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50 compete in Tupper Lake 8-Miler race

Pictured is the Labonte Family, of Saranac Lake. The Labonte Family was the youngest paddle team at the Tupper Lake 8-miler race on Saturday. (Provided photo — Roger Gocking)

TUPPER LAKE — On a warm summer’s day with a modest cooling breeze, 50 racers — including one canine — in 30 boats took on the Tupper Lake 8-Miler on Saturday.

The 8-mile out and back course began at the Tupper Lake Boat Launch on Simon Pond and snaked up the Raquette River to the Oxbow turnaround. Four buoys at strategic locations made sure that no one got lost.

The father and son C-4 team of Gordy and Jon Santor, along with Gene Newman and Allen Kelly, were the first team to finish. They finished in 1 hour, 8 minutes, 43 seconds.

Not many C-4s have done the race in the past and their time was one of the fastest posted by this boat category.

Following behind was Royal McDonnell in an Olympic K-I sprint kayak with Eric Young in his Epic V10 GT surf ski in 1:14.59. The other C-4 in the race was close behind in 1:15.10.

The touring kayak and the shorter surf ski class with seven entrants was the largest class in the race. Bob Raymonda was the first one in at 1:15.15. Raymond was closely followed by Jay Appleton (1:15.27) in second and James Phillips (1:22.29) in third.

The women’s touring kayak class was won by Eileen Visser in 1:24.11, with her dog Mika acting as boat pilot.

Unlike in previous years, the 8-Miler had more canoes than kayaks in the race, but none of the canoe classes had more than three entrants.

The C-2 men over 50 class was won by Neil Sand and Ralph Vincent, both of Vermont, in a time of 1:15.17. Paul Olney and his daughter JoAnn were the fastest of the mixed C-2 paddlers in 1:17.21, with Cathy Lipski and Bruce Lee close behind in 1:17.29. Linda and Bob Cooley were third in 1:25.44.

There were three entrants in the C-2 Stock canoe class with Bill and Michael Bashant first in 1:29.19, Michael Pocchiari and Evan Mills second in 1:34.38, and Brandon Devito and Andy Pickreign third in 1:36.01. There was only one entrant in the mixed C-2 Stock class, Kim Greiner and Robert McCormick in 1:30.26 and Sarah Carney and Lia Call in the women’s category in 1:39.38.

The 8-Miler had two entrants in the C-1 stock class, with Aron Mezdzier (1:37.23) in first and Rodger Dempster (1:37.37) in second.

At 84 years old, Evergreen Glen Vanderwinckel took first place in the C-1 Amateur class at 1:45.04. Duane Knutson was close behind in 1:46.31.

The race had two stand-up paddleboarders. Randy Young and Chas Billingsley finished together in 1:45.01.

The youngest team was the Labonte family with five team members varying in age from seven to 34. They finished in 2:13.25.

Gavin Cuffin in the most tubby solo recreation sit-on-top kayak to complete this race wrapped the race up with a 2:25.08.

Results Tupper Lake 8-Miler

25 June 2022

C-4 Men

Gordy Santor, Jon Santor, Gene Newman and Allen Kelly, 1:08.43

C-4 Mixed

Wendy Sanders, Brian Sanders, Frans Vokey and Peter Ostrum, 1:15.10

Unlimited Kayaks Men Under 50

Royal McDonnell, 1:11.18

Eric Young, 1:14.59

Touring Kayaks/SS20 Men Over 50

Bob Raymonda, 1:15.15

Jay Appleton, 1:15.27

James Phillips, 1:22.29

Peter Jarworski, 1:24.15

Claude Frigon, 1:31.28

Bill Short, 1:33.33

Steve Buzzell, 1:48.55

Dan Ames, 1:49.06

Touring Kayaks Women Over 50

Eileen Visser, 1:24.11

C-2 Amateur Men Over 50

Neil Sand and Ralph Vincent, 1:15.17

C-2 Amateur Mixed Under 50

JoAnn Olney and Paul Olney, 1:17.21

C-2 Amateur Mixed Over 50

Cathy Lipski and Bruce Lee, 1:17.29

Linda Cooley and Bob Cooley, 1:25.44

C-2 Stock Men Under 50

Bill Bashant and Michael Bashant,1:29.19

Michael Pocchiari and Evan Mills, 1:34.38

Brandon Devito and Andy Pickreign, 1:36.01

C-2 Stock Mixed over 50

Kim Greiner and Robert McCormick, 1:30.26

C-2 Stock Women Under 50

Sarah Carney and Lia Call, 1:39.38

C-1 Stock Men Under 50

Aron Mezdzier, 1:37.23

C-1 Stock Men Over 50

Rodger Dempster, 1:37.37

C-1 Amateur Men Over 50

Glen Vanderwinckel, 1:45.04

Duane Knutson, 1:46.31

SUP 14 and Under Men Over 50

Chas Billingsley, 1:45.01

Randy Young, 1:45.01

C-2 Family

Laurel Labonte, Juna Labonte, Karen Labonte, Forest Labonte and Scout Labonte, 2:13.25

Solo Recreation Men Under 50

Gavin Cuffin, 2:25.08

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