Westport River Watershed Alliance 3rd Annual River Run
By Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.
“Which blade do we paddle with when there’s one on each end?”
Sam Ladd of Osprey Sea Kayaks has heard lots of memorable rookie questions in the three years she and her husband Carl have coordinated safety checks and race course management for the Westport River Watershed Alliance’s annual river race. This one should lodge firmly in her list of all time favorites.
The 3rd Annual River Race, a canoe/kayak race for all classes of paddlers, attracted a record 75 boats last Saturday, nearly doubling last year’s attendance. Under blue skies with nary a headwind to thwart their progress, serious racers, weekend water warriors, entire families, in one case including the family pooch, piled into all manner of floating plywood, Kevlar, and fiberglass products to test their mettle. Or not. Casual observers noted more evidence of laid-back fun than adrenaline. 
“We have great weather, I hope we have enough numbers for everyone,” event co-chair Larry Hookey said as he watched an incessant stream of trailers and SUVs rolling down to the launch ramp at the Hix Bridge landing, the starting point for the race. It was a thought an organizer loves. “We advertised in national magazines and local outlets since last December,” he said as he smiled at the buzz of activity.
(Photo:Family Fun start)
The 15 entries in the 10 A.M. Challenge Race would head south to Gunning Island and loop back past Hix Bridge to the Head of Westport, The 60 entries in the Family Fun Race would line up, more or less, on the north side of the bridge, and whoosh for the Head at 10:30 A.M.
Before the starts, though, pre-race bonding was in full swing. Paddlers compared accessories, boat designs, and the thinking that got them to the water’s edge.
(Photo:Bush-Fass family prepares for launch)
Gazing at a two-person kayak, Jim Kelly, who lives on the west branch, struck a philosophical note. “We’re too old for the challenge race. You’ve got to know your limits”
“If we knew our limits, we’d go home!” Kelly’s wife Susan said with a chuckle. For the record, they didn’t go home until they finished the race.
A pair of paddlers self-described as “two ninths of the Westport Finance Committee” was getting acquainted with a white fiberglass kayak (rented half price by Osprey Sea Kayaks to contestants on race day).
“That’s a very safe stable boat. It’s the mini van of kayaks, an indestructible two-person boat.” Sam Ladd said, as she surveyed Lisa Arnold and Jane Loos readying themselves.
“We’re in the duffer race, it’s my first time in a kayak in my life. Jane Loos got me into this,” Ms. Arnold said. “We’re not athletes, our idea of winning is making it over the finish line. ”
“If we finish, it will be a miracle,” Loos said, her wry grin signaling otherwise.
(Photo: Loos and Arnold after miracle finish)<
A boat loaded with New Bedford’s Glen Guilbeault, his wife Toni, young daughter Tori, and little dog Toto heard a few jokes about “We’re not in Kansas any more!”
“My husband got us all up this morning and said, ‘Let’s get in this race today, and here we are’,” Ms. Guilbeault said. Toto, as able-bodied dog as was ever created, sat like a royal mascot and reveled quietly in the attention.
If there were a prize for the paddlers hailing from the most distant port, it would have been awarded to Ali Dietzgen of Tempe, AZ and her pal Susan Krauskoph of Phoenix, AZ. “Hey, girls, I signed you up for a canoe race,” was the first thing they heard from their local host Yvonne Zuther. Their response - “Cool!”
“Considering our zig-zaggy route, we probably paddled farther than anyone else,” Ali said.
“Plus there was food at the end!” Susan added. Spoken like true teenagers.
True enough, by the time boaters had paddled the 3.5 mile Family Fun course or the 8.5 Challenge course, there was plenty of food and drink spread out in the shade of the trees at the Head of Westport.
While paddlers told ‘war stories’ about the race, children were kept busy making osprey hats, playing river animal twister and bean bag toss, and getting faces, arms and legs painted.
Co-Chairs Anne Fitzgerald and Larry Hookey praised the on-the-water help from Carl and Sam Ladd of Osprey Sea Kayaks and their eight volunteer spotters who made sure everyone that started made it safely to the finish line. They also tossed kudos to the many volunteers who pitched in to supervise games, pick up trash, and drive contestants back to Hix Bridge Landing.
“Balancing a family fun event with a challenge race makes for a good race,” Ms. Fitzgerald said. “And watching families do this together is a real treat for Larry and me.”
It may be the wrong metaphor, but the Westport River Watershed Alliance’s River Run has taken root in the Westport River.
SIDEBAR
FAMILY FUN RACE
Single kayak: 1st Gerald Desrosiers, 2nd, Deb Grossley
Double kayak: 1st Peter Holmes, Dick Deyount; 2nd, Rob and James Pallock
Canoe: 1st Eric LaFrance, Tyler Carlson; 2nd, Janice and Mark Welden
Challenge Race
Racing boat: 1st Richard Rotnem
Single kayak (male): 1st Whitmore Boogaerts; 2nd Mark Edwards
Single kayak (female): 1st Diane Fletcher; 2nd Schweighardt
Double kayak: 1st John Poulton, Janet Sheridan; 2nd Peg Resnick, Robert Downing
Canoe: 1st Pete Olson, Ed Halpin, 2nd Tom Borges, Jacob Mello
Other awards:
Family Fun Awards: The Toth Family (all 5 of them), The Doerr Family, The Bartles Family
Young Paddlers Awards: Adam Doerr, Kristen Harper, Cody Flynn
ENTRIES BY CATEGORY
Challenge race
11 single kayaks
2 double kayaks
2 canoes
Family Run Race
39 single kayaks
10 double kayaks
11 canoes
TOTAL 75 boats
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