Willard Hanmer Guideboat,Canoe & Kayak Races

02/16/2026

08/15/2025

Last chance to sign up for FREE Guideboat lessons ! Classes for both kids and adults on August 23, 2025. Space is limited so call today. 6 instructors will provide the guideboats and all necessary equipment including life vests. Call (505) 235-1268 to secure your spot.

07/14/2025

🎉 2025 Willard Hanmer Guideboat, Canoe & Kayak Race – Official Results! 🏁
What a race! Huge congratulations to all the paddlers, families, spectators, and volunteers who made July 6 a spectacular day in Saranac Lake. From guideboats to kayaks, from seasoned racers to first-timers — you all made waves!

🏆 Notable Winners & Awards:
🥇 Fastest Traditional Guideboat: John Duprey
🥇 One Man Perpetual Trophy: John Duprey
🥇 Craftsmanship Award: Tim Hesseltine
🥇 Grandaddy Trophy: Chris Dyer & John Homer
🥇 Two-Man Guideboat (William J. Wallace Trophy): Tim Reilly & Joe Belluscio
🥇 Women’s Guideboat (Timothy Doyle Memorial):
- Ashley Doyle (One Woman)
- Bridget O’Leary & Jenna Lute (Two Woman)
🥇 Racing Kayak (Cantwell & Brusgul Memorial): Dylan Kirk
🎭 Best Rub-A-Dub Costume: Emily Doyle-Schubert & crew
👶 Youngest Racer: 3-year-old Emmett Wolfe!

💨 Top Finishers in Popular Classes:

One Man Guideboat: John Duprey (38:21)

One Woman Guideboat: Ashley Doyle (46:04)

Two Man Guideboat: Tim Reilly & Joe Belluscio (25:59)

Mixed Racing Canoe: Max & Eloise Eaton (39:10)

One Man Racing Kayak: Dylan Kirk (34:02)

Junior Kayak: Scout Eaton (18:51)

Rub-A-Dub Winners: Luisa Bressan & team (41:25)

🎶 The finish line was full of food, fun, music from Felon 13, kids’ activities, and unforgettable Adirondack spirit.

👏 Thank you to all who made this race possible — especially our volunteers, organizers, and sponsors.

📸 Stay tuned for photos and don’t forget to tag us in your memories!

Below are all of the final times!
One Man Guideboat
1. John Duprey 38:21
2. Gabe Woodward 39:34
3. Andrew Zetts 41:41
4. Tim Hesseltine 41:49
5. Jay Dawson 42:51
6. Chris Dyer 43:09
7. Bill Seils 43:36
8. Ben Schubert 45:26
9. Trevor Symonds 46:01
10. Jared Wendt 50:06

One Woman Guideboat
1. Ashley Doyle 46:04
2. Bridget O’Leary 48:02

Two Man Guideboat
1. Tim Reilly / 25:59
Joe Belluscio
2. Chris Dyer / 26:41
John Homer
3. Dave Prell / 31:12
Trevor Symonds

Two Woman Guideboat
1. Bridget O’Leary / 28:22
Jenna Lute

Mixed Guideboat
1. Bill Carpenter / 33:15
Sandra Carpenter
2. Victor Navara / 38:38
Raina Navara

Family Guideboat
1. Scott McKim/ 27:28
Marley McKim
2. Emily Doyle-Schubert/ 40:52
Rye Schubert

Junior Canoe
1. Lewis Hann 10:50

Junior Kayak
1. Scout Eaton 18:51
2. June Hooper 18:52

One Man Racing Canoe

1. Brian Watson 44:35

One Woman Racing Canoe

1. Heather Rudisill 46.21
2. Molly Hann 50:09
3. Shannon Morris 55:11
4. Nanci Battaglia DNS

Two Man Racing Canoe
1. Ezra Webster/ 35:58
Gabriel Lloyd
2. Nate Atkinson / 37:12
John Papin
3. Brandon DeVito / 38:53
Andy Pickering
4. Andy Giafagna/ 51:27
Enjoli James
5. Steve Buzzell / DNF
Tim Brearton

Mixed Racing Canoe
1. Max Eaton/ 39.10
Eloise Eaton
2. Tim Burpoe/ 39:39
Mike Burpoe
3. Tom Byrne / DNS
Maeve Byrne

C4 Racing
1. Jim Sausville / 35:51
Doug Haney /
Chris Burnham /
Nick Gouwens
2. Chris Giafagna / 43:39
Tony Giafagna /
Emmett Wolfe /
Hudson Giafagna
3. Dan French / 52:37
Jacob Stiles /
Libby /
Rylen Rhodes

One Man Recreational Canoe
1. John Marona 43:29
2. Justin Stockwell 1:00:45
3. Bennett Braunstein 1:08:41


Two Man Recreational Canoe
1. Ray Morris / 48.27
Richard Stockwell Jr.

Mixed Recreational Canoe

1. Mary Kelly / 36:03
Allen Kelly
2. Matt Green/ 48:37
Julia Green
3. Clifford Wagner/ 54:01
Drake Bottcher
4. Glenn Parreria/
Jennifer Ivimey 55:13
5. Naj Wikoff / DNS
Celia Evans
6. Denise Paddock / DNS
Dave Paddock

Rub-A-Dub Canoe
1. Luisa Bressan / 41:25
Dylan Dearborn /
Dakota Weinman/
Joe Trancera

2. Iris Li / 46:42
Rebekah Mills/
Cole Plant/
Asa Stockel

3. Bree Smith / 55:00
Carl Smith /
Harper Smith /
Julia Smith

4. Emily Doyle - Schubert / 57:19
Kylie Rosette /
Sara Shatraw /
Jess Zoebel

5. Erika Navara/ 1:03:56
Victor Navara/
Raina Navara/
Skylar Navara

6. Sacheen Dampier/ 1:05:00
Saxon Prell/
Kniva Prell/
David Prell

One Man Racing Kayak
1. Dylan Kirk 34:02
2. Roger Gocking 37:16
3. Joe Gladd 45:21

One Woman Racing Kayak
1. Monica Ratliff 46:13
2. Mary Stockwell 1:00:57

One Man Recreational Kayak
1. Jeffrey Braunstein 51:30
2. David Po***ck 52:46
One Woman Recreational Kayak
1. Cheryl Braunstein 1:08:53

07/14/2025

!! Lost and Found !!
We have a couple of items that were left at the race this year

-Baseball hat for a canoe race. Identify by color and race
-Northface jacket, Identify by color and size.

Please reach out on FB or email [email protected] if these are yours!

07/07/2025

Photos from the 2025 Hanmer Race by Meachele Manchester are available here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F1sNxK5Fk

07/03/2025

Important update for this year's race!!!

The finish location and start location will both be at Riverfront Park this year! Unfortunately the river is too low to paddle. All the usual festivities are still on track!
Enjoy:
🎵 Live music from Felon 13
🍗 Elks Club chicken feast
🍪 Baked goods
🎁 Raffles & info booths
🍻 Hex & Hops beer tent
🚣 Canoe sales
🎨 FREE kids’ activities & treats from Rotary

We hope to see you all out there! Let's have a great race this year!

📩 Request your entry form today by emailing: [email protected]
📝 Include your name, age category, and boat type (kayak, canoe, guideboat)

See you at the starting (and finishing) line!🌊

06/26/2025

🛶 Ready to Race? Register Now for the Willard Hanmer Guideboat & Canoe Races! 🏁

Don’t miss your chance to compete in one of the Adirondacks’ most iconic events on July 6, 2025! Whether you're racing solo, in tandem, or in a guideboat, it’s time to secure your spot!

📩 Request your entry form today by emailing: [email protected]
📝 Include your name, age category, and boat type (kayak, canoe, guideboat)

Our community is paddling together for a legendary race—join the lineup and make waves!

See you at the starting line! 🌊

06/23/2025

🎪 Vendors Wanted for Hanmer Race Day – July 6! 🛶🍗🎶

Calling all local vendors! You're invited — FREE of charge — to join the action at both the Start and Finish Lines of the Willard Hanmer Guideboat, Canoe & Kayak Race on Sunday, July 6!

🌅 Morning at Riverfront Park
Start your day with breakfast sandwiches & coffee from Hotel Saranac, boat displays, and race-day buzz during registration. Judges for the Guideboat Craftsmanship and Rub-a-Dub Costume contests will be onsite!

💥 10:30 AM – Cannon fires, and the races begin!
After Lake races finish, the crowd shifts to...

🎯 The Finish Line at Saranac Lake Fish & Game Club
Enjoy:
🎵 Live music from Felon 13
🍗 Elks Club chicken feast
🍪 Baked goods
🎁 Raffles & info booths
🍻 Hex & Hops beer tent
🚣 Canoe sales
🎨 FREE kids’ activities & treats from Rotary

A large tent with tables and shade ensures comfort while you cheer on your favorite racers!

👉 Want to be a vendor?
Contact Kathy Dyer at (505) 235-1268 or email [email protected] to reserve your spot and ensure proper permits.

06/09/2025

📣 Hanmer Meeting & Summer Events Announcement! 🛶🎨💥

Green Side of the Big Apple has set its summer schedule — and we’re inviting YOU to get involved!

Join us for a planning meeting on June 18 at 5:00 PM
📍 42 Tadds Way, Saranac Lake
All are welcome — whether you're a returning volunteer or just curious about the Willard Hanmer Guideboat, Canoe & Kayak Race!

🌞 Summer Highlights:
🎨 Guideboat & Art Show – June 29–July 7 @ Hotel Saranac
🚤 Runabout Rendezvous – July 5
🛶 Hanmer Race – July 6
📚 Guideboat Academy – August 23–24
🎆 Village Fireworks – July 4

Got ideas or questions?
📩 Contact Kathy: [email protected] / (505) 235-1268
📩 Or Sydney at ArtWorks: [email protected]

Let’s make Summer 2025 unforgettable!

06/09/2025

🛶 The Hanmer Race: Powered by Volunteers Since 1963!

Saranac Lake’s legacy of community spirit shines through in the annual Willard Hanmer Guideboat & Canoe Races — a tradition born in 1963 and still thriving thanks to passionate volunteers. From its roots with founders Tom Cantwell and Rex Brusgul to its revival by the Dyer sisters and Chris Woodward, the Hanmer has always been a labor of local love.

With the support of over 60 volunteers, the race is stronger than ever — and returns July 6, 2025! Plus, don’t miss the Guideboat Show at the Hotel Saranac, celebrating these iconic crafts all week long.

📚 Know any Hanmer history? The Dyers are collecting stories for a community tribute book!
Contact: [email protected] or call (505) 730-9953

06/09/2025

🌟 Kids Race FREE at the Hanmer! 🛶
Thanks to a generous sponsorship from the Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club, all Junior entries (ages 16 & under) in the Willard Hanmer Guideboat & Canoe Races on July 6 will have their entry fees fully covered!

Junior racers can compete in kayak, canoe, and guideboat classes — no cost to participate! Boat rentals are available through local outfitters, and several boats have also been donated for race-day use.

This exciting partnership supports youth, community, and getting the next generation out on the water!

📩 For details or to enter:
[email protected] or call (505) 235-1268