Cushman emerges on top again> Kayaker cruises on Souadabscook

HAMPDEN – On Thursday, fresh off a pre-race recon mission on the Souadabscook Stream, Kenny Cushman uttered the words only paddlers, forest rangers and real mud-lovers dare say at this time of year.

“Another six inches of water would be nice,” Cushman said.

Between Thursday and Saturday, Cushman and his paddling pals never did get any more rain. That didn’t hurt attendance, as 110 participants in 66 boats completed the 23rd edition of the Souadabscook Stream Race. Awards were given in 15 categories.

Despite the lack of rain and resulting low water, the outcome was pretty predictable.

Cushman, the area’s top kayaker, still paddled his boat to the finish line faster than anyone else, protruding rocks and low water be darned.

His time: 52 minutes, 53 seconds, a healthy 2:37 ahead of his nearest rival, Kenduskeag neighbor and fellow kayaker Jeff Sands.

Cushman estimated the stream was at least a foot lower than it has been in any of his four previous Souadabscook efforts. But after scouting the stream on Thursday and Friday, he had a solid plan come race-day.

“I pretty much went where I always do,” Cushman said. “In some places you had to be a little bit closer onto your line. There was less room for error.”

Jeff Owen of Jefferson and Steve Woodard of Westbrook teamed up to take third overall in their medium racing canoe, breaking up the kayak-dominated front of the pack.

Owen and Woodard completed the course in 57:58, edging Bill Anderson and Ralph Robertson by 41 seconds to win their class.

Kayaker Steve Mosher of Hampden finished fourth on his home stream in 58:30, while Anderson and Robertson were fifth overall.

Cushman said after three tough miles of paddling, he finally got into a solid rhythm.

“I was pretty tired, but I started feeling better at the end of it,” Cushman said. “It seemed like the further I went, the better I felt.”

AT HAMPDEN 23rd Souadabscook Stream Race

Overall: Kenny Cushman 52:53, Jeff Sands 55:30, Jeff Owen-Steve Woodard, Steve Mosher 58:30, Bill Anderson-Ralph Robertson 58:39, Paul Cole-Clayton Cole 59:17, Laurie Sterns-Barry Fifield 1:00:22, Matt Dingle-Paul Brown 1:00:26, Lori Dana-Barry Dana 1:01:25, Shane Oliver 1:02:49

K-1 long: Kenny Cushman 52:53, Jeff Sands 55:30, Steve Mosher 58:30; K-1 short: John Carter 1:08:36, Mark Bamford 1:09:59, Dick Hanson 1:11:05; K-1 rec: Ken Kelley 1:50:13; OC-1: Shane Oliver 1:02:49, Bucky Owen 1:16:46; OC-1 rec: Jamie Hannon 1:04:21, Tom Cronkite 1:05:14, Greg Shute 1:15:31; OC-2 women: Tammy Kelley-Leslie Winchester 1:18:49, Christy Stout-Kate Judy 1:22:10; OC-2 junior/senior: Bill Deighan-Angus Deighan 1:06:09; Joshua O’Donald-Rick O’Donald 1:14:29; OC-2 junior/senior rec: Bill Heath-Patrick Deighan 1:13:51, Greg Canders-Zac Canders (no time), Jim Turner-Mathew Turner 1:27:46; OC-2M medium: Jeff Owen-Steve Woodard 57:58, Bill Anderson-Ralph Robertson 58:39, Paul Cole-Clayton Cole 59:17; OC-2M medium rec: Dan Littlefield-Chris Deane 1:04:27, Cliff Littlefield-Danny Dodan 1:06:00, Pete Blood-Clint Cushman 1:06:17; OC-2M novice: Randal Atwood-Josh Atwood 1:21:12; Duncan Rosborough-Mark Rosborough 1:27:04, Tom Moriarty-Myer Taksel 1:32:27; OC-2M short: Bob Martin-Rick Bartlett 1:04:42, Brian Stuart-Art Taylor 1:10:52, Kevin Bryer-Justin Harmon 1:18:00; OC-2 mixed: Laurie Sterns-Barry Fifield 1:00:22; OC-2 mixed rec: Dawn Williams-Dan Kelley 1:13:07, John Burg-Katie Burg 1:15:15, Janna Stabile-Gregg Dorr 1:15:24