Photo by John Tonin
GOT TO GET THOSE TRINKETS – Paddlers in the annual McClintock River race begin their journey, passing under the McClintock River bridge last Saturday afternoon.
Down the McClintock go the paddlers
In what Peter Coates described as an abbreviated paddling season, the annual McClintock race was still able to be held last Saturday starting at the McClintock River bridge.
In what Peter Coates described as an abbreviated paddling season, the annual McClintock race was still able to be held last Saturday starting at the McClintock River bridge.
The race, having been held for about 15 years, marks the end of the paddling season. That was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Coates said this year’s race marked the beginning and the end of the season.
For a race that has had to deal with snow in the past, the weather could not have been better. It was sunny with a hint of a breeze, the mercury in the thermometer read 12 degrees.
There were 12 boats in the water when the countdown to start the paddle began.
“It was a good field,” said Coates.
Also paddling were Matt Wilkie, Kim Hobus, and Anna Hobus in K1s, although they did not finish, Coates said they deserved special mention for having the youngest competitor he’s ever seen paddling solo in any canoe or kayak race.
The McClintock is a winding river with tight turns so the paddlers are never on straightaways for too long. They paddle against the current when they depart.
Making the race unique is the lack of a finish line. Instead, paddlers travel six-or-so kilometres down the river where they will find dollar store trinkets hanging from a tree.
They have to grab the trinket to prove they have done the distance. This year, Coates said he found “spikey balls” in the model of the coronavirus. In years prior, paddlers have had to grab, horses or dinosaurs, to name a few.
To make the race COVID-19 compliant, Coates said they did not have the usual food and drink available at the end, and that everyone behaved in following the proper physical distancing measures.
Next year, Coates said he hopes there will be more paddling races.
Results:
1: 1:24:48 K1 Bruce Porter
2: 1:24:49 K1 Joel Girouard
3: 1:26:47 C2 Jake, Karen Paleczny
4: 1:30:38 C2 Brian Groves and Margo Milletta
5: 1:31:10 C2 Pam, Jim Boyde
6: 1:31:40 C1 Dan Girouard
7: 1:37:16 C2 Pat McKenna and David Gonda
8: 2:03:34 C2 Tori Vollmer and Veronica Porter
9: 2:11:34 C2 John Tipton and Ava
10:2:11:43 C2 Julianne Girouard and Cole Wilkie-Hobus
11:2:12:33 K1 Doon McDowell
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