The thirty eighth annual Willard Hanmer Guideboat, Canoe and Kayak races were held on Lake Flower in Saranac Lake, Saturday, July 1. A total of 70 boats competed. Racers gathered for the start in Riverfront Park, and enjoyed a full day of fun for everyone. Races
included the Fledgling 1/2 mile race for youth, the 2 person and Grandaddy Guideboat,Canoe and Kayak Classes on a 5 mile course, 1 person Traditional and Modern Guideboats and the Rub a Dub Dub, four people in a canoe event.
The race was organized by the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, MAC's of Lake Clear, and race series sponsor, Franklin County ARC, The Adirondack Arc. Sponsors for the Hanmer Races included The Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Guideboat Realty, Grasse River Boatworks, Specialty Wood Products, Target Logistics, The Cold River Coffee Company, and Chris Woodward, Adirondack Guideboat Builder.
The next event in the Adirondack Arc Canoe Race Series is the Adirondack Arc Marathon to Tupper Lake on August 12. The thirty mile race will begin at 9 AM at the Saranac Inn NYSDEC Boat Launch, head South the length of Upper Saranac Lake, to Indian Carry, through Stoney Creek, and right on to the Raquette River to the Tupper Lake Rod, Gunand Sports Club. For more information contact MAC'S race hotline at 518 - 891 - 2744.
Guideboats took center stage at the Hanmer. Curt Reynolds of Lake Clear was a double winner. He won the One Person Traditional Guideboat race and teamed up with Lisa Zimmerman, of Saranac Lake to win the two person guideboat race. Jesse Corum of Saranac Lake, and Nik Sanatagate of Paul Smiths won the Grandaddy competition, Paul Neil ofSpring Valley won the Men's Modern Guideboat race and Mary Brown of Plattsburg won the Women's Modern Guideboat race.
Eric Freeburg, of Gabriels turned in the fastest men's, kayak, and overall time of the day in the 5 mile race at 37:06. The fastest
tandem canoe time of the day went to Bryan Place of Manlius, and Gary Place, of Elbridge. They crossed the line at 38:56, 1 second ahead of C - 2 Racing Masters winners David Wiltey, of Johnstown and Bill Mueller, of Dolgeville. The fastest solo canoe was Terry Kent, of Lake Placid, finishing the 5 mile course in 39:03.
