Canoe and kayak paddlers race to promote sport and river
The United States Canoe Association in cooperation with the Dover Boat and Ski Club held a canoe and kayak race on the Tuscarawas River Saturday, July 10.
The race was open to paddlers of all skill levels, from hard-core racers to those just wanting to have fun on the river. Racers in several classes launched from the boat ramp at Canal Street near downtown Dover.
Attendance was higher than expected at the first annual race, coordinated by Mary Jo Monte, an award winning paddler that became interested in the sport after having a hip replacement. “I was a cyclist. I didn’t race competitively, but it was how I exercised. I needed to find something else to do after my hip replacement and a friend introduced me to paddling,” said Monte. Monte has been paddling for 12 years.
Sixty-one participants from as far away as Pittsburgh and Cincinnati paddled their way upstream and back in a five-mile or 12-mile race, with a total of 53 boats on the water. A shorter race was held for kids later in the day.
Linda and Keith Collins, of Dundee, are considered hard-core racers. They were excited about Saturday’s race. “We have this beautiful river and the city does little to promote it. This race is great because it not only promotes the sport, but the river that is available for everyone to enjoy,” said Linda Collins. “There is so much to enjoy on the river. There is wildlife you might never see from shore. There are eagles, deer, osprey, it’s all right here!”
The Collins’ placed third in the mixed Canoe-2 class with a time of 2:20.44.
Sydney Warther, of Dover, was one of the younger racers at the event. “My mom bought my dad a kayak for Christmas. I tried it and enjoyed it,” said Warther. “She was a natural. It was amazing how well she did that first time in the water,” said Sydney’s dad, Dan Warther. “We bought a second kayak and Sydney’s been paddling since about June,” he said.
Sydney placed first in the 13 and under Kayak-1 class for girls with a completion time of 10:10 in the 6/10 of a mile race.
Elizabeth Krahel, of New Philadelphia, was racing for the first time in a kayak her husband Cameron purchased for her as a gift for her 30th birthday last spring. “I’ve been going to Leesville Lake a lot,” said Krahel. “I take the dog and she collects sticks in the water while I paddle. I’m not expecting to win today. I just want to be out on the water. This is my first time on the river.”
Krahel took second place in the women’s Kayak-1 class five-mile race with a time of 1:25.49.
Participants received a T-shirt and refreshments. New Philadelphia resident, Allen Bradshaw, made the trophies for the event. Winners were presented with the charming wood trophies, made into the shape of a canoe, after the races.
Results for the races were as follows:
Five-Mile Races
Men’s Kayak-1 Long (consisting of boats 14-feet-6-inches and longer)
1. Tim Gary, Kingsville, 1:00.00
2. Jeff Pietro, Dover, 1:02.52
3. Jerry Johnson, Dover, 1:06.26
Men’s Kayak-1 Short (consisting of boats under 14-feet-6-inches)
1. Jake Jones, Boardman, 59:45
2. Adam Wilson, Dover, 1:00.45
3. John Kelly, New Philadelphia, 1:07.15
Women’s Kayak-1 Short
1. Debra Witowski, New Brighton, Pa., 1:10.42
2. Elizabeth Krahel, New Philadelphia, 1:25.49
3. Genny Beatty, Dover, 1:27.52
Mixed Kayak-2
1. Mark and Brenda Luikart, New Philadelphia, 1:24.04
Women’s Canoe-1
1. Marilyn Heid, Columbus, 1:24.55
Mixed Canoe-2: Recreation
1. Stephen and Harriett Sabo, New Philadelphia, 1:26.54
Canoe-2 Recreation Over/Under (a team consisting of adult with child under 16)
1.Dan and Tim Smallwood, Cadiz, 1:19.25
Youth Races (6/10 mile)
Boy’s Canoe-1
1. Travis Mecklenburg, 8, Columbus, 8:55
Boy’s Kayak-1
1.Tyree Wilson, 9, Dover, 10:08
Girl’s Kayak-1
1. Sydney Warther, 10, Dover, 10:10
2. Shannon Kelly, 12, New Philadelphia, 10:18
12-Mile Races
Men’s Kayak-1 Open
1. Joe White, Sheffield Lake, 1:56.45
2. Doug King, Milford, 1:57.33
3. Jake Rabatin, Montville, 1:58.52
Men’s Kayak-1 Long
1. Bruce Wierzbicki, Senecaville, 2:41.35
2. Larry Howald, New Concord, 2:57.45
Women’s Kayak-1
1. Jeannette Wierzbicki, Senecaville, 2:58.25
Men’s Canoe-1
1. Dan Mecklenburg, Columbus, 1:58.52
2. Skip Conant, Avon, 2:02.12;3; Bill Terbush, Westerville, 2:04.28
Canoe-2 Mixed Open
1. Bill and Debbie Kostra, Transfer, Pa., 2:05.16
2. Joe and Ann Krizman, Madison, 2:05.38
3. Keith and Linda Collins, Dundee, 2:20.44
Canoe-2 Men’s Open
1. Norm Skinner and Gary Myers, Dresden, 2:28.55
The race was open to paddlers of all skill levels, from hard-core racers to those just wanting to have fun on the river. Racers in several classes launched from the boat ramp at Canal Street near downtown Dover.
Attendance was higher than expected at the first annual race, coordinated by Mary Jo Monte, an award winning paddler that became interested in the sport after having a hip replacement. “I was a cyclist. I didn’t race competitively, but it was how I exercised. I needed to find something else to do after my hip replacement and a friend introduced me to paddling,” said Monte. Monte has been paddling for 12 years.
Sixty-one participants from as far away as Pittsburgh and Cincinnati paddled their way upstream and back in a five-mile or 12-mile race, with a total of 53 boats on the water. A shorter race was held for kids later in the day.
Linda and Keith Collins, of Dundee, are considered hard-core racers. They were excited about Saturday’s race. “We have this beautiful river and the city does little to promote it. This race is great because it not only promotes the sport, but the river that is available for everyone to enjoy,” said Linda Collins. “There is so much to enjoy on the river. There is wildlife you might never see from shore. There are eagles, deer, osprey, it’s all right here!”
The Collins’ placed third in the mixed Canoe-2 class with a time of 2:20.44.
Sydney Warther, of Dover, was one of the younger racers at the event. “My mom bought my dad a kayak for Christmas. I tried it and enjoyed it,” said Warther. “She was a natural. It was amazing how well she did that first time in the water,” said Sydney’s dad, Dan Warther. “We bought a second kayak and Sydney’s been paddling since about June,” he said.
Sydney placed first in the 13 and under Kayak-1 class for girls with a completion time of 10:10 in the 6/10 of a mile race.
Elizabeth Krahel, of New Philadelphia, was racing for the first time in a kayak her husband Cameron purchased for her as a gift for her 30th birthday last spring. “I’ve been going to Leesville Lake a lot,” said Krahel. “I take the dog and she collects sticks in the water while I paddle. I’m not expecting to win today. I just want to be out on the water. This is my first time on the river.”
Krahel took second place in the women’s Kayak-1 class five-mile race with a time of 1:25.49.
Participants received a T-shirt and refreshments. New Philadelphia resident, Allen Bradshaw, made the trophies for the event. Winners were presented with the charming wood trophies, made into the shape of a canoe, after the races.
Results for the races were as follows:
Five-Mile Races
Men’s Kayak-1 Long (consisting of boats 14-feet-6-inches and longer)
1. Tim Gary, Kingsville, 1:00.00
2. Jeff Pietro, Dover, 1:02.52
3. Jerry Johnson, Dover, 1:06.26
Men’s Kayak-1 Short (consisting of boats under 14-feet-6-inches)
1. Jake Jones, Boardman, 59:45
2. Adam Wilson, Dover, 1:00.45
3. John Kelly, New Philadelphia, 1:07.15
Women’s Kayak-1 Short
1. Debra Witowski, New Brighton, Pa., 1:10.42
2. Elizabeth Krahel, New Philadelphia, 1:25.49
3. Genny Beatty, Dover, 1:27.52
Mixed Kayak-2
1. Mark and Brenda Luikart, New Philadelphia, 1:24.04
Women’s Canoe-1
1. Marilyn Heid, Columbus, 1:24.55
Mixed Canoe-2: Recreation
1. Stephen and Harriett Sabo, New Philadelphia, 1:26.54
Canoe-2 Recreation Over/Under (a team consisting of adult with child under 16)
1.Dan and Tim Smallwood, Cadiz, 1:19.25
Youth Races (6/10 mile)
Boy’s Canoe-1
1. Travis Mecklenburg, 8, Columbus, 8:55
Boy’s Kayak-1
1.Tyree Wilson, 9, Dover, 10:08
Girl’s Kayak-1
1. Sydney Warther, 10, Dover, 10:10
2. Shannon Kelly, 12, New Philadelphia, 10:18
12-Mile Races
Men’s Kayak-1 Open
1. Joe White, Sheffield Lake, 1:56.45
2. Doug King, Milford, 1:57.33
3. Jake Rabatin, Montville, 1:58.52
Men’s Kayak-1 Long
1. Bruce Wierzbicki, Senecaville, 2:41.35
2. Larry Howald, New Concord, 2:57.45
Women’s Kayak-1
1. Jeannette Wierzbicki, Senecaville, 2:58.25
Men’s Canoe-1
1. Dan Mecklenburg, Columbus, 1:58.52
2. Skip Conant, Avon, 2:02.12;3; Bill Terbush, Westerville, 2:04.28
Canoe-2 Mixed Open
1. Bill and Debbie Kostra, Transfer, Pa., 2:05.16
2. Joe and Ann Krizman, Madison, 2:05.38
3. Keith and Linda Collins, Dundee, 2:20.44
Canoe-2 Men’s Open
1. Norm Skinner and Gary Myers, Dresden, 2:28.55
Published: July 12, 2011
