The Partial Observer by Blake Turek

Locals Shine at Canoe Regatta

The 62nd Memorial Day General Clinton Canoe Regatta continues to be a thriller! The world’s longest single day flat water canoe race brought in thousands of visitors this year and is acclaimed as a world-class event in the marathon canoeing community. The General Clinton Canoe Regatta attracts more than 2,000 paddlers from around the world, competing in 50 different races.

This year’s race is specifically important as it honors the late Michael “Pacman” Packard, who unexpectedly passed away in April. Pacman shared his passion for canoe racing and was an inductee of the General Clinton Canoe Regatta Hall of Fame. Pacman introduced paddling to the many youths throughout the area. The General Clinton canoe race will forever carry on in his memory.

The 70-mile holy grail of canoe racing, right in the back yard of the southern tier, not only gains competitors from across the globe, but it also displays the great talent of “our own” local contenders. The natives show pride in their Susquehanna River race and love to put on a show for the spectators.

The club known as the “Wells Bridge Paddlers” showcased a variety of canoers who were nothing short of spectacular on race day. Many men and women from different age groups exhibited great placement amongst their race classes, respectfully.

Local paddler and preeminent pro Ryan Zaveral (Unadilla) and his partner Carson Burmesiter (Michigan) placed highest in the 70 Mile PRO Endurance Class for fifth place, with a time of 8:08:19. Not far behind, former Oneonta High School graduate and athletic standout Jake Crotser (South Carolina) and his partner Kyle Mynar (Texas) finished 14th with a time of 8:35:47. Placing 15th was local canoe legend and Canoe Hall of Famer Al Shaver (Meridale) and partner Dana Henry (Minnesota) with a time of 8:36:08.

Leading the pack and finishing fourth for the Mixed Pro Class was another local superstar paddler, Ed Curley (Sidney) and his partner, Sarah Lessard (Canada), with a time of 8:38:01.

The Amateur 70 Mile Canoe Race continues to be one of the more popular among New York competitors and stages some of the new and prominent veteran paddlers. Unatego High School graduate Austin Henchey (Otego), known for his speed on the track, exhibited his speed on the water with a first-place finish in the Men’s Under 50 Amateur Endurance Race with partner Joseph Allison (Morris) for a time of 8:55:13 and a dominant 10-minute victory ahead of the second-place finisher.

Local veteran canoer’s Larry Harrison (Oneonta) and Allen Nichols (Laurens) took first place in the Over 60 Amateur Endurance Race with another controlling 10-minute lead, as well, finishing with a time of 8:58:15. Southern Tier Canoe Company owner Jeff Pederson (Gilbertsville) and partner Ed Wagner (Auburn) took third with a time of 9:30:38.

Placing second in the 50-59 Amateur Endurance 70 Mile Race was another Unatego graduate, Scott Jordan, and his partner, Oneonta graduate Michael Himes, both of Otego, with a time of 9:17:16.

The NYMCRA Stock Endurance Race has continued to grow for the General Clinton Canoe Regatta, with strong first-place finishes for a handful of Susquehanna staples. Unadilla resident Jeff Newman and partner Steve Bachorik (Hartwick) battled back and forth for the lead most of the day, finding themselves with a first-place victory after a strong finish and a time of 9:29:55. Local sports radio host and podcaster Nate Lull of Gilbertsville and his partner, Brett Sherwood (Morris), finished third with a time of 9:56:26.

Finishing second in the Mixed NYMCRA Stock Class with a time of 9:54:06 was the father and daughter team of Brooks Reed and Taylor Reed of Unadilla. This was Taylor’s first time competing in the 70 Mile race.

Winning the Stock Aluminum Endurance Race was paddler Mat Robinson of Oneonta and his partner, Gareth Austin, of Hartwick with a time of 11:27:50.

The C4 Pro Endurance Race is another growing class that salutes some of our finest veteran paddlers. Finishing second with a time of 8:37:32 was the local team and pride of Oneonta—a group of General Clinton Hall of Famers, Bob Wisse, Bob Zaveral, Jeff Shultis, and John Young. Zaveral and Shultis are the last New Yorkers to win the Pro Endurance Race and continue to demonstrate the strength of our local warriors.

Closing out the day of canoe competition in the Scouts Open Class was Sidney High School all-star Ava Cirigliano and her father, Gabriel, with a victorious time of 14:59:09.

The General Clinton Canoe Regatta will continue to be a platform for exemplary athletes to showcase their endurance in a boat. The history of this race is honored and will welcome the future of new competitors for years to come. For more race results, visit canoeregatta.org.

Blake Turek follows and documents local sporting milestones, with articles appearing in “North Country Now” and “The Potsdam Herald.”  He holds a bachelor’s degree in sports management from SUNY Canton and currently resides in Morris, New York.