 1:36:35 and second, Jenica Frasier and Kristen Tarr, 2:08:15.
    Century (recreation local): first, Bradley and Garth Bean, 1:56:20.
    Century (recreation ex-MaCKRO): first, Tom and Mabert Cronkite, 1:36:34 and second, Tom Towle and Von Perry, 1:37:21.