Veteran Kayak racers Dave McAdoo and Allen Kelly set an exciting tone for Saturday’s Remington Canoe Race.

The duo dueled from the start at the Heuvelton Boat Launch to the final paddle strokes with McAdoo holding a one-second lead (1:34-1:35) as he reached the finish line at the boat launch below the Spring Street Bridge in Ogdensburg.

The race was shortened from its normal finish at the Ogdensburg Greenbelt Boat Launch because of low water levels in the canal near the Oswegatchie Dam.

“I think I might have been able to outrun him in the portage around the dam but that would have been tough too. You just couldn’t get a better race from start to finish,” said Kelly who packed up his canoe shortly the finish so he and his wife Mary, the Women’s Kayak leader, could head over to Canton for a ToughMudder competition.

The best canoe time came from the hard-charging duo of John C. and Johnny Newman who posted a 1:39 in their sleek C2 competition craft.

Several first time participants enjoyed their own kind of excitement winning a division. Carmen and Blake Gendebien led the Traditional Standard division and Carmen also won the drawing for a gorgeous Remington Print.

Al Ashley and Adam Bleau paced the Men’s Division in their first entry in the race and Dr. Patty Mahoney enjoyed her first run down the Oswegatchie sharing C2 Mixed honors with ultra-distance stalwart Kerry Newell.

REMINGTON CANOE RACE LEADERS

C2 Women: Amanda Woods and Alicia Woods 2:17.

C2 Mixed: Patty Mahoney and Kerry Newell 2:03, Zach Montroy and Tammy Montroy 2:15, Tisha Flack and Chris Halverson 2:18.

Adult-Youth: Jolie Barber and Claire Hurteau 3:02.

Masters: Bansi Bazaz and Keith Warren 2:22.

Kayak: Dave McAdoo 1:34, Allen Kelly 1:35, James Hanna Jr. 2:14.

Men: Al Ashley and Adam Bleau 2:30.

Kayak Women: Mary Kelly 1:45, Kerri Gilmour 2:54.

Kayak Tandem: Melissa Butterfield and Justin Butterfield 2:09.

C1 Men: Kent Strobel 2:24.

C2 STD Trad: Blake Gendebien and Carmen Gendebien 2:28.

C2 Men: John C. Newman and Johnny Newman 1:39.

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