57th annual canoe and kayak race a great success

Canoe race winners show off their medals. Photo by Scott Somerville.

submitted by Caiden Kippnick

Sunday was a beautiful day for the 57th annual Manchester River Raisin Canoe & Kayak Race, keeping its uncontested claim as the second-longest continuously running river race in North America. Thank you to the organizers and all of the volunteers required to make this event possible. An extra-special thanks goes out to the river cleanup crew for their extraordinary efforts due to the ice storms earlier this year.

The race organizers and racers are very grateful for Jim Mann’s hard work and his many years of dedication to river cleanup. Additional gratitude for the help from Vic Mann, Tom Houcin, Dennis Kittel, Joe and Krista Jarvis, Kate Austed, David Armstrong, Joe Brooks, Ryan Novess, Mike Kippnick, and Daniella Kippnick.

This year’s race brought in many participants from the Manchester area and beyond.

Here are some highlights:

• Caleb Weidmayer and Adler Line won the Teen Canoe class with a time of 52:33.
• Sybil Kolon and Margaret Bialecki won the Women Canoe class with a time of 51:58.
• Forrest and Hunter Hertlein won the Men Canoe class with a time of 41:15.
• Michael and Patricia Steuwe won the Man & Woman Canoe class with a time of 44:22.
• Case and Dennis Kittel won the Sprint Canoe class with a time of 50:22.
• Joshua Grutza and Nick Kramer won this year’s corporate challenge class with a time of 42:10.
• Henry and Lain Earhart won the Adult & Child class with a time of 45:08.
• Ross and Case Kittel won the Competition Canoe class with a time of 38:36.
• Dave Lukasik won the Single Canoe class with a time of 38:55.
• Derrick Fries won the Single Male Kayak class with a time of 36:38.
• Gwen Stevenson won the Single Female Kayak class with a time of 42:30.
• Jolene Line won the Single Teen Kayak class with a time of 51:21.
• Peter and Abigail Knox won the Double Kayak class with a time of 42:32.

More results can be found on the stat board, which can be accessed here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Q_2Z6dRta7krToCHv_6xTP2EZhKmH2RFfvUL1h0cEmE/edit?usp=sharing

There are very exciting improvements in the works to improve river accessibility through the collaboration of Washtenaw County Parks, The Village of Manchester, and The Manchester Canoe & Kayak Race organizers. You can stop by the Village Office to sign a letter to support efforts to obtain a Spark Grant, if you were unable to sign it on Sunday. The proposal with the funds from the grant includes: handicap-accessible takeout at River Raisin Park; changing area and restrooms at Chi-Bro Park; canoe livery access point at Chi-Bro Park for navigation from Sharon Mills to River Raisin Park; and walking paths around Chi-Bro Park.

Thank you to all who participated and helped, and we hope you will join us next year as we work to continue the long-held tradition in the Manchester community.

Photo by Marsha Chartrand

Photo by Marsha Chartrand

Photo by Marsha Chartrand

Photo courtesy of Scott Somerville

Photo courtesy of Scott Somerville

Photo courtesy of Scott Somerville

Photo courtesy of Scott Somerville

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.