General Clinton Canoe Regatta heads into 53rd year
BAINBRIDGE – What started as a one-day, small-time race has become a giant among regatta races across the country.
The 53rd General Clinton Canoe Regatta, hosted by the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce, kicks off its four-day event today with its generation gap races, and culminates with the 70-mile pro race on Monday.
In between, there are plenty of activities, events, and live music – especially on Saturday – to satiate even those who will remain exclusively land-bound.
"It's really two different events," John Harmon, chair of the regatta said. Harmon was alluding to the dichotomy of those who are competing, and patrons who visit General Clinton Park for everything else that is offered over the four days.
Harmon said that around 1,000 canoeists and kayakers have registered for the races, although that number may climb for amateur races Friday through Sunday in which many divisions allow for same-day registration.
Last year's professional race was perhaps the most thrilling – and closest – since the inauguration of the regatta. With a $3,000 first-place prize on the line, Guillame Blais and Mathieu Pellerin of Quebec outpaddled Mathieu St. Pierre of Quebec and Ryan Halstead of Michigan down the stretch winning by less than a second.
"It came right down to the end and they were paddle for paddle," Harmon said.
The winning time of seven hours and 11 minutes was well off the course record, but river conditions often dictate the pace on a year by year basis.
Complementing the races on Saturday are an array of activities including the Dan Elwood Memorial 5K, the eighth incarnation of the charitable race; a youth wrestling tournament, the 4th Annual Hall of Fame inductions, an auction of one-of-kind Adirondack chairs with paddles built within the chairs' construction to benefit the Jericho Arts Council, and following the induction ceremony, popular music act, the Beadle Brothers, will provide live music.
"I don't know how it worked out, but it seems a lot of the stuff is happening on Saturday," Harmon said.
Entry into the park is free on Friday, and the only charge for Saturday through Monday is an $8-a-day parking fee.
Those gaining induction into the regatta's hall of fame are posthumous selections Don Loudon and Dick Sloane, both formerly of Bainbridge. Veteran racers also honored will be Mike Packard, Calvin Hassell, Jan Whitaker and Rodney Robinson. (See sidebar for Hall of Fame bios.)
Harmon has been involved with the Bainbridge chamber for 13 years and has ran the regatta as its chair the past seven. The biggest lesson he has learned over the years is how big a deal the races are for the competitors.
"It's really important for the canoeists who come here every year, and they're really appreciative of the event," Harmon said.
More information about the General Clinton Canoe Regatta is available online at http://www.canoeregatta.org/.
The 53rd General Clinton Canoe Regatta, hosted by the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce, kicks off its four-day event today with its generation gap races, and culminates with the 70-mile pro race on Monday.
In between, there are plenty of activities, events, and live music – especially on Saturday – to satiate even those who will remain exclusively land-bound.
"It's really two different events," John Harmon, chair of the regatta said. Harmon was alluding to the dichotomy of those who are competing, and patrons who visit General Clinton Park for everything else that is offered over the four days.
Harmon said that around 1,000 canoeists and kayakers have registered for the races, although that number may climb for amateur races Friday through Sunday in which many divisions allow for same-day registration.
Last year's professional race was perhaps the most thrilling – and closest – since the inauguration of the regatta. With a $3,000 first-place prize on the line, Guillame Blais and Mathieu Pellerin of Quebec outpaddled Mathieu St. Pierre of Quebec and Ryan Halstead of Michigan down the stretch winning by less than a second.
"It came right down to the end and they were paddle for paddle," Harmon said.
The winning time of seven hours and 11 minutes was well off the course record, but river conditions often dictate the pace on a year by year basis.
Complementing the races on Saturday are an array of activities including the Dan Elwood Memorial 5K, the eighth incarnation of the charitable race; a youth wrestling tournament, the 4th Annual Hall of Fame inductions, an auction of one-of-kind Adirondack chairs with paddles built within the chairs' construction to benefit the Jericho Arts Council, and following the induction ceremony, popular music act, the Beadle Brothers, will provide live music.
"I don't know how it worked out, but it seems a lot of the stuff is happening on Saturday," Harmon said.
Entry into the park is free on Friday, and the only charge for Saturday through Monday is an $8-a-day parking fee.
Those gaining induction into the regatta's hall of fame are posthumous selections Don Loudon and Dick Sloane, both formerly of Bainbridge. Veteran racers also honored will be Mike Packard, Calvin Hassell, Jan Whitaker and Rodney Robinson. (See sidebar for Hall of Fame bios.)
Harmon has been involved with the Bainbridge chamber for 13 years and has ran the regatta as its chair the past seven. The biggest lesson he has learned over the years is how big a deal the races are for the competitors.
"It's really important for the canoeists who come here every year, and they're really appreciative of the event," Harmon said.
More information about the General Clinton Canoe Regatta is available online at http://www.canoeregatta.org/.
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