D-F Kiwanis’ Piscataquis River Race postponed to May 26

Attention: Due to unsafe water levels on the Piscataquis with a lot of debris flowing through the 2018 Kiwanis River Race has been postponed to Saturday, May 26. Safety is a big priority for the Kiwanis Club; this is a family race and we don’t want anyone to get hurt.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The 46th annual Piscataquis River Race, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft, is scheduled for Saturday, April 28. Canoeists and kayakers will start from King Cummings Park in Guilford and paddle about 10 miles down river to the shore across West Main Street from Foxcroft Academy.

Registration is from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., with the staggered starts commencing at 10 a.m. Those registering before April 27 can save on the entry fee, and participants will receive a commemorative 46th Piscataquis River Race T-shirt and boat decal.

The event features nearly 20 racing and recreational classes, with trophies going to each class winner and ribbons awarded to second and third places. The Piscataquis River Race features various challenge classes with a trophy going to the top craft in each of the divisions. The names of the fastest canoe and top kayaker will be added to the Bob Darling Trophy.

The race is a major fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club, with nearly $400,000 being raised since the event began more than four and a half decades ago. Proceeds benefit a number of activities supported by the Kiwanis Club.

In 2018 the Piscataquis River Race raffle features a gas card raffle — tickets can be purchased from any Kiwanis member or from Tim Hague at 564-8126 or 951-0715. Hot food, coffee and hot chocolate will be for sale at the starting line, and refreshments will also be for sale at the finish line across the street from Foxcroft Academy.

For registration forms and more information, please go to www.doverfoxcroftkiwanis.org or contact Jeff Kelly at 717-5974 or jeffkellydvm@gmail.com.

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BOATS IN THE WATER — Entrants in last year’s Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club’s Piscataquis River Race get ready for the start near King Cummings Park in Guilford. The 2017 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. The 46th annual race will be on Saturday, April 28.

Observer file 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. 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. The 2018 race starts at 10 a.m. on April 28 at King Cummings Park in Guilford.

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
QUICK PADDLER — Ben Randall’s name was 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 file 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 on year ago. The pair won Racing Two-Person Open Canoe Medium OC-2 division at 50 minutes, 12 seconds.

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
DOWN THE RIVER WITH A PADDLE — Mark Risinger won the Racing One-Person Open Canoe OC-1 class in 2017. Risinger had the best time of a field of six at 58 minutes, 8 seconds.