Father & son who competed in first Canoe Race return for 50th celebration

Father and son Donald and Lee Pauken, who now live in Indiana, competed in Manchester’s first canoe and boat race in 1967 in the father & son category. The duo returned to Manchester to compete in the 50th race on Sunday. Afterwards they looked through the race scrapbook in the Kingsley-Jenter House.

Sunday’s canoe race had a very special team competing in the Men’s category: Team #45, Lee Pauken and his father Donald. The Paukens had driven up from Indiana to participate in the 50th Canoe Race celebration because they had competed together in 1967 in Manchester’s very first canoe race in the father/son category. The first time around, Lee was 7 years old and they competed in a rowboat. This time around, Donald, now 82 years old, and Lee competed in a canoe, as rowboats were phased out of the race in the 1980s. In the original race they placed first in their category as they were the only entrants. This time around, although they did not place in the top three, they still managed a very respectable time of  41:43!

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.