Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis hosts 51st annual Piscataquis River Race results
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft held its 51st annual Piscataquis River Race on the morning of Saturday, April 26 with paddlers braving rain and chilly temperatures to travel approximately 9.5 miles from Guilford to Dover-Foxcroft. The event is one of the biggest fundraisers for the Kiwanis with proceeds benefiting the organization’s numerous charitable endeavors.
This year’s event featured 42 boats and 72 racers. There were 16 separate classes of kayaks and canoes with entrants in three different categories — racing, recreational and challenge.
The Bob Darling Memorial Trophy was awarded to the fastest kayak and the fastest canoe in memory of the past Kiwanis president and past chair of the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Piscataquis River Race.
In 2025 the fastest kayak was Timothy Johnston and Orion Fleming with a time of 53 minutes, 52 seconds — the pair won the honor for the second year in a row.
FASTEST FINISHERS — The pair of Timothy Johnston and Orion Fleming had the day’s fastest time during the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft’s 51st annual Piscataquis River Race from King Cummings Park in Guilford to the finish line in Dover-Foxcroft across West Main Street from Foxcroft Academy on Saturday, April 26. Johnston and Fleming finished the approximate 9.5-mile paddle in a time of 53 minutes, 52 seconds and as the fastest kayak their names will be added to the Bob Darling Memorial Trophy, named for the past Kiwanis president and race chair. Johnston and Fleming earned the same honor a year ago.
The fastest canoe was paddled by Chip Loring, Mark Ranco and Chris and Danielle Francis in a time of 56:36.
The Kiwanis thanks all its many partners and friends who help to make the race possible.
Full race results are Class 1 open speed event: 1. Tim Johnston and Orion Flemming (Bob Darling Memorial Trophy for fastest kayak) 53:52; 2. Chip Loring, Mark Ranco, Chris and Danielle Francis (Bob Darling Memorial Trophy for fastest canoe) 56:36; 3. Laurie and Michael Sproul and Terry Wescott 1:07.04.
Class 2 racing one-person kayak, short K-1: 1. Mark Bamford 1:05.39.
BOB DARLING MEMORIAL TROPHY — Doris Darling, right, presented the Bob Darling Memorial Trophy to the fastest canoes and kayaks in honor of her late husband during the 51st annual Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Piscataquis River Race on April 26 as paddlers traveled about 9.5 miles from Guilford to Dover-Foxcroft. The fastest kayak was Timothy Johnston and Orion Fleming with a time of 53 minutes, 52 seconds. The fastest canoe was paddled by Chip Loring, Mark Ranco and Chris and Danielle Francis in 56:36.
Class 3 racing one-person kayak, long (wildwater hull) K-1: 1. Ray Wirth 59:16.
Class 4 racing one-person open canoe OC-1: 1. Ashton Mabee 1:00.21.
Class 5 racing two-person open canoe, short OC-2: 1. Bob Martin, Ravin Berry 1:08.56.
Class 6 racing two-person open canoe, medium OC-2: 1. JD Burke, Brady Burke 1:00.12; 2. Apemesim Galipeau, Damon Galipeau 1:02.38; 3. Glen Widmer, George Mayfield 1:05.52; 4. Dan Swallow, Jordyn Merritt 1:06.49; 5. Emma Eckert, Jacob Clark 1:12.29; 6. Gabriel McIntosh, Aaron Lang 1:13.53; 7. Camden LaBree, Peter Kurbatov 1:15.25.
QUICKEST CANOE — The team of Chip Loring, Mark Ranco and Chris and Danielle Francis were the first canoeists to complete the 51st annual Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Piscataquis River Race from Guilford to Dover-Foxcroft on April 26. Their time was 56 minutes, 36 seconds and as the fastest canoe their names will be engraved on the Bob Darling Memorial Trophy.
Class 7 recreational one-man kayak K-1: 1. Glenn Montgomery 1:14.21; 2. Larry Merrill 1:17.10; 3. Dustin Flint 1:36.54; 4. Todd Winchester 1:44.59.
Class 8 recreational one-woman kayak K-1: Karen Francoeur 1:04.40; 2. Leslie Gregory 1:07.46; 3. Jane Sweet 1:35.24; 4. Particia Amaral 1:35.37; 5. Laurie Hendrickson 1:35.41; 6. Shannon Flint 1:35.48; 6. Heather Dexter, did not finish.
Class 9 recreational two-person kayak K-2: 1. Timothy MacNeil, Cole Herrick 1:07:57; 2. Josiah Corbin, Jael Corbin 1:08.26.
Class 10 recreational one-person open canoe OC-1: 1. Dwight Blease 1:13.15; 2. Jackson Winslow 1:13.44; 3. Ethan Rishton 1:15.58.
CLASS WINNER — Ray Wirth nears the finish line along the shore of the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Piscataquis River Race as he earned top honors in the racing one-person kayak, long (wildwater hull) K-1 class at 59 minutes, 16 seconds.
Class 11 recreational two-person open canoe, short OC-2: no entries.
Class 12 recreational two-person open canoe, medium OC-2: 1. Mike Sussman, Corbin Lichtinger 1:02.30; 2. Evan Worthing, Kaleb Briggs 1:09.47; 3. Craig Bryant & Aidan Bryant 1:15.55.
Class 13 recreational junior/senior open canoe OC-2: 1. Aaron Winslow, Brady Winslow 1:11.21; 2. Nate Knight, Mya Knight 1:26.34.
Class 14 recreational ancient mariners open canoe OC-2: 1. Fuzzy Thurston, Brian Battiste 1:04.45.
JUST A FEW MORE STROKES — JD Burke and Brady Burke earned top honors in the racing two-person open canoe, medium OC-2 division with their time of 60 minutes, 12 seconds, which was the fourth fastest of the day.
Class 15 challenge, couples challenge OC-2: 1. Allisen Risinger, Mark Risinger 1:04.10; 2. Ella Allan-Rahill , Eddie Nachamie 1:04.46; 3. Cooper Power, Cliodhna O’Malley 1:05.13; 4. Jack Burke, Maddie Ginn 1:10.10.
Class 16 challenge, Key Club/high school challenge OC-2: 1. Joseph Knapp, Eamon Vandermast 1:17.46.
For more on the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft, go to www.doverfoxcroftkiwanis.org.
AN HOUR ON THE RIVER — Ashton Mabee won the racing one-person open canoe OC-1 class of the 2025 Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Piscataquis River Race in 1 hour, 21 seconds.