Paddlers take to the water in Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis’ 45th Piscataquis River Race

A total of 87 racers across 50 boats braved the chilly conditions to make the approximate 10-mile paddle from King Cummings Park in Guilford to the finish line across West Main Street from Foxcroft Academy in the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club’s 45th annual Piscataquis River Race on April 22. The entrants took part in 17 classes of canoes and kayaks in three categories — racing, recreation and challenge.

The Bob Darling Memorial Trophy was awarded by Doris Darling, wife of the late Bob Darling who was a past Kiwanis president and longtime chair of the Piscataquis River Race. Since 2009 the names of the fastest all-class canoes and kayaks are added to the Bob Darling Memorial Trophy.

This year’s honorees are the 10-person “Firewater” War Canoe, this contingent finished in 44 minutes, 47 seconds, and kayaker Ben Randall. Randall’s solo time was 45:59.

Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club President Brian Woodworth honored Reinhard Zollitsch, 78, as the oldest racer. Woodworth said Zollitsch has taken part in 24 Piscataquis River Races, having set many records and often winning his class. Finishing in second place in the one-person open canoe division by seven seconds, Zollitsch joked he was distracted this year as he slowed to watch seven eagles at separate points along the waterway.

Woodworth also presented a framed Certificate of Distinction to Irving Gilbert, as Gilbert has taken part in all 45 Piscataquis River Races.

Full race results are as follows — Class 1 Open Speed Challenge: 1. “Firewater” War Canoe 44:47; 2. Ben Randall 45:59; and 3. D.W. Smith, Robert Hessler and Tammy Kelly 53:21.

Class 2 Racing One-Person Kayak Short K-1: 1. Dan Baumert 55:28; and 2. Larry Merrill 59:05.

Class 3 Racing One-Person Kayak Long (Wildwater Hull) K-1: 1. Kell Fremouw 51:56; and 2. Patty Harding 1:06.52.

Class 4 Racing One-Person Open Canoe OC-1: 1. Mark Risinger 58:08; 2. Reinhard Zollitsch 58:15; 3. Peggy McKee 59:21; 4. R.W. Estes 1:05.01; 5. Paul Peters 1:07:37; and 6. Irving Gilbert 1:10.22.

Class 5 Racing Two-Person Open Canoe Short OC-2: 1. Robert Martin and Stephanie Dankert 55:48.

Class 6 Racing Two-Person Open Canoe Medium OC-2: 1. Eric Gallant and Chelsea Liddell 50:12.

Class 7 Recreational One Man Kayak K-1: 1. Trevor Weymouth 59:24; and 2. Jeffrey Crawford 1:13.46.

Class 8 Recreational One Woman Kayak K-1: 1. Alexandra Horne 58:56; 2. Haley Carmichael 1:03.40; 3. Clarissa Henry 1:07.56; and 4. Aili Hartikka 1:09.58.

Class 9 Recreational Two-Person Kayak K-2: 1. Ray Wirth and Leslie Gregory 48:58.
Class 10 Recreational One-Person Open Canoe OC-1: 1. Eamon Fitzgerald 59:10; 2. Chris Corey 1:02.15; 3. David Whitney 1:05.44; 4. Edgar Lamb Jr. 1:07.07; and 5. Christopher Roy 1:07.26.

Class 11 Recreational Two-Person Open Canoe Short OC-2: 1. John Simko and Brandon Brackett 58:52; and 2. Aaliayh Ellis and Craig Bryant 1:04.27.

Class 12 Recreational Two-Person Open Canoe Medium OC-2: 1. Nicole Grohoski and Shawn Burke 53:07; 2. Karen Francoeur and Nils Haenijens 55:42; 3. David Hathorn and Reggie Trefts 59:07; 4. Liz Anderson and Allie Cahoon 1:03.21; 5. Meghan Kennedy and Carrie Bickford 1:04.02; 6. Jarod Roy and Zu Niklova 1:08.24; 7. George Miller and Eric Thompson 1:08.30; 8. Daniel Long and Amber Westley 1:09.51; and 10. Hunter Tzovarres and Arrian Stockwell 1:11.11.

Class 13 Recreational Junior/Senior Open Canoe OC-2: 1. Chris and Katherine Dalton 57:46; 2. Dan and Colby Kelley 58:18; 3. John and Gabe Riitano 1:01.03; 4. Ryan and Alexis London 1:03.54; 5. Ryan and Katherine Morrison 1:04.56; and 6. Benjamin and William Stern 1:05.39.

Class 14 Recreational Ancient Mariners Open Canoe OC-2: 1. Bill Anderson and Pete Taylor 52:56; and 2. Bob Miller and Ryan Gilbert 58:04.

Class 15 Challenge Couples Challenge OC-2: 1. Katie Yakubowski and Toby Reckards 59:50; and 2. William and Sophia Morrison 1:18.35.

Class 16 Challenge Key Club/High School Challenge OC-2: 1. Kellen Doyle and Olivia McCormack 1:01.00.

Class 17 Challenge Corporate/Public Service Challenge K-1 or K-1: no entrants.

Class 18 Challenge Corporate/Public Service Challenge OC-1 or OC-2: 1. Greg McMorrow and Bob Levine 57:33.

The Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club thanks all who were involved in the 45th annual Piscataquis River Race — a major fundraiser for the club — and the organization is looking forward to the 2018 event. For more information, please go to www.doverfoxcroftkiwanis.org.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BOATS IN THE WATER — Entrants in the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club’s 45th annual Piscataquis River Race get ready for the start on the morning of April 22 near King Cummings Park in Guilford. This year’s race featured 87 participants across 50 craft paddling nearly 10 miles to the finish line by West Main Street near Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft. Those making the journey competed in 17 different classes, sent on their way via staggered starts every few minutes. For more from the event, please see page 6.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
FASTEST WITH THEIR PADDLES — The 10-person “Firewater” War Canoe and and a team of three start the 2017 Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club’s Piscataquis River River in Guilford on Saturday morning. Competing in the Open Speed Challenge, the group of 10 had the day’s best time at 44 minutes, 47 seconds. The trio of D.W. Smith, Robert Hessler and Tammy Kelly came in third in the division at 53:21.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
TOP KAYAKER — Ben Randall had the day’s top time via kayak, as he covered the Piscataquis River course in 45 minutes, 59 seconds.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
SOLO KAYAK CLASS — Larry Merrill finished in second place in the Racing One-Person Kayak Short K-1 division on April 22. Merrill’s time was just over 59 minutes.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
VIEW FROM ABOVE — Chelsea Liddell and Eric Gallant pass under the railroad trestle near the finish line of the Piscataquis River Race. The pair won Racing Two-Person Open Canoe Medium OC-2 division at 50 minutes, 12 seconds.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
DOWN THE RIVER WITH A PADDLE — Mark Risinger won the Racing One-Person Open Canoe OC-1 class on Saturday. Risinger had the best time of a field of six at 58 minutes, 8 seconds.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
MOST SENIOR RACER — At age 78, Reinhard Zollitsch was the eldest competitor in the 2017 Piscataquis River Race. Zollitsch was taking part for the 24th time.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
COUPLES CHALLENGE — Sophia and William Morrison cross the finish line near Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft. The two came in second in the Couples Challenge class at 1 hour, 18 minutes and 35 seconds.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
GROUP EFFORT — The 10 members of the “Firewater” War Canoe are presented with the Bob Darling Memorial Trophy — named for a past Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club president and long-time race chair — by the late Darling’s wife Doris during Saturday’s awards ceremony. Since 2009, the trophy has included the names behind the fastest canoe and kayak times.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
QUICK PADDLER — Ben Randall’s name will be engraved on the Bob Darling Memorial Trophy for having the fastest kayak time in 2017, at 45 minutes, 59 seconds. Randall is pictured with Darling’s wife Doris.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
ALL 45 RACES — Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club President Brian Woodworth, left, presents a Certificate of Distinction to Irving Gilbert. Gilbert has taken part in all 45 of the Piscataquis River Races.