Scantic Spring Splash Celebrates Silver Anniversary

ENFIELD, CT - For the 25th straight year, paddlers from all over New England converged on the Scantic River Saturday for the traditional north-central Connecticut kickoff to spring: the Scantic Spring Splash.

A total of 132 individuals entered 99 boats into the silver anniversary race, which was founded in 1992 by brothers Michael and Jeff Dynia. Proceeds from the event benefit the Enfield Food Shelf.

Racers enter the river off Quality Avenue in Somersville and follow a winding 5-mile course to the Powder Hollow Bridge on South Maple Street in Enfield. Competitors must navigate three sets of Class II Rapids.

A novice course covers 2.5 miles, ending at the Route 191 bridge in Scitico.

The race is divided into 16 categories; this year, five division winners were from out of state (four from Massachusetts, one from New Hampshire), and 11 from Connecticut representing nine different hometowns, including three from Enfield.

The divisions, their winners and winning times were:

• C OC-2 MEN'S RECREATION CANOE - 2 PADDLERS - BOTH MALE
  Jason Gottier/Eric Gottier, Vernon, 47:44
• D OC-2 MIXED RECREATION CANOE - 2 PADDLERS - MALE / FEMALE
  Rich Malchow/Lindsey Malchow, Ashford, 48:18
• E OC-2 MASTERS RECREATION CANOE - BOTH OVER 40
  Jack Morse/Fred Thompson, Cummington Mass., 47:06
• F OC-2 2JR./SR RECREATION CANOE - JR-UNDER 17 SR. OVER 25
  Theo Kenyon/Ted Kenyon, Montville, 48:16
• G OC-1 MEN'S RECREATION CANOE - 1 PADDLER
  Charley Brackett, Fitzwilliam N.H., 43:55
• I OC-2 LOCAL RECREATION CANOE LIVE IN LOCAL TOWNS
  Frank Germano/Paul Wasik, South Windsor, 53:34
• J KAYAK SHORT AND SHORTY under 13 9 Local Towns
  Adam Beyer, Ellington, 47:34
• K KAYAK, 2 Paddlers
  Bill Hasley/Ben Hasley, Enfield, 1:17:37
• L LONG KAYAK OVER 13 2 ANY MATERIAL
  Jeffrey Belanger, Greenfield Mass., 42:27
• M SHORT KAYAK UNDER 13 2 ANY MATERIAL
  Brian Beaupre, Mansfield, 45:29
• N SHORT PLASTIC KAYAK UNDER 13 2 MADE OF PLASTIC
  Nathan Hartford, Durham, 52:14
• O KAYAK - WOMEN ANY KAYAK - FEMALE PADDLER
  Kimberly Simmons, Enfield, 53:24
• P KAYAK - SHORTY KAYAK UNDER 10 MADE OF PLASTIC
  David Terrell, East Longmeadow Mass., 50:34
• T OC -2 RECREATION CANOE 2 PADDLERS NOVICE
  Terry Coyne/Rebecca Coyne, North Adams Mass., 25:41
• U OC -2 NOVICE JR/SR
  Andrew Guzie/William Guzie, Enfield, 27:25
• W NOVICE KAYAK
  Mark McVeigh, Windsor, 25:43
  
  

Check out complete results at www.scanticspringsplash.org.

File photo credit: Tim Jensen