Forty-six paddlers, 10 cyclists compete in Aroostook River 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. 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.
    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.
LOTS OF EXPERIENCE — Experience helped Peter Blood, 65, left of Houlton and Clint Cushman, 71, of Hodgdon win the Century Division (both paddlers over 65) of the Aroostook River Fun Run on May 21 in Presque Isle.
    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.
    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.
    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.
Staff photo/Mark Putnam
CLOSE — East Grand High School was well represented May 21 in the Aroostook River Fun Run as a contingent of 13 students and several adults paddled canoes. Running head-to-head are Kenneth Winiarski III, Samari Stewart, Mitchell Bartlett and Ashley Greenier.
    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.