The Huron Expositor, 1989-04-05, Page 7r
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, APRIL 5, 1989 -, 7A
a.:
NECK AND NECK or bow to bow, canoeist paddle hard during the early going in the
Optimist Canoe Race. Corbett photo.
COLLISION -Two canoes collide at the starting line of the Optimist Canoe Race. Cor-
bett photo.
MAKING TIME, two canoeists round the bend toward the third bridge along the
Egmondville to Vanastra route. Corbett photo. •
THIS PAIR of canoeists look like they
wish'tney were someplace else as they
pass beneath the second bridge.
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40)9
KAYAK COMPETITOR Bit Schmitz of Michigan set the fastest
time down the Bayfield this year with one hour 36 minutes.
Corbett photo.
AT THE FINISH LINE tired and wet competitors get off the river and take a break, Seien
here are Gerard Ryan and Dave Whyte taking their canoe out of the water after just
beating Keith Miller and Jeremy Miller, seen here, over the finish line by 45 seconds.
Corbett photo.
THAT'S ONE WAY TO SLOW 'EM DOWN - Two ladies turn tnerr race begins at the Seaforth Optimist Canoe Races on Sunday
canoe sideways (likely by accident) and block part of the river
from the other canoes, traveling forwards and backward, as the
under the Egmondville Bridge. Corbett photo.
River higher, entries lower
Optimist Club canoe race
The Bayfield River provided a first rate
course for the 18th Annual Seaforth Optimist
Canoe Race which was held on Sunday,
April 2, but this year the race could have us-
ed more competitors.
"You couldn't ask for more water," said
gone competitor, who remembers pushing
rather than paddling his canoe for much of
the 1988 race, when the river was low.
But while the river was high enough in
1989, there were only 21 canoe and one
kayak entries this year compared to 30
canoe and two kayak last year. There were
42 paddlers compared to 62 last year. Op-
timist organizers said grey skies Sunday
morning may have discouraged some of the
local competitors. But the weather held, and
no canoeist got wet on account of rain.
The course, which begins at the Egmond-
ville Bridge and ends at the Vanastra
Bridge, .covers approximately 10 .smiles of
the,Bayfield:River. Bill Schmitz of Michigan
waathe;tastest man down the.river4in a time
of one hour, 36 minutes in his kayak,
although he had no competition in his class.
This year's time was 10 minutes faster than
Mr. Schmitz's 1988 time.
There were seven canoe classes, and the
Solo class was won by John Fowler of Kit-
chener in a time of one hour, 50 minutes. Mr.
Fowler was also the lone competitor in his
class.
The Cruising Mixed class was won by
Gary and Barb Hawkins of Chatham in a
time of two hours.
The Cruising Parent -Child class was won
by Paul and Neil Dockstader of Goderich in
a time of 1:59.
There was a real race for the Service Club
class title, as Seaforth Optimists Gerard
Ryan and Dave Whyte beat fellow Optimists
Keith Miller and Jeremy Miller by 45
seconds. The winning, time was 2 hours and
10 minutes. Mr. Ryan and Mr. Whyte won
this class last year as well, but their time
Turn to page 12
CROWDS OF OBSERVERS line the bridges and the banks of the Bayfield River to watch to Optimist Canoe races held Sunday.