NEW RIVER CHALLENGE
2012 |
NICH New River Challenge - Race Results
The NICH New River Challenge preparation got underway well in advanced of the race day. We’ll begin on Saturday, May 5th, when a team consisting of National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and the Belize Canoe Association (BCAnoe) went up to Lamanai to mark the race route with red ribbons. This was necessary because the New River has many tributaries, some leading to dead ends. This was most important because we didn’t want paddlers to get lost navigating the river coming into Orange Walk Town and to avoid a search and rescue attempt in that maze.These red ribbons were placed on both sides of the river at the hotspots and the paddlers were instructed to paddle between them. Unfortunately, a couple of the ribbons were removed by unknown persons, but we were able to replace the most important ones on race morning. Following the marking of the route, an information sheet was sent to our email list. This sheet contained important details about the race including information about prizes, station prize locations, safety boats and servicing, and other general and precautionary information about the river. It also included a map depicting the race route and station prize location.Subsequent to that an additional sheet was provided to teams on race morning informing them that our National Flag would mark the exact location of the station prize so that there are neither confusions nor doubts as to where the officials were taking record. Fast forward to race morning, Saturday, 12th May, 2012. Majority of the teams met at the Guinea Grass junction on the Northern Highway. The official registration process was done there and it also gave some of us the opportunity to purchase some nice Orange Walk tacos from a vender that was located nearby. After that belly-full, it was off to Lamanai to officially register the teams that overnighted and to get the race started. The race got off to a late start, at 9:25 since some teams took longer than expected to reach Lamanai from the Northern Highway, but nonetheless, sixteen teams lined up in front of the Lamanai pier on the New River Lagoon, destination, Banquitas House of Culture in Orange Walk Town some 32.2 miles away.The start wasn’t easy because the wind picked up causing the lagoon to be a bit choppy, and throw in the wake from the canoes, and that makes for a good recipe of rough waters!The start had several tip overs, some teams multiple times. I was also informed that two of our safety/service boats were approaching the entrance of the New River on opposite sides, when their wakes met and it was disastrous for some of our paddlers as five teams were caught in that danger zone and tipped over by this incident before getting into the New River. Special thanks to the Grumpy Old Men who showed good sportsmanship like conduct and sacrificed their time and assisted two teams in getting back into their canoe.On behalf of the organizers and BCAnoe we’d like to apologize to all teams affected by that incident.After all the teams entered the New River, it was pretty much smooth sailing, or as would most paddlers that day would say, “hard paddling” since there is little to no current to help push the canoe along so it was all man and woman power getting the canoes to the finish line. The race had a cutoff time of 7 hours and after which any team still on the river and outside of 1 mile of the finish would be pulled in. This was done for the safety of all teams so they would not be on the river after the sun set. However, all teams finished within the allotted time. The first viewing point, service zone, station prize location, and check point was at Shipyard. The first team to pass and received the station prize in the Male Category was Belize Bank, at a time of 1:57:40. In the Intramural/Juniors Category the station prize was captured by Wateva Boyz in a time of 2:03:10 and they were the fourth team to arrive at Shipyard. Creative Marketing Missiles won the sprint to take the station prize for the Mixed Category at time 2:09:04, and they were sixth to cross. In the Pleasure Category, Westrac took the station prize with a time of 2:12:57 and were in eighth position. Not far behind was Sea Sports Belize to capture the station prize for the Masters Category in tenth position at time 2:16:37. The Smart Police team took the station prize in the Female Category at time 2:24:15 putting them twelfth place.What’s noteworthy to mention here was that both the youngest team, the Gold Nuggets, and the most senior team, the Grumpy Old Men, passed Shipyard together at time 2:47:47. It was going to be interesting to see the outcome of this one!The station prize amount was $100 for each category. All teams made it passed the Shipyard checkpoint in less than three hours and now it was time to head to the other location. Thanks to Mr. Ramos and his team for monitoring this location. The second check point which was also a station prize location, another service zone, and main viewing area, was at The Toll Bridge. Coming around the curve towards the Toll Bridge we saw a change in race leader, this was none other than NICH, they continued onwards to take the station prize in the Male Category at a time of 3:30.50 into the race, as they took the lead by only four seconds over Belize Bank. Again in fourth spot and to take the Intramural/Juniors Category station prize was Wateva Boyz at time 3:41:07. Another change in the race occurred in the Mixed Category where Beat di Burn sprinted to take the station prize at 3:56:03 which placed them in seventh position going under the bridge.Westrac was first Pleasure at time 3:56:06 and in ninth place. This was the most exciting part of the race (other than the finish) as we had three teams sprinting at the Toll Bridge and the crowd cheered loudly. Some ten minutes later, Sea Sports Belize captured the station prize for the Masters Category 4:06:46 into the race, where they remained in tenth position.The Smart Police at twelfth position captured the station prize for the Female Category at 4:18:24 into the race.Just after the Smart Police passed, the lead male teams were just about to arrive at Banquitas House of Culture in Orange Walk Town. In case you were wondering about the Gold Nuggets and Grumpy Old Men, well the Grumpy Old Men had opened a seventeen minute gap on them!This station prize was also $100 for each category.All teams made it to the Toll Bridge within 5 ½ hours.Thanks to Mr. Beardall and his team for monitoring this location. Having noticed at both checkpoint locations that the lead and second position canoes were closely together, everyone was expecting a sprint between NICH and Belize Bank to the finish line, but we did not get it. NICH paddled cross the finish line in solo fashion to take the win and first overall, they did it in 4:21:14. Some 5 minutes later the Belize Bank team - Armin Lopez (yes, Armin seems to be back with the Belize Bank team), Amado Lopez and Daniel Cruz - cross the finished line to take second male and second overall at time 4:26:20. Cobb’s Arms, paddlers - Erick Cano, Roberto Cabb and Roy Cano - sponsored by the Cobb Family, took 3rd place male and 3rd overall at a time of 4:36:11. The first Intramural/Junior team was Wateva Boyz - Jesus Lenares, Adrian and Darren Williams - sponsored by D & D Consultancy Ltd and Ms Isaura Williams, arrived at a time of 4:39:20 and were 4th overall. Taking 5th overall and 4th Male was Ocean - Leon Gillett, Jermaine Sanchez and Chris Guydis - with an overall time of 4:53.31. Team Oceana made a remarkable comeback after tipping over twice in the lagoon! Moving along into the 6th overall position and 1st Mixed was Beat di Burn - Jerry Rhaburn, Francisca Cruz and Keron Cabb - sponsored by Jeff Pfaender, completing the race in 4:56:15. They were followed by the 2nd Mixed Team, and 7th overall, the Creative Marketing Missiles with Nalbert Seguro, Shermain Faber and Jamel Seguro, with a time of 4:59.11. The only sprint to the finish line was between Natius and Westrac who were registered in different categories (Intramural/Juniors and Pleasure). The finish was too close to call and we had to refer to video playback to verify which canoe inched the other. Video playback confirmed and the officials agree that Natius 2nd place Intramural/Juniors team with Sergio Lopez, Byron Cruz, and Alfred Lopez took the 8th overall spot by a split second at 5:06:04.06 over Westrac, who was 1st Pleasure, with Ervin Cruz, Jerry Cante and Hener Cruz - whose time was 5:06:04.44. After Sergio Lopez got out of the canoe, he took to solid ground and just laid there for a few minutes.Taking 10th place overall and 1st Masters was Sea Sports Belize - Michael Searle, Robert Bailey and John Searle- as they completed the challenge in 5:10:44. We’ll have to keep a close eye on this team; they have started to move up into the top 10! Great improvement Sea Sports Belize! Rounding up the last one third of the race, Print Belize - Jesus Cruz, Rudolph Gentle and Javier Guardado - clocked in at 5:21:13 to take 2nd Pleasure and 11th overall. The SMART Police - Audrey Moody, Jane Usher and Ruth Cruz - paddled in at 5:28:32 to take first Female and 12th Overall. D & A Construction - Euken Arnold, Raymond Gillett and Jeff Rhaburn paddled their second race and took 3rd Intramural/Juniors and 13th overall at 5:33:11. Arriving in 14th position was 2nd Masters - Joe Fuzy and Jerry Wilken - of the Grumpy Old Men sponsored by Architectural Accents at a time of 6:23:11. They beat the kids, Gold Nuggets - Matthew Mask, Ray Nicholson and Dominique Alvarez - all primary school kids at the Burrell Methodist School. The team was sponsored by River Valley Cabins.They finished the race in 6:43:25 to take 15th overall and 4th Intramural/Juniors. SpitfireNICH presented Gold Nuggets with the Perseverance Award and $100. So how did the Grumpy Old Men arrive 20 minutes ahead? Was it skills and seniority experience, or did the kids got tired? Filling the 16th overall position was a new Female team which included first time paddlers doing their first race - Pauline Vicente and Nyssa Batty - along with a more experienced paddler Jayda Guydis of Spitfire, sponsored by Black Orchid Resort. These ladies were determined to finish within the seven hours allotted time and if it had come to the point where the “Sweeper” had to have to pulled them in, it wasn’t going to be an easy task!. They completed the race at 6:47:33. Congratulations to the Ladies of Spitfire! An award ceremony was held after all teams came in and results analyzed. Brian Woodye was the MC and trophies were presented to first, second and third place winners in each category by NICH’s president, Ms Diane Haylock. All first place teams received $800, second place received $500 and third place received $300.Teams received their checks immediately after being awarded their trophies. The first team to cross the finish line also received a bull, this goes to NICH, this should make for some good Bar-B-Que, when and where is the party guys? There was a nice wooden carved trophy for the overall winner, however, NICH decided that since they were hosting this event, and in support of good sportsmanship, opted not to take their own trophy but awarded it to the second place winners, the Belize Bank Team. The race had one written official protest for “un-sportsmanship like conduct” primarily one canoe running into another canoe. They claim that it was done intentionally, which resulted in the protesting team unable the get their service.There were also eyewitness accounts that collaborated with the protest received. However, the protesting team decided to not pursue the matter under the condition that BCAnoe address this issue before any future races are organized thus avoid any such incident from repeating. BCAnoe will address this situation in due course. Rule 15 of BCAnoe race rules which are printed on the back of the registration form states “… Intentional and un-sportsman-like conduct warrants immediate disqualification.” There were other complaints of un-sportsman like conduct from other teams as well, however, the teams were not affected and they were only reporting the incident to the Association thus bringing it to our attention so that future incidents would be penalized. The BCAnoe would like to express its displeasure with the paddlers who were littering the river. Rule 8 states, “Intentional littering will result in disqualifications of team member/s.”It’s unfortunate that no team was caught littering, since the team would have been disqualified on spot. Shame on those persons that littered, you should take pride in your country and should be keeping our rivers clean. How much does an empty plastic water pouch weigh that you can’t keep them in your canoes? A team committed that the red ribbons placed as markers were not needed; they could just follow the trail of empty plastic water pouches.Come on guys, we need to do better than this! BCAnoe would like to give special thanks to NICH for being the main sponsor and organizer of this race. Additionally, thanks to all other sponsors, (listed in no particular order) Lamanai Eco Tours, Cuello’s Distillery, Fiesta FM, Courts, People’s Store, Old Master Fine Rums, Centaur Cable Networks and German Vega & Sons. Also thanks to the BSOLT (Belize School of Outdoor Leadership Trainings) Crew for being available and on standby in the event of an emergency. Lastly, for those whom stayed late, we were treated to a Mayan Dance presentation by choreographer -Gabriel García Vázquez. Remember to look for us on Facebook, lots more photos and comments are available there! By Ricardo Salazar, President Belize Canoe Association |