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Zane Havens makes his way through the rapids of the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg during the annual Great Rappahannock Whitewater
Archie Fripp makes his way down the Rappahannock
Kirk (left) and Karla Havens touch their paddles
Russell Price takes to the water in his kayak to warm up for the Great Rappahannock Whitewater Canoe Race yesterday morning. Ed King paints a river scene with acrylics as paddlers in the canoe race pass by yesterday. |
By JEFF BRANSCOME
Unlike many of the competitors at this weekend's 26th annual Great Rappahannock Whitewater Canoe Race, Mark Greenhalgh doesn't boast a national championship trophy.
In fact, the local competition is the only canoe race the Partlow resident has ever entered. But what Greenhalgh lacks in experience, he makes up for in enthusiasm.
The U.S. Army staff sergeant works nights in Arlington and finished a 10-hour shift yesterday at 4:30 a.m. Less than 10 hours later, he and his five children--ages 7 to 16--had paddled in a total of 12 races during the day.
"When you've got the river, there's no time for sleeping," Greenhalgh said with a smile. "Too much fun to be had."
Around 50 people--and a few dogs--of all skill levels participated in a number of different categories at the race, including mother-daughter and father-son. Competitors had to be at least 6 years old.
"There are categories you can enter and almost always come away" with a first-, second- or third-place ribbon, said the event's organizer, Alane Reed.
Of course, some folks went home with more accolades than others.
Meet the Havenses.
Keith Havens, 52, is a seven-time national champion in white-water canoeing, and coaches swimming and diving at Albion College in Michigan. His father competed in the Olympic Games and was just inducted into the Arlington Sports Hall of Fame.
This weekend, Havens challenged and cheered a host of family and friends, including his 16-year-old son, Zane.
"When you've been to the race as long as we have, you get to know everybody," he said, noting that his family competed in Fredericksburg's inaugural race.
During a 5-mile contest from Motts Landing to Old Mill Park, Zane Havens went head-to-head with 66-year-old Ed Sharp--a close friend of the family.
"That's it, get on Ed's butt!" Keith shouted to his son from the side of the river.
As the competitors paddled out of sight, he hurried to his van and drove to a path about a mile up the river. From there, he traveled past Central Park to a shaded spot by the the river on Fall Hill Ave.
That's where his wife, Susan, was timing participants in a 1-mile race called the "sprint." At least 20 minutes--as well as a few water snakes--passed by before Keith spotted the competitors.
Sharp and his son were in the lead.
"Look at 'em, he's right on Ed," Havens said of his son. "Oh, this is gonna be a dog fight."
About 10 minutes later, the race ended at Old Mill Park with Zane Havens declared the winner.
"You stud," a relative told him at the end of the race. "Way to go, buddy."
By the end of the day, the Havenses had finished first in all but one sprint. Brandon and McKensie Greenhalgh won a sprint in the male-female junior category.
"We beat the Havenses," 16-year-old Brandon said with a smile. "That's crazy."
Several racers called the river "bony," referring to all the rocks. Mark Greenhalgh, for instance, sliced his thumb after he flipped his canoe between two stones.
"A lot of the rocks you can't see because of the glare on the water," Keith Havens said. "They'll just snag you."
The river's obstacles are all "part of the fun," Sharp said.
"You can flip over in the least likely places," he said.
All of the competitors were required to wear life jackets and helmets. And because the water was so shallow, the event's organizers canceled a 20-mile marathon scheduled for Saturday.
As for Greenhalgh, he and his children plan to continue their annual outing to the race. He has missed the event only twice since its inception, persistence he seems to have passed on to his children.
"In the years that I've been allowed to the race, have I missed one?" 12-year-old Tyler Greenhalgh asked his dad, who responded with a "No."
"And it's gonna stay that way."
To reach JEFF BRANSCOME:
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com
| 'When you've got the river, there's no time for sleeping. Too much fun to be had.' Mark Greenhalgh Great Rappahannock Whitewater Canoe Race participant |
