59th Annual Manchester Canoe & Kayak Race results

59th Annual Manchester Canoe & Kayak Race, Sunday, May 18, 2025. Photo by Fritz Swanson.

submitted by Manchester First Robotics Teams #6081 and #11193

The 59th Annual Manchester Canoe & Kayak Race was held on Sunday, May 18. The weather was beautiful and the race had an especially great turnout this year! The river has been very high and fast most of this spring, which made it a challenge with cleanup. River Raisin Distillery owners Krista and Joe Jarvis did an amazing job with the river cleanup in more dangerous conditions. The high and fast river also created a more challenging race course.

This year required much more strategy with the faster water and all of the turns on our stretch of river. Quick decisions needed to be made at every turn by racers and even very experienced racers familiar with our stretch of the river ran into some issues.

Everyone involved in the race and participants have been deeply concerned for a racer that had an injury requiring medical support. The Marine division, Fire department, and Sherriff all worked together to get them treated as quickly as possible given the challenges. Two regular racers behind them helped initially, luckily one with a medical background. We would like to give an extra thanks to Carol Kahn and Ed Conway who helped initially treat, and also Ross Kittel and Brian Uhr for their added support to the injured racer. Carol and Ed were awarded a special Emergency Help medal that we hope we never have to give again. Ross and Brian still managed to medal in their division.

Huge thanks to our local MHS senior and aspiring professional photographer Faith Branner for her help with pictures this year!

We would also like to thank Sharon Valley Bicycle Shoppe for their generous donation of the gift card for the winner of the T-shirt design contest and Ace Pyro for installing the floating dock.

We hope to see the race continue in the future! Big thanks to the hard work of the Robotics team for organizing again, River Raisin Distillery Owners for their hard work (and in more dangerous conditions) with river cleanup, Boy Scouts for help with the the canoes and take-out, Men’s Club for power washing the finish line and observing the way the start/finish process works, and all of the additional community volunteers. It takes a village to pull off these events!

59th Annual Manchester Canoe & Kayak Race winners:

Teen Canoe

1. Garrett Smith & Caleb Savage 37:55
2. Nico Sark & Noah Sark 43:43
3. Caleb Weidmayer & Aiden Hall 50:23

Adult Child Canoe

1. Mark Irish & Sophia Irish 37:57
2. Ryan Shankland & Spencer Shankland 38:59
3. Eric Walter & Lachlan Walter 40:07

Men’s Canoe

1. Richard Ensley & Dan Briggs 34:44
2. John Mccullough & Cody McCullough 38:11
3. Tom Pierce & Owen Pierce 40:05

Women’s Canoe

1. Cicely McClintic & Lauren Delizia 42:48
2. Sybil Kolon & Margaret Bialecki 45:15
3. Sara Weidmayer & Oerba Weidmayer 1:00:00

Man/Woman Canoe

1. Patrick Keene & Marla Keene 36:21
2. Dave Foley & Cyndy Foley 36:24
3. Marcel van der Elst & Gisele van der Elst 36:33

Single Canoe

1. Shawn Mullaly 39:47
2. Joe Denhy 58:05

Competition Canoe

1. Silas Bialeki & Sarah Felder 36:47
2. Dennis Kittel & Mark Lamoreaux 40:41
3. Brian Uhr & Ross Kittel 1:21:25

Corporate Challenge

1. Riteway Pallet — Rick Ensley & Dan Briggs 34:30
2. Di-Coat — Joshua Grutza & Nick Kramer 37:20
3. Brazeway — Matt Baker & Joe Dennehy 41:01

Single Kayak Woman

1. Katie Bonner 36:18
2. Stephanie Pridmore 37:27
3. Gwenn Stevenson 37:55

Single Kayak Man

1. Robert Michalec 30:21
2. Derrick Fries 33:10
3. David Ives 35:16

Teen Kayak

1. Garrett Casey 43:23
2. Bryce King 45:15
3. Claire Smith 45:39

Double Kayak

1. Grant Johnson & Jackson Walz 36:52
2. Carl Casey & Emerson Martin 39:53
3. Ian Parks & Lily Parks 43:34

Sprint

1. Ross Kittel & Case Kittel 43.75
2. Amber Houttiekier & Mike Possley 54.74
3. Zac Smith & Rick Ensley 54:81

• Nate Kippnick & John Lutes 1:03.07, winner of the robotics team’s inside competition (alumni)

For a link to the spreadsheet with all the results, visit the Manchester River Raisin Canoe Kayak Race Facebook page.

Photo courtesy of Faith Branner.

Photo courtesy of Faith Branner.

Photo courtesy of Faith Branner.

Photo courtesy of Faith Branner.

Photo courtesy of Faith Branner.

Photo by Fritz Swanson.

Photo by Fritz Swanson.

Photo by Fritz Swanson.

Photo by Fritz Swanson.

Photo by Fritz Swanson.

Photo by Fritz Swanson.

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by Sara Swanson

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