A pair of 2012 Trigg County High School graduates, and close friends, claimed a $250 cash prize and a nice trophy Saturday afternoon — paddling through 5.7 miles of Little River in one hour, nine minutes and six seconds for first place in the reborn Ham Festival Canoe Race.
Rather than keep the dough, however, Hunter Allen and Landon Sumner instead returned their winnings back to Cadiz Police Chief and organizer Tyler Thomas — hoping to help keep canoe rentals and the competition for next fall’s 50th festival anniversary.
Like many natives of Cadiz and Trigg County, Allen and Sumner spent their childhoods learning the twists and turns of the important local tributary, and they were just happy to spend an afternoon together for a fun competition.
Second place went to Daniel Davis and Andrew Kull, who finished the run in one hour, 12 minutes and 21 seconds, while third place went to Lucas Hale and Casey Castile — who finished it in one hour, 15 minutes and two seconds, while making a few memories along the way.
Hale said it was the first time he had ever canoed the path, while Castile noted it was the first time she had ever even been in such a sailing vessel.
Thomas was hoping for at least 10 two-person teams in the race and got eight, with last place going to a pair of retired combat-proven Air Force medics in 70-year-old Cathy Hallett, of Charleston, South Carolina, and 61-year-old Mitzi Thomas-Lawson, of Cadiz.
Representing Veterans of Foreign Wars, they wanted to prove they could finish the effort while promoting community involvement, and crossed the finish line after more than two hours on the water.
Speed wasn’t their goal. Consistency and camaraderie was.
The duo joked that because they were “trained killers,” as former medical commanders, it made everyone else faster on the river. They first met 20 years ago when they were both stationed at Hurlburt Air Force Base near Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
In fact, Hallett — who is actually a member of the Cadiz VFW — came all the way in from her home on the East Coast just to be in Cadiz with her friend, and at the festival.
Weather and interest permitting, the Ham Fest Canoe Race could see a return for next year.
