Piscataquis River Race set for May 30

Observer file photo   DEDICATION – Irving Gilbert of Vassalboro, pictured after last year’s fourth-place finish, has competed in all 42 Piscataquis River Races.  Despite knee surgery the previous December, Gilbert also competed in the 2014 Kenduskeag River race.

Contributed Article

 DOVER-FOXCROFT – The 43rd annual Piscataquis River Race, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft, is rescheduled to run on Saturday, May 30.

 Racers will load up their canoes and kayaks and head to King Cummings Park in Guilford where they’ll paddle approximately 10 miles to Foxcroft Academy.

 Registration is 8-9:30 a.m. and the race starts promptly at 10 a.m.

 The race was originally scheduled for April 25 but postponed due to bad weather and high water. It was only the second time in the 43-year history of the race that it has not run the last Saturday of April.

 Every person entering the race will receive a commemorative 43rd Piscataquis River Race T-shirt and two boat decals.

 There were 67 watercraft with 128 racers entered in last year’s event, despite cool weather and occasional rain.

 The Piscataquis River Race has 18 racing and recreational classes including open speed class for any paddled craft with any number of paddlers; single kayaks and canoes for men and women; two-person kayaks and canoes for men and women; two-person canoes for junior/senior (one paddler age 16 or under); and the Ancient Mariners (two persons with a combined age over 100).

 There is a first-place trophy for the winner of each class and ribbons for second and third place.

 There are also challenge classes including: couples challenge (one male, one female); Key Club/H. S. challenge (two high school students); corporate challenge (two employees from the same private sector employer); and public service challenge (two employees from the same public service organization). There is one large first-place trophy per challenge class.

 The names for the fastest kayak and fastest canoe will be added to the Bob Darling trophy which is named in honor of the late Kiwanis Club president and longtime chairman of the race.

 This year the Piscataquis River Race raffle offers three prizes of gas cards with a value of $300, $200 and $100. Raffle tickets are available from Kiwanis members and at the Dover-Foxcroft town office.

 This race is a major fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft which raised $12,000 last year and close to$355,000 since this event was originally started 43 years ago.

 Proceeds of the race are used for a wide variety of activities supported by the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft including Backpacks for Children, Thayer Parkway, YMCA swim program, Boy Scout Troop 100, Key Club, Terrific Kids, Heartwise, Shiretown Homecoming, food cupboards, Christmas Giving Project and scholarships for Foxcroft Academy graduates.

 Hot food, coffee and hot chocolate will be available at the starting line. Food and beverages will also be available at the finish line at Foxcroft Academy.

 For more information, contact Brian Woodworth at cell 217-0962, email butterwood198@gmail.com or visit www.doverfoxcroftkiwanis.org.