Saturday is the Annual Friends of Sugar Creek Canoe Race. Local canoeist and kayakers are ready to welcome racers from across the Midwest. Organizing the event is a joint effort between the Friends of Sugar Creek and the Montgomery County Visitors Bureau.
FSC president Cindy Woodall said the race is a part of county history since started by Darlington resident Bob Stwalley and others more than 50 years ago. In fact, the recreational race is named after Stwalley.
“We named the four-mile race after Bob Stwalley because he was instrumental in founding this race,” Woodall said. “He has raced in every race since the beginning. He is 94-years old and still helps us plan the race and he gets excited about it.”
Participants can register from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Old Coke Plant on Lafayette Avenue. The registration fees are $10 for recreational racers and $20 for professional racers.
The Bob Stwalley Recreational Race will launch at 12:15 p.m. The course will begin at the Coke Plant and end at the Rock River Ridge Trailhead. Stwalley is the official starter for the races.
“The recreational race is a good way for families and friends to participate,” Woodall said. “We want people to just have some fun. We would love to see some of the boats be decorated.”
The race is sanctioned by the United States Canoe Association and professionals use the race to accumulate racing points.
The professional race is 15.5 miles long from the Old Coke Plant to Deers Mill Bridge.
“The USCA racers really like Sugar Creek,” Woodall said. “They love racing on the creek and enjoy seeing the amateurs along the way.”
Anyone can race the longer course.
There are canoe and kayak divisions which can be seen at www.visitmoco.com.
The Friends of Sugar Creek got involved organizing the race a few years ago. The group saw it as a way to promote the county’s famous creek.
“The race is a way to get people out on the creek to enjoy it,” Woodall said. “We believe if people have fun on the creek they will appreciate it more and care for it more.”
DNR and Emergency Management spotting teams will be staged along the course.
Woodall said another way for locals to participate is to line the course and cheer on the racers.
“We do want to encourage people to come down and spectate at the start and along the way at the creek bridges,” Woodall said. “The finish line is where we hand out awards and people can see all the racers.”
