Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis hosts 52nd annual Piscataquis River Race
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft held its 52nd annual Piscataquis River Race on the morning of Saturday, April 25 with paddlers traveling approximately 9.5 miles from Guilford to Dover-Foxcroft. The event is now the biggest fundraiser for the Kiwanis with proceeds benefiting the organization’s numerous charitable endeavors.
This year’s event featured 52 boats and 86 racers. There were 16 separate classes of kayaks and canoes with entrants in three different categories — racing, recreational and challenge.
For more than a decade and a half the Bob Darling Memorial Trophy has been awarded each year 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 2026 the fastest kayak was paddled by Timothy Johnston and Orion Fleming with a time of 52 minutes, 56 seconds — the pair won the honor for the third year in a row.
FASTEST FINISHERS AGAIN — The pair of Timothy Johnston, right, and Orion Fleming had the day’s fastest time during the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft’s 52nd 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 25. Johnston and Fleming finished the approximate 9.5-mile paddle in a time of 52 minutes, 56 seconds. As the fastest kayakers their names will be added again to the Bob Darling Memorial Trophy, named for the past Kiwanis president and race chair. Johnston and Fleming earned the honor for the third year in a row.
The fastest canoe was that of Damen Galipeau and Ben Galipeau with a time of 58:30.
Full race results are Class 1 open speed event: 1. Tim Johnson and Orion Flemming (Bob Darling Trophy for fastest kayak) 52:56; 2. Ben Randall 55:00.
Class 2 racing one person kayak short K-1: 1. Mark Bamford 1:08.08; 2. Larry Merrill 1:19.36.
Class 3 racing one person kayak long (wildwater hull) K-1: 1. Ray Wirth 1:01.24; 2. Daniel Baumert 1:03.01.
BOB DARLING MEMORIAL TROPHY — Doris Darling presented the Bob Darling Memorial Trophy to the fastest canoes and kayaks in honor of her late husband following the 52nd annual Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Piscataquis River Race on April 25 as paddlers traveled about 9.5 miles from Guilford to Dover-Foxcroft. The fastest kayak was Timothy Johnston, right, and Orion Fleming with a time of 52 minutes, 56 seconds. The fastest canoe was paddled by Damen Galipeau and Ben Galipeau in 58:30.
Class 4 racing one person open canoe OC-1: no entries.
Class 5 racing two person open canoe short OC-2: 1. Bob Martin and Raven Berry 1:10.18.
Class 6 racing two person open canoe medium OC-2: 1. Damen Galipeau and Ben Galipeau (Bob Darling Trophy for fastest canoe) 58:30; 2. Dan Swallow and Matt Swallow 1:03.30; 3. Luke Frannel and Ryan Houseman 1:15.17.
Class 7 recreational one man kayak K-1: 1. Glenn Montgomery 1:15.25; 2. Dustin Flint 1:19.44; 3. Josh Flint 1:22.59.
QUICKEST CANOE — The team of Damen Galipeau and Ben Galipeau was the first in a canoe to complete the 52nd annual Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Piscataquis River Race from Guilford to Dover-Foxcroft on April 25. Their time was 58 minutes, 30 seconds and as the fastest canoe paddlers their names will be engraved on the Bob Darling Memorial Trophy.
Class 8 recreational one woman kayak K-1: 1. Karen Francoeur 1:03.21; 2. Leslie Gregory 1:09.49; 3. Ashley Rideout 1:30.09; 4. Kathy Littlefield 1:30.18; 5. Shannon Flint 1:39.39; 6. Nina Boulard 1:47.57; 7. Jennifer Story 1:48.12.
Class 9 recreational two person kayak K-2: 1. Josiah Corbin and Jael Corbin 1:06.30; 2. Cole Herrick and Timothy MacNeil 1:09.18.
Class 10 recreational one person open canoe OC-1: 1. Dwight Blease 1:12.34; 2. Chad Robertson 1:13.46.
Class 11 recreational two person open canoe short OC-2: 1. Richard Hartley and Jed Hartley 1:13.49; 2. Aaron Winslow and Bob Winslow 1:15.50; 3. Isabella Namaksy and Hailey Janelle 1:16.26; 4. Molly Bennett and Malia Weedon 1:42.45.
55 FLAT — Ben Randall finished in exactly 55 minutes, placing second in the open speed event class and having the second fastest time among all entrants in the 2026 Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Piscataquis River Race.
Class 12 recreational two person open canoe medium OC-2: 1. John Zebulon and Dennis Goulet 1:16.02; 2. Tim Harmon and Noah Harmon 1:22.33; 3. Amy Longman and Heidi Hummell 1:24.29; 4. Steven Overlock and Eli Overlock 1:41.09.
Class 13 recreational junior/senior open canoe OC-2: 1. Tyler Smith and Matthias Smith 1:12.41; 2. Aaron Cross and Grace Cross 1:13.10; 3. Brady Winslow and Terry Wescott 1:16.16; 4. Dale Cross and Caleb Cross 1:17.19; 5. Mya Knight and Nate Knight 1:20.59; 6. Kevin Kotredes and Isaac Kotredes 1:21.14; 7. Tom Breindel and Eliot Butilier 1:25.22.
Class 14 recreational ancient mariners open canoe OC-2: 1. Chip Loring and Mark Ranco 1:06.11; 2. Ian Ogilvie and Amy DiFrancesco 1:09.25; 3. Tom (Fuzzy) Thurston 1:17.06; 4. Jonathan Rubin and Lee Clein 1:22.43.
Class 15 challenge couples challenge OC-2: 1. Jeff Owen and Peggy McKee 1:02.24; 2. Chris Francis and Danielle Francis 1:06.40; 3. Cooper Power and Cliodhna O’Malley 1:11.40; 4. Chelsea Daniels and Chris Brooks 1:13.41; 5. Jake Berry & Charley Martin Berry 1:14.02.
HOME STRETCH — The duo of Raven Berry and Bob Martin paddle under the railroad trestle to see the finish line on Saturday morning. They earned top honors in Class 5, racing two person open canoe short OC-2, in 1 hour, 10 minutes, 18 seconds.
Class 16 challenge Key Club/high school challenge OC-2: 1. Hajar Wise and Peter Kurbatov 1:12.38; 2. Dean Gallagher & Chaparral Schiff 1:19.29.
Class 17 challenge corporate/public service challenge K-1 or K-2: no entries.
Class18 challenge corporate/public service challenge OC-1 or OC-2: 1. John Simko and Angie Snow 1:13.18; 2. Joshua Lugden and Sean Higgins 1:20.15.
COUPLES CHALLENGE WINNERS — Peggy McKee and Jeff Owen won the couples challenge division of this year’s Piscataquis River Race with a time of 1 hour, 2 minutes, 24 seconds.
The Kiwanis thanks all its many partners and friends who help to make the race possible. These include
Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency Director Deb Hamlin and EMA team
Piscataquis Amateur Radio Club – Lloyd Frink and his radio communications team
Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department Chief Brian Gaudet and volunteers
Guilford Fire Department – Chief Keith Kendall and volunteers
Monson Fire Department – Chief Chuck Beane and volunteers
Sangerville Fire Department – Chief Matt Blockler and volunteers
Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office – Jamie Kane
Northern Light Mayo Hospital Ambulance – Maged Shahin and his team
Town of Dover-Foxcroft and Town Manager Alsina Brenenstuhl
Town of Guilford and Town Manager Johanna Turner
Foxcroft Academy Head of School Arnold Shorey
Foxcroft Academy Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds Tom Nason
The Piscataquis Observer – Stu Hedstrom
Eddie’s Tint n Print – James and Brynn
Foxcroft Printers – Pam Walton
Foxcroft Academy Key Club
Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft
Penquis Surge – Shane and Christine Nutter
Foss Enterprises Portable Toilets – Lisa Foss
Berg Activewear – Heather and Allison Berg
Steve Sternal – Friend of Kiwanis volunteer
Rod Willey – Friend of Kiwanis volunteer
John Brenenstuhl – Friend of Kiwanis volunteer
Dennis Ruksznis – Friend of Kiwanis volunteer
Kyle Littlefield – Friend of Kiwanis volunteer
Doris Darling – Friend of Kiwanis (Bob Darling Trophy)
Boy Scouts
Diamond Level sponsors: A.E. Robinson.
Platinum sponsors: Pleasant River Lumber, Puritan, Foxcroft Academy.
Gold sponsors: Foxcroft Veterinary Services, Central Maine Smiles, Foxcroft Large Animal Veterinary Associates, Northern Light Health, Berg Activewear, The Piscataquis Observer, Central Maine Dock, Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency, Piscataquis Amateur Radio Club, Hibbard Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Silver sponsors: Bob’s Sugarhouse, Geo. E. Howard & Co. Inc., Hometown Health Centers, Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union, Piscataquis Monumental Company and Lary Funeral Home, Rowell’s Garage, the Woodworth Family, Essex Street Family Dental, Dover Handy Stop Neighborhood Market, Hardwood Products.
Bronze sponsors: The Engdahl Family, Edwards Brothers Shop ‘n Save, Stutzman’s Farm Stand and Brick Oven Café.