Good turnout for 42nd annual Kiwanis Piscataquis Canoe Race

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — The weather wasn’t the greatest for the 42nd annual Kiwanis Piscataquis Canoe Race as cloudy skies and occasional raindrops blanketed the Penquis region.
    But it could have been a lot worse – like the 2011 race. “We started off with sunshine at the beginning of that race,” said event chairman Brian Woodworth. “By the time we got to the finish line, we had horizontal rain and snow. That was a bad one. But we’ve got a nice turnout this year.”

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    FASTEST CANOE AWARD — Doris Darling presents the Bob Darling Trophy for the fastest canoe to the Deighan-Dorr War team. Participants were Bill Deighan, Greg Dorr, Barry Dana, Eve Dana, Dan Littlefield, John Goulet, John Alsop, Mark Ranco, Chris Francis and Patrick Deighan.

    The Bob Darling Trophy for the fastest canoe went to the 10-person Deighan-Dorr War canoe team consisting of Bill Deighan, Greg Dorr, Barry Dana, Eve Dana, Dan Littlefield, John Goulet, John Alsop, Mark Ranco, Chris Francis and Patrick Deighan. They paddled to a 43:21 finish on the 9.5-mile course.
    Ben Randall won the Fastest Kayak challenge with a time of 47:52.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    KAYAK WINNER — Doris Darling presents the Bob Darling Trophy for the fastest kayak to Ben Randall.

    The winners have their names inscribed on the trophy which is named in honor of the late Kiwanis Club president and former chairman of the race. His widow, Doris Darling, made the trophy presentation.
    There were 67 watercraft with 128 racers entered, including Irving Gilbert of Vassalboro who has competed in all 42 races. “The water level was excellent today,” said Gilbert, 71, a former Guilford resident.
    Despite knee surgery last Christmas, Gilbert also competed in the Kenduskeag River race earlier this month. “I sunk in that one,” he quipped, “but I finished fourth today, tied with Henry Deshane. I wanted someone to talk to, so I ran alongside him for a while.”
    Greenville Town Manager John Simko and his brother-in-law, Brian Loiselle, celebrated the 25th anniversary of their first canoe race together with a victory in the two-person, short canoe division. “I’ve raced 22 out of the last 25 years,” said Simko, “so I really enjoy it. It’s a relatively tame course. There’s a few rock piles and an old dam you have to watch out for, but that’s about it.”

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    VETERAN ON THE WATER — Irving Gilbert has competed in all 42 Kiwanis Piscataquis River Races.

    Reinhard Zollitsch was also in his 22nd Kiwanis Piscataquis River Race and won the one-person, open canoe division with a time of 57:13. “This is a nice course with a good caliber of racers,” said Zollitsch, who paddled a vintage, 1978 Jensen canoe. “I won the Kenduskeag River race in 1979 and I’ve had quite a few second-place finishes over the years. But this is a fun course.”
    While many paddlers were in it for the competitive spirit, some entered just for fun — like Robin DeGeorge and Susan Lancaster. They decorated their canoe like a party boat and wore floral headgear and simulated coconut-shell bras. “People can see us a mile away,” said DeGeorge with a laugh. “Last year, we were the Duck Dynasty canoe. We even dragged rubber duckies alongside.”

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE — Two canoeists are pictured from the deck of Low’s Bridge in Guilford.

    Lancaster said that they didn’t count on winning the race — they finished second — but to have fun. “We just want to give folks something to smile about,” she said.
    The Kiwanis Club wishes to thank Piscataquis County EMA Director Tom Capraro and his Emergency Management Team; the Piscataquis Amateur Radio Club – George Dean, Ben Kittredge, Terry Knowles and Dave Ramsey — with their radio communication team; the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department under Chief Joe Guyotte with their river sweep boat and rescue team; and Mayo Regional Hospital Ambulance Service with Eric Young and his team.
    For a complete list of race sponsors and photos, visit www.doverfoxcroftkiwanis.org.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    PARTY BOAT — Robin DeGeorge and Susan Lancaster decorated their canoe in a Caribbean theme for the race.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    SIGN-UPS — The registration tent was busy at the Kiwanis Piscataquis River race with 128 entrants in 67 watercraft.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    CLASSIC CRAFT — Reinhard Zollitsch poses with his 1979 Jensen canoe. He won the Class 4 One-Person Open division.