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Photo by Ed Patino
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Maggie Sikora (left) and Emily Noggle paddle to shore after crossing the finish line during the Manchester Kiwanis Club's Canoe Race on the Raisin River Sunday. The MHS students were among the record 114 participants who attended the event.
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Tecumseh resident Tom Wright has participated in canoe races throughout the region since the 1980s, but his favorite event is a short trip north on M-52.
Wright joined a record number of participants Sunday for the 41st annual Manchester Canoe Race along the River Raisin.
The event, sponsored by the Manchester Kiwanis Club, was the biggest one in recent history, with 114 entries from three different states and 103 canoes.
While the majority of the participants were Manchester residents, many came from suburban Detroit, Lenawee County, Ohio and Indiana.
"We're thrilled with the turnout," Manchester Village Council President and Kiwanis co-chair Pat Vailliencourt, said. "The weather was wonderful and so was the participation and community support."
While Kiwanis has been the race's main sponsor for six years, club member Bill Schwab has worked the event since its inception. He has witnessed firsthand how the event has grown over the years.
"We had 20-30 canoes when we started in 1967 and it's grown exponentially," Schwab said. "People come to Manchester because it's the most organized canoe race in the state. You have 170 people having fun on the river and another 200 having fun watching, and that's what it's all about."
There were eight different categories in which participants could enter, as well as a sprint race. The divisions included adult/child, choose your partner, teen, singles, women, man/woman, competition and corporate challenge. Trophies were presented to the first through third place winners in each category.
Dave and Michaela Lukasik won the adult/child division with a time of 38:49, while James Eder and Kim Redic Forest won the man/woman race in 41:33. David and Kurt Melville took first in the choose your partner category at 37:42 and Dave and Andrew Lukasik won the competition race in 34:29. Jody Flowers and Matt Taylor won the corporate challenge for Edward Jones Investments (40:48).
The sprint race went to Chris May and Mike Taddonio (1:12), while Wright won the singles race with a time of 36:32.
"I've been doing this since the early 80s and this is the best run race in Michigan," Wright said. "There's just a diverse group of canoers."
Wright also participated in the competition race with his son Jacob.
"You see people come back year after year and see them grown with children," Schwab said.
Manchester High School students Maggie Sikora and Emily Noggle were the event's raffle winners and walked away with a Pungo kayak.
The race began at the Fellows Bridge on Sharon Valley Road and finished at the Main Street Bridge in downtown Manchester.
"There are some fantastic crafts on the crooked river," Schwab said. "You have to plan for the curves and not run onto the bank. It's a mental race."
Michael Briggs returned as the race announcer. Briggs waited at the finish line to announce times and joked around with the participants.
"I've been doing this for 15-20 years and I always have a good time," Briggs said.
Before Kiwanis took over as the event's main sponsor, the Manchester Recreational Task Force and the Optimist Club ran the race.
"A lot of non-Kiwanis people support us and we can't do it without them," Vailliencourt said. "We had help cleaning the river and local businesses sponsored trophies."
Among the trophy sponsors were Edward Jones, the Coffee Mill, Citizens Bank, Dairy Queen, Andrews Family Chiropractic, Manchester Bakery, Manchester Family Practice, BRJ Engraving, Sutton Agency and Linda's Diner.
"A lot of wonderful people worked their butts off," Schwab said. "There were 40-45 on the committee to help get this done."
And with the record number of participants, that help was rewarded.
"It's a day like this that makes Manchester a special place to live," Vailliencourt said.
Staff Writer Ed Patino can be reached at 428-8173 or epatino@heritage.com.
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