6th Annual Westport River Watershed Alliance River Run: Crawlers, Sweepers, Kayaks and Canoes Swirl to the Head of Westport on Saturday, June 13, 2009
Whether racing the 8.5 mile Challenge course or paddling the 3.5 mile Family Fun route, families and teams made up a huge chunk of the participants in the Sixth Annual Kayak Race and Family Fun Paddle organized by the Westport River Watershed Alliance and held on June 13.
There was a definite peanut butter and jelly feel to the event as the morning unfolded. Grandparents climbed into canoes with their children and their children’s children. Mini-squadrons with familial bonds swelled the ranks. Lots of teenagers, their parents bobbing around somewhere nearby, traded in iPods for paddles.
Nine vessels of the colorful field of 78 kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards in the race paddled under the DeVeuve banner. Three generations of the family, ages from 15 to 74 (we promised not to reveal this Westport paddler’s identity), accounted for eleven of the approximately 100 paddlers that assembled at the Hix Bridge boat landing.
Bright yellow T-shirts identified Team SMS. The WRWA happens to be a customer of SMS Plumbing and Heating owner Stephen Soares, who happens to be engaged to Corey Gifford, grand-daughter of Norma Judson, who happens to be a big supporter of the WRWA, whose President Gay Gillespie happened to ask Soares if he’d like to enter this year’s race. Mr. Soares fielded a team of nine, if you include two six year olds, who added enthusiasm but not much paddle power to Soares’ and Gifford’s canoe on Saturday. A canoe and three kayaks held the other five members of the SMS team.
Argh, matey, what were those five strange looking vessels lining up for the 10 A.M. Challenge Race? Paddleboards, the latest rage in recreational craft on the west coast, had made their first appearance in the River Run.
“Paddleboards are long surfboards but more buoyant,” Sam Ladd, Co Owner of Osprey Sea Kayaks, said. “Their design has roots in ancient Polynesia, There are two types of paddle boards. First, there are Stand Ups called Sups (stand up paddle boards) or Sweepers, which you paddle with one oar. Next are Prone types, called Crawlers, on which you lie prone or kneel and propel with your hands. “
Photo: Crawler and Sweeper
The Casey clan of Newport and Little Compton entered three exotic “crawlers” and added to the family feel of the event.
At precisely 10 A.M., Sam Ladd shouted, “Go!” The 16 Challenge Class entrants - crawlers, kayaks, canoes, and one sweeper, headed south to curl around Great Island before turning back north to the Head of Westport.
The real fun began a few minutes later when Ms. Ladd ordered the 63 boats in the Family Fun to push out to the water for the required safety instructions. An eclectic assortment of rented and custom-made kayaks and canoes with an equally eclectic group of paddlers shoved off into the water just south of Hix Bridge. Looking down at the colorful swarming mass from the bridge was like peering through a kaleidoscope.
Ms. Ladd then sent them to the start line just north of the bridge. At 10:30 - Whoosh! Paddles began to windmill furiously. The whole mass of plastic lurched forward, visions of medals or sandwiches, depending upon how strongly the competitive juices were flowing, propelled the paddlers.
About an hour later, cheered on by friends and organizers, the first boats began squeezing through the narrow passage leading into the Head.
Spread out along the emerald green grassy bank at the Head, paddlers grazed on sandwiches and watermelon, kids played toss games, little kids colored and had their faces painted, and medals were given out for every conceivable category (see list below). The sun made a guest appearance after days and days of being AWOL. All was right with the world.
“I liked being neck and neck with people on other boats,” Brian Cormier, 16, said as he and Adam Doerr, 14, both Westporters, finished first in the Family Fun tandem kayak division.
The Casey clan, Phil from Little Compton, his brother Marty and his son Justin, both of Newport, brought their “crawlers.”
"This is a good course with interesting sights. It's challenging without being overwhelming, " Justin Casey said.
“We were in the Aquidneck Island Paddle last year, a 38 mile relay race around Aquidneck Island to raise money for the Aquidneck Land Trust and Lucy’s Hearth,” Phil Casey said. They plan to return next year. Who knows how much more competition they’ll have then.
No matter how many boats enter the race next year, volunteer organizers Anne Fitzgerald and Larry Hookey will make it smooth paddling for the whole fleet. With their committee of volunteers and Westport River Watershed Alliance staff, they begin planning the race each January. The duo has tweaked the event to improve it each year since they began in 2004. Sponsorships from 43 local businesses show that the community is behind this event, which showcases the unique beauty of the Westport River.
Some day, teenagers like Brian Cormier and Adam Doerr may become stewards of the river. They’ll know it from the waterline up.
SIDEBAR 1
Family Fun River Run Results
Single Kayak Overall
1. Chris Barnes
2. Mike Spadea
Under 18 Single Kayak
1. Nicholas Gonsalves
2. Jan Costanza
“AARP” Kayaks
1. Robert Barnes
2. Deb Crossley
Double Overall - kayak or canoe
1. Brendan Cormier and Adam Doerr
2. Hilary and Curt Carlson
Double Under 18 - kayak or canoe
1. Joe and Noah Doerr
2. Grace and Asa Sweetser
Double “AARP” kayak or canoe
1. Barbara and Jim Carlin
2. Joan Hodgson and Susan Miller
Challenge Class Results
Challenge Single kayak
1. Bill Starz
2. Murray Lord
Challenge Single “AARP” kayak
1. Phillip Sherman
2. Alex Voikas
Challenge Double kayak
1. John Poulton and Janet Sheridan
2. Cathleen Dionne and Mike Lawrence
Outrigger
1. Wally Houghton and Paula Flint
Clan Awards
1. SMS Plumbing
2. DeVeuve Families
3. Mayer Families
Paddleboards
1. David Fitzgerald
2. Phil Casey
Clan Award for Paddleboards
The Casey Family
Family Fun Totals: 41 single kayaks or canoes, 21 single kayaks or canoes
Challenge Totals: 8 single kayaks, 3 double kayaks, 5 paddleboards
PHOTOS
1. Team SMS ready to rock: Ron Isidore, Connie Isidore of New Bedford (one canoe), Stephen Soares, Corey Gifford of Westport (canoe with the Stephen’s daughter Morgan Millhomme and Jacob Darosa, both 6 years old), kayakers Kate Goodwin,Tiverton, Danny Darosa, New Bedford “South End,” and Julian Gamache.
2. Marty Casey of Newport aboard his “crawler” paddleboard and Mike Simpson of Little Compton aboard his standup paddleboard, a ‘sweeper.”
3. Three generations cross the finish line: Catherine Williams of Westport, grand-daughter Anya, Laura Senes, and William’s son Owen Dodge.
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Sponsors of the 2009 WRWA River Run (not published in the Shorelines edition)
A.J. Potter Jr. & Sons Inc.
BankFive
Bittersweet Farm
Branco Landscaping
Country Woolens
Dartmouth Building Supply, Inc.
Dennis Talbot Builder
Dr. Joseph Boivin, Optometrist
Doug Brown - Durfee Buffington Insurance Agency
Fernandes & Charest P.C.
Graphix Plus
Handy Hill Creamery
JOALS Garage Inc.
Lapointe Insurance
Lawton Builders
Lees Market
Lees Oil Service, Inc.
M & R Feed Store, Inc.
MA Cultural Council
Marguerite's Restaurant
Mattie Imports
Mid-City Scrap
N.A.C. Security & Stereo Systems, Inc.
Ocean's Catch
Partners Village Store
Rent-a-Jon
Sage Environmental
Sakonnet Bay Manor
Sakonnet Vineyards
SMS Plumbing & Heating LLC
State Representative Michael J. Rodrigues
Sylvia Group of Insurance Agencies
The Bayside Restaurant
Tim's Lawn Care
TMJ Orthopedics
Village Bicycle
Village Pizza
Walden Forest Conservation
Westport Apothecary
Westport Bait & Tackle
Westport Chiropractic
Westport Federal Credit Union
Westporthappenings.com
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