Row, row, row your canoe quickly down the stream
Brenda Velantzas and Kristin Guerra race to the end. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Brenda Velantzas raises her oar in success. 
Ryan and Joad Bragna compete in the race together. 
Kristin Guerra sails on the high waters. 
Bill Orphanos reaches the end of the race. 
Jarred Orphanos nears the end of the race. 
Bill and David Watling hold their trophies. 
Zablocki, happily holds his trophy.
Two racers celebrate with their trophies. 
The Park Department dumps the ducks into the river. 
Ethan, 4, looks down at the ducks. 
Josephine Runey (7,) Shane Runey (6,) and Caleb Reutzel (6) investigate some of the duckies. 
A volunteer gets the duckies out of the stream. 
The duckies float gently down the lake.
Brenda Velantzas and Kristin Guerra race to the end. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Brenda Velantzas raises her oar in success.
Ryan and Joad Bragna compete in the race together.
Kristin Guerra sails on the high waters.
Bill Orphanos reaches the end of the race.
Jarred Orphanos nears the end of the race.
Bill and David Watling hold their trophies.
Zablocki, happily holds his trophy.
Two racers celebrate with their trophies.
The Park Department dumps the ducks into the river.
Ethan, 4, looks down at the ducks.
Josephine Runey (7,) Shane Runey (6,) and Caleb Reutzel (6) investigate some of the duckies.
A volunteer gets the duckies out of the stream.
The duckies float gently down the lake.
MIDDLEBORO— In under an hour and 35 minutes, 23 canoes made it from Old Bridge Street to Oliver Mill Park during the annual Middleboro Canoe and Duck Race on Saturday, April 18.
This year, there were 45 participants split between the canoes. Many walked away with a trophy, with first and second prizes for single male rider, single female rider, senior male rider, senior female rider, father and son riders, mother and son riders, and male tandem categories.
“It is a cold day, but the river is super high, and the times are really good because of the high river,” park Superintendent Fran Cass said.
The race began in 1969, and has happened almost every year since. The event usually raises between $500 and $700 each year, Cass said.
“Some people have gone in the water and you get that runner’s high or that exhilaration if you beat your time from last year, if you have a competitive sense,” said Cass.
Bill and David Watling won first place overall and first place for father and son, with a time of 39 minutes and 41 seconds. While unconfirmed at this time, Cass suspects that might be a record.
“It was a lot of fun, it was a good time,” Watling said. “I did it with my son, it was our second time doing this race together.”
David, age 8, said their time “was an accomplishment."
The duck race had a number of winners, but Steven Nicholas got first place. He walked away with the $100 prize. Second and third place got $75 and $50, respectively.
“People have fun and they keep coming back,” Cass said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
