In the early days of this race, back in the 80's, that's 1980's, not 1880's, Don Peach, the founder of the race, was winning with his partner when they spotted a calf stuck in the mud along the bank of the river. They stopped to free the calf and when the rest of the canoes came along they too stopped to help free the calf. Such has been and still was the spirit of this race right up until the last year it was held in 2001. In that year Jerry and Marci Nolan were doing well in the race when they saw a lamb stranded on the bank with no way back to high ground. Jerry and Marci stopped to move the lamb to higher ground. This is the way canoe racing was 40 or 50 years ago in the east before the grip of serious competition took hold. Although the race has been opened up to "racing canoes", most entries were in the recreation class. This was just a good old fashioned fun race and too bad it is now just history.
The race course is about 55 miles for the men and about 38 miles for the mixed class. Experienced canoeists love the first 12 miles which at high water creates waves that can swamp a misdirected canoe. Inexperienced canoeists will be challenged by the rapids and everyone is challenged by the length of the race.
For 2004 and 2005 the race was shortened to 11 miles and finishing on the grassy area at the east end of the Kenney Reservoir.
Cowboys get an early morning start
More early morning starters
Here comes another starter in the men's recreation class
and they head under the bridge
Close-up shot, smile you guys
These guys don't even stop to get their picture taken
Just a silhouette, but we can tell who it is
You guys better quit smiling for the camera and watch the front of your canoe which is sinking!
Silhouette of C-1 coming through.
C-1 skirts the waves
C-1 in the waves
C-1 hopes he has the right channel
C-2 has the right channel
Yep, C-2 has the right channel
C-1 on flat water
