Cushman gains easy victory at Souadabscook Owen, Woodward win OC2 class

HAMPDEN – The 28th annual Souadabscook Stream Race means different things to different competitors.

Fathers and sons work as one amid the testing rapids along the 8.5-mile route, fitness-conscious adults blend exercise with the challenge of the day, and regulars on the Maine Canoe and Kayak Racing Organization circuit gear up for next week’s Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race and events beyond.

But no matter the intensity of the competition, it is competition among brothers and sisters in paddles.

“A big piece of this is the people you meet,” said Ander Thibaud of Mount Desert, who teamed with Tammy Kelley of Lamoine to win the women’s OC-2 recreational class of Saturday’s race in a time of 1 hour, 8 minutes and 29 seconds. “It’s a kick.”

The trek from Vafiades Landing on Bog Road to the Hampden Water District on Route 1A also was a kick for kayaker Kenny Cushman of Hampden, who blew away the field by finishing in 50 minutes, 36 seconds, one of the fastest times in race history.

“I think one other year I was in the 50s but I’m not sure,” said the 34-year-old Cushman, who is gearing up for next Saturday’s Kenduskeag Stream race. “But I’ve been training a little more this spring, paddling pretty well and feeling pretty good.”

More than 50 canoes and kayaks took the starting command, backed by what Kelley described as a “friendly” water level and a tailwind that served as a welcome push for most of the race.

The Souadabscook boasts a unique mass-start-by-division format, which made for some congestion during the opening strokes under the Bog Road bridge.

“I got T-boned,” said kayaker Jeff Sands of Bangor, who was able to regroup quickly and finish in 58:07, the fifth-fastest time of the day.

By the time competitors arrived at the Emerson Mill bridge, most – but not all – of the participants were prepared for the quick drop through the challenging rapids, a ride made easier by virtually skimming their watercrafts against a big tree on the far left of the course.

“It’s pretty difficult white-water,” Cushman said. “There are some sharp drops, and it’s technical to the point where you only have one little place where you need to be. I think that’s what makes it hard because you have to get to the right spot.”

Most of the competitors survived the rapids, making for close competition in several divisions. Jeff Owen of Orono and Steve Woodward of Cumberland posted the second-fastest time of the day, 56:01, to edge Chad Nickerson of Searsmont and Dan Wagner of Belfast in the OC-2 medium recreational class by 40 seconds.

Owen’s father, Bucky Owen, teamed with fellow Orono resident Dick Storch to win the Century class in 1:01:05, edging Peter Blood and Clint Cushman of Houlton by 49 seconds.

Clayton Cole of Corinth and Paul Cole of Groveland, Mass., had the third-fastest time of the day, winning the OC-2 men’s medium division in 56:36.

Souadabscook Stream Race

At Hampden, Saturday, 8.5 miles

Overall: Kenny Cushman 50:36; Century: 1. Bucky Owen-Dick Storch 1:01:05, 2. Peter Blood-Clint Cushman 1:01:54, 3. Bob Martin-Richie Bartlett 1:02:25, 4. Chip Loring-Ted Keirson 1:08:30, 5. Bob Miller-Wayne McKee 1:14:48; K1 long: 1. Kenny Cushman 50:36, 2. Jeff Sands 58:07; K1 rec: 1. Aaron Bitters 1:29:53; K1 short: 1. Paula Lunt 1:03:09, 2. John Carter 1:04:48, 3. Bruce Weik 1:06:10, 4. Mark Bamford 1:06:22, 5. Corey Welsh 1:10:24; OC1: 1. Barry Dana 1:03:28, 2. Scott Nelson 1:04:07, 3. J.D. Burke 1:12:42, 4. I.B. Gilbert 1:37:12; OC1 rec: 1. Ryan Mitchell 1:09:09, 2. Mark Dierckes 1:17:29, 3. Robert Smith 1:23:05; OC2 high school: 1. Patrick Deighan-Ramsey Lafayette 1:12:30, 2. Jason Cross 1:34:53, 3. Ryan Goodman-Brad Simons 1:40:52; OC2 mixed: 1. Sarah Dingle-Matt Dingle 59:21; OC2 mixed rec: 1. Brownwen Pierson-Justin Wardwell 1:02:49, 2. Terry Wescott-Sandra Kudrak 1:08:28, 3. Mary Hartt-Mark Rosborough 1:09:27, 4. Lucienne Merrill-Dan Merrill 1:23:00; OC2 women rec: 1. Tammy Kelley/Ander Thibaud 1:08:29; OC2 Jr.-Sr.: 1. Nick Lunt-Bill Lunt 1:02:22, 2. Andrew Deighan-Bill Deighan 1:04:56; OC2 Jr.-Sr. rec: 1. Brian Kelley-Dick Kelley 1:12:51, 2. John Scofield-Conner Scofield 1:42:13; OC2-M med.: 1. Clayton Cole-Paul Cole 56:36; OC2-M med. rec.: 1. Steve Woodward-Jeff Owen 56:01, 2. Chad Nickerson-Dan Wagner 56:41, 3. Eric Taylor-Greg Dorr 1:01:09, 4. Michael Young-Jonathan Mullen 1:11:37, 5. Larry Turner-George Haselton 1:11:46, 6. Aaron Winslow-Bob Winslow 1:12:06, 7. Steve Toothaker-Ben Toothaker 1:12:20, 8. David Hughes-Brad Coffey 1:14:12, 9. Tom Moriarty-Myer Taksel 1:18:08; OC2-M short: 1. Arthur Taylor-Brian Stuart 1:10:22; OC2-M short rec.: 1. Mike Kelley-Gary Martin 1:05:33, 2. John Berglund-Quincy Berglund 1:07:29, 3. Dan Stover-Timothy Brooks 1:14:18, 4. Justin Harmon-Kevin Bryer 1:17:14, 5. Wayne McAtee-Seth Haskins 1:23:50, 6. Doug Waldron-Scott Waldron 1:52.15

Souadabscook Sprint Race

Overall: Paul Cole-Clayton Cole 13:08; Century: 1. Bob Martin-Richie Bartlett 15:18; OC1: 1. Barry Dana 13:57, 2. Rick O’Donald 15:20, 3. Scott Nelson 15:22; OC1 rec: 1. Ryan Mitchell 14:55, 2. Mark Dierckes 18:02, 3. Chris Knowles 19:38, 4. Mark Rosborough 23:08; OC2 mixed: Sarah Dingle-Matt Dingle 13:10; OC2 mixed rec.: 1. Ander Thebaud-Chip Loring 14:48, 2. Bridget Maguire-Aaron Winslow 15:09, 3. Mary Hartt-Mark Rosborough 15:36, 4. Sandra Kudrak-Terry Wescott 17:08, 5. Lucienne Merrill-Dan Merrill 20:02, OC2 Jr.-Sr.: 1. Nick Lunt-Bill Lunt 14:26, 2. Andrew Deighan-Bill Deighan 14:40; OC2 Jr.-Sr. rec: 1. Brian Kelley-Dick Kelley 15:55; OC2-M med.: Paul Cole-Clayton Cole 13:08; OC2-M med. rec.: 1. Joe Holmes-Shane Whitcomb 14:30