Ice breaks for Meduxnekeag race

HOULTON – With the ice quickly melting away from the Meduxnekeag River, final plans are being made for the 25th running of the Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race on Saturday, April 28.

First begun in 1977 by students in the business club at now-defunct Ricker College, the race has become a tradition not only for residents of the southern Aroostook County region, but for many from the Greater Bangor area and parts of New Brunswick as well.

Originally, the race was 14 miles long, starting at the Wellington Farm in New Limerick and ending at the Watson Covered Bridge in Littleton. Four years ago, it was cut back to 8 miles to eliminate many of the long, flat water that comprised most of the last few miles.

The race now ends at the Highland Avenue Bridge in downtown Houlton, but still preserves the challenging obstacles, turns and rapids, including the Devil’s Elbow behind the A.E. Staley Co. that features some Class II and Class III rapids.

The race also is part of the Maine Downriver Championship Series, which makes racers eligible to accumulate points in the circuit.

There are a total of 25 classes in three categories: racing, recreational and recreational experienced. The latter category is for racers who have won in the preceding year or two, thus allowing less experienced racers to have a better chance in the regular recreational category.

There also are special classes, including the century class for race teams whose total ages add up to 100 or more, a law enforcement class, a Rotary-business class for racers from the same business or civic organization in the southern Aroostook County area, and a high school student classes for students in any of the school districts served by Maine Applied Technology Region Two.

The registration fee is $10 per person. Racers who pre-register before April 24 also will be eligible for a commemorative race T-shirt. All proceeds benefit the Houlton-Hodgdon Dollars for Scholars Program.

To register, send entries to Peter Blood, 3 Washburn Street, Houlton, ME 04730. Checks should be made payable to Dollars for Scholars Canoe Race.

For race information, contact Blood by telephone at 532-2577 or Clint Cushman at 532-2975 or by e-mail at clintonc@ainop.com.

On race day, registration gets under way at 8 a.m. at the Wellington Farm on Station Road in New Limerick. The race begin at 10 a.m.

Awards and door prizes will be presented at the Gentle Memorial Building in Houlton.