Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis’ 50th Piscataquis River Race set for Saturday
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The 50th annual Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft Piscataquis River Race is set for Saturday, April 27 from Guilford to Dover-Foxcroft.
Sponsored by Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Charities, Inc., the race starts at King Cummings Park in Guilford and paddlers will head approximately 10 miles down the Piscataquis River to the finish line located across West Main Street from Foxcroft Academy. Registration is 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and the Piscataquis River Race starts promptly at 10 a.m.
Every person entering the race will receive a commemorative 50th Piscataquis River Race T-shirt and boat decal. There are 18 racing and recreational classes including open speed class for any paddled craft with any number of paddlers, single kayaks and canoes for men and women, two-person kayaks and canoes for men and women, two-person canoes for junior/senior (one paddler age 16 or under), and the Ancient Mariners (two persons with a combined age over 100).
BOATS IN THE WATER — Entrants in the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club’s 2017 Piscataquis River Race get ready for the start near King Cummings Park in Guilford. The race featured 87 participants across 50 craft paddling nearly 10 miles to the finish line by West Main Street near Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft. Those making the journey competed in 17 different classes, sent on their way via staggered starts every few minutes. The 50th annual Piscataquis River Race starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 27.
There is a first-place trophy for the winner of each class and ribbons for second and third place. There are also challenge classes including couples challenge (one male, one female), Key Club/High School challenge (two high school students), corporate/public service challenge kayaks, and corporate/public service challenge canoes.
There is one large first-place trophy per challenge class. The names for the fastest kayak and fastest canoe will be added to the Bob Darling trophy.
This race is a major fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft which raised $12,000 last year and close to $400,000 since this event was originally started 50 years ago. Proceeds of the race are used for a wide variety of charities supported by the Kiwanis Club. A few of these activities include, but are not limited to, the backpack program for children, Thayer Parkway, Piscataquis Regional YMCA Swim Program, Boy Scout Troop 100, Key Club, Terrific Kids, Heartwise, Homecoming, food cupboards, Christmas giving project, and scholarships for Foxcroft Academy graduates.
The Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft is grateful for the generous support of the corporate and business sponsors. The Club is always looking for additional sponsors so the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Charities, Inc. is able to help more children and more people in the community.
To register and get more information, go to https://doverfoxcroftkiwanis.org/fundraiser-piscataquis-river-race.
Raffle tickets are also available for cash prizes to be drawn after the race. Tickets are available through Facebook, from any Kiwanis member or at Bob’s Sugarhouse, $2 each, three for $5, or 12 tickets for $20.