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A capacity field of 120 boats took part in the 2025 Powell River Kayak & Canoe Regatta in Claiborne County on Saturday, April 26. Racers competed in six categories as they took on the 12-mile course from the Well Being Retreat Center in Tazewell to Riverside (Kayak) Rentals in Harrogate.

First prize in each category was $150 with second place getting $50. There was also a recreational category for kayakers who wanted to enjoy the course without competing.

Net proceeds from the Regatta go exclusively to the Powell River Blueway project, an effort to improve and maintain public access onto the 114 miles of the Powell River for paddling and fishing in the beautiful Cumberland Mountains of northeast Tennessee. Past Regattas have raised the funds to build and maintain nine additional public access points on the river.

 

Results

Men’s Kayak 18-59

1.Christian Balz 1:44-14.3, 2. JJ Vallo 1:51:17 4, 3. Leon Christion 2:01:29.4, 4 Joe Whitaker 2:05:33.0, 5.Andrew Funke 2:11:23.9, 6. Martin Hunley 2:40:01.3

 

Women’s Single Kayak Open

1. Nancy Brunton 1:54:30.5, 2.Ginni Blackhart 2:19:32.0, 3. Stacey Mullins 3:43:43.7

 

Men’s Kayak 60 plus

1. Bob Griffith 1:58:33.2, 2. Frank Cooper 2:00:06.7, 3. Rob Vargas 2:03:44.7, 4. Mike Helmly 2:18:23.0, 5.Chris Edwards 2:28:53.1, 6. Richard New 2:30:18.2, 7. Steve Shook 3-56 41.7

 

Double Kayak & Canoe

1. Steve Ligon & Dixie Bamford 1:59:19.1, 2. Andrew Patchen & Kelly Alley 2:10:46.0, 3. Claire Taylor & Michael Kyriakoudes 2:16:14.0, 4. Jody Hill & Morgan Pettey 2:23:53.0

 

Racing Kayak – Open

1. William Cummins 1:31:10.2, 2. Chris Hipgrave 1:31:47.9, 3. Jeff Schnelle 1:32:28.9, 4. Ethan Turner 1:36:49.8, 5. Cody Duvall 1:37:39.7, 6. Terry Smith 1-37-52 5, 7. Jim Brunton 1:40:10.9, 8. Randy Ray 1:41:37.9, 9. Daniel Lipscomb 1:42:22.3, 10. Ted Burnell 1:48:50 4

 

SUP Open

1. Kourtney Davis 2:34:39.5, 2. Andrew Bonwell 2:49:00.3, 3. Brittany Bonwell 3:02:35.4

 

Recreation Category Finishers

Abby Pearman, Angela Douglas, Billy Ward, Brittany Miner, Carl W. House, Chris Vann, Christie Brown-Hatmaker, Christy Mathis, Connor Hoke, Dana Mills, David Krispin & Sarah Leach, Edwin Schulz, Elizabeth Neidrauer, Erick Moberg, Ethan Worthington, Heidi Bryant, Jess Hatmaker, Joan Galbraith, Johanna Bussell, Kara Kruse, Katherine Whitehead, Kelly Przybysz, Michele Sims, Nathan Hopkins, Nicholas Lovejoy, Richard Hubbard, Rick Brooks, Salwan Cartwright-Shamoon, Sheri Bryant, Sheri Gore, Sherry Pearman, Stacy Worthington, Steph Engelien, Theresa Schulz, Tom Favale, Zachary Mills