Wagner, Cross paddle to win in Souadabscook Stream Race

HAMPDEN – There were plenty of thrills, chills and spills to go around at Saturday’s Souadabscook Stream Race.

Forty-four brave souls took their craft through some rapids that were extremely challenging thanks to the rain that fell Friday night and into race morning.

“I can tell you what, this is the kind of water that most experienced guys can swim in,” said Bill Deighan of Newburgh, who finished second in the OC-1 Recreational class.

Kayaker Ryan Linehan did some swimming, but that didn’t slow him from posting the day’s fifth fastest overall time of 57 minutes, 21 seconds out of the K1 Long division over the 8-mile course.

The Westport Island resident was only paddling the Souadabscook for the second time, and Linehan was quick to admit things could have been worse than just taking a swim.

“Two years ago I was here and cracked my boat in a couple places and flipped over but righted myself,” he said. “This time, I had to take a swim. I was rightfully due, I guess.”

Linehan was right in his comfort zone on the high rapids, since he does a lot of whitewater kayaking in northern Maine.

“I like the rapids, it’s where I have more experience,” he said. “Flatwater is really slow, so I like bigger water.”

The duo of Dan Wagner of Belfast and Aaron Cross of Morrill, competing in the OC-2 Medium Recreation class, clocked the fastest time of the day at 55:40 while Justin Wardwell of Dedham and Clayton Cole of Corinth were right behind in 56:53.

H.I. Hasey of Eddington, competing in the K1 Long class along with Linehan, took third overall in 57:00 while Matt Dingle of Carmel and Bob Martin of Dedham in the OC-2 Medium Rec class clocked the fourth quickest time in 57:02.

Many paddlers, including Deighan, were just hoping to keep their boats as dry as they could.

“There was a lot of bailing as well as paddling today, bailing water out of the boat,” said Deighan, who directed and paddled in the Marsh Stream Race in Winterport on Sunday.

“You get in the fast current after the big drops and start bailing as fast as you can go. You know when the next drops are coming and don’t want to go in there with water.”

Deighan added that he and most folks were happy to head home with their boats intact.

“All you’ve got to do is hope everybody gets down in one piece and everybody brings their boat home tonight in one piece,” he said. “Boats have gotten away from people at this kind of level before.”

Richard Heath, a Hampden native now living in Gardiner, returned to his hometown with 11-year-old son Adrian, and the two competed in the OC-2 Junior-Senior Recreation class, finishing in 1:42:17.

“I’ve done it with friends in the past and now this guy’s interested in doing it,” said Heath, who added that his son has paddled in two other races this year.

“We’re gaining experience every time we go, aren’t we?” Richard then asked Adrian, who smiled and nodded his head.

Heath, who has competed in the Souadabscook race for 30 years, originally thought the rough rapids would be too much for Adrian, but he wasn’t about to let that stop him.

“I wasn’t going to allow him to do it today, but then he talked me into it and did a great job,” said Richard.

rmclaug@bangordailynews.net

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