Regatta Highlights
A short rain shower did not deter enthusiasm at the Aug 2015 KAPOA regatta! The proliferation of sun tents on the beach meant that most folks were able to grab temporary shelter, before resuming positions on the beach for the final events of the day.
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Photo Credit: Branden McCrea & Valley Gazette
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Again this year, we had lots of participation for the men’s freestyle swim race, requiring our race staff on the dock to organize 2 heats, and a break in between to allow the competitor’s to rest up for the final. Jason Wright squeezed out a win in both this race and the backstroke amongst a very fast field. The noodle races were again popular amongst the very young and very young at heart. The judges may be reviewing an earlier ruling that has allowed the noodle to be thrown ahead of the swimmer, but it was Mary Bird that captured the crowd with her very honest 3rd place finish.
When the day’s swim and canoe races wrapped up, we had a repeat performance of all of last year’s trophy winners. The women’s swim trophy was awarded to 2 first place finishers in their respective age categories: Lindsay Cox and Sara Hansen. The men’s swim trophy was awarded to Ian Cox, clearly showing that the Cox family of Blackfish Bay continues to be a force to contend with in the water. Gabriel Coutu repeated his Best Overall Competitor trophy win, due to wins in both canoeing (with partner Max) and swimming.
On the sailing front, we received results in the late afternoon that Dave Minty in his Laser took the trophy over John & Marie Craig (2nd) and William Cahoon (3rd). The competition conditions were tame compared to the high winds of the previous days, to the relief of our organizer William.
The sand castles were again creative and accompanied by wonderful stories of teamwork and inspiration. Our judges Glenda Jean and Amanda enjoyed their judging duties and the awarding of winning certificates to all participants. That amount of hard work over the course of the afternoon deserves recognition.
Through the sale of hotdogs that were generously donated by ValuMart and the Pyz family, drinks donated by Cathy Pitts Realty, and a 50/50 draw, we are able to raise funds to cover the regatta costs again this year. Brittany Welton of Toronto won $215 in the draw, making this both a fun and lucrative day for her. Stanley Sajnovic was clearly surprised to have won a half hour ski or wakeboard lesson on the lake with Bob Millar, and Sheila Hutchinson left with a gift bag of natural products donated by Home Hardware. Home Hardware provided literature and free samples earlier in the day to our membership to showcase the variety of natural products that they have to offer.
The day wrapped up with the junior and senior tug of war competitions at the water’s edge. 4 junior teams competed for the 1st place win, with junior Team 3 taking the title with their very powerful anchorman. The adult competition was a closer finish this year than anticipated. Barbarians prevailed but not without a strong fight from senior Team 4.
This annual event is not possible without the energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers. Whether arranged in advance, or just pulled off the beach, our volunteers jump in and help out with a smile. Many thanks to everyone who assisted with setup, takedown, judging all events and tallying results, barbequing and selling 50/50 tickets. Each job is integral to the day’s success.
We look forward to seeing returning and new participants to the regatta in 2016. Have a great remaining summer!
Kerra Wylie and Lynne MacLean
