The Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club took a trip in July to Charlemont, Mass., for the White Water Open Canoe Downriver Nationals and returned home with a pair of national champions.

Naomi Nicholas and Gabrielle Fields defeated the field on the Deerfield River at Zoar Gap in the 10-to-12-year-old C2 girls class and Rocky Fields and Brittany Paul teamed to win the C2 mixed ages 13-15 national championship.

The team also had a number of competitors who won medals with second- and third-place finishes. Not bad for a team that has been together for such a short time.

“The canoe club has been in existence for about five years,” coach John Neptune said. “The boys and girls club was formed in September last year. We joined up with it and receive funding from it.”

Nicholas and Fields also picked up second-place medal in the C1 girls category, while Brittany Paul and Eva Dana teamed for a second-place finish in the C1 girls ages 13-15 category.

Ethan Dana grabbed third place in the C1 boys ages 10-12 group and Rocky Fields placed third in the 13-15 C1 category.

Clayton Cole, president of the Maine Kayak and Canoe Racing Organization, lauds Neptune for the work he has put with the kids.

“[Neptune] deserves a lot of credit for keeping their interest. That’s not easy to do when you don’t have parental authority. They seem to maintain their enthusiasm and they show up ready to paddle.”

Neptune admits that keeping the kids attention is not always easy. Paddling a canoe may appear to be more work than a good time when compared to alternatives such as electronic games and TV. But Neptune also points out an important aspect of this group of boys and girls.

“Canoeing is literally in their blood. Canoeing is a traditional thing for Penobscot people. We live on an island. We are surrounded by water. Canoes have been used for many purposes,” Neptune explained.

Still, Neptune attempts to keep their interest by making things fun for the kids.

“I think we make it exciting. We make the practices fun. They get to travel to all of these places and they get the support of the other Maine paddlers. Paddlers have donated canoes – $2,000 canoes – and $150 to $200 racing paddles for them to use. The support they receive is great,” Neptune said.

The team will next compete Thursday and Friday in the Flatwater Nationals on the Connecticut River in Hanover, N.H.

While the kids enjoyed success at the nationals, the grown ups weren’t so shabby either.

Barry Dana and his wife Lori of Solon teamed to win the C2 men’s (that’s right, men’s) downriver 81/2-mile race and the mile sprint. Barry Dana was also second in the C1 downriver men’s masters group.

Chip Loring of Orono and Jamie Hannon of Old Town picked up a national championship in the C-2 men’s recreational downriver division and Hannon won an Individual championship in the C1 men’s downriver category.

Don Perryman can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or dperryman@bangordailynews. net