The thirty-ninth annual Willard Hanmer Guideboat and Canoe Races returned to the traditional race course from Lake Flower down the Saranac River to the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club on Sunday, July 1.
The heavy rain and thunder and lightening caused a delay, but could not dampen the enthusiasm of a diverse field of paddlers. A total of 70 boats competed. Races included the Fledgling race for youth, the two-person and Grand Daddy Guideboat, Canoe and Kayak Classes, Traditional and Modern Guideboats and the Rub a Dub Dub, four people in a canoe.
Guideboats took center stage at the Hanmer. Tony Duprey of Saranac Lake won the One Man Traditional Guideboat race. Ashley Doyle of Saranac Lake won the Women's Traditional Guideboat Race. Paul Neil of Spring Valley won the Men's Modern Guideboat race. Jesse Corum III of Saranac Lake, and Jesse Corum IV of Brattleboro, Vermont won the Two Person Grand Daddy competition, Rick Marchant of Norwich, and Mark
McAndrew of East Hardwick, Vermont won the Two Person Guideboat Race.
Terry Kent, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, had the fastest time of the day, finishing the 5 mile course in his C-1 Racing Canoe in 24:27. John Ders, of South Otselic, had the fastest kayak time at 24:44. The fastest tandem canoe time of the day went to David Wiltey, of Johnstown and Bill Mueller, of Dolgeville at 24:58.
The Adirondack Arc Series is a cooperative partnership of The Adirondack Arc, The Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce. The next event in the series is the Tupper Lake Flat Water Weekend, June 2 - 3 featuring a 9 mile race on Saturday and a 40 mile race on Sunday. Registration forms are available by
contacting MAC'S Canoe Race Hot line at 891 - 2744.
