West End Beagle Club to host Kayak Rat Race

GARDNER ― Ladies and gentlemen, start your paddling.

Officials at the West End Beagle Club are looking for participants to enter their first-ever Kayak Rat Race. The event, which will take place on the club’s man-made pond that was built in 1964, is scheduled for Saturday, June 10.

Organizer Wendy McCullough, the club’s head bartender, said she had the idea for the race one afternoon when she was standing on the club’s back deck and gazing out over the pond.

“It’s a huge pond – about five acres - and I thought it just would be cool to have a kayak race out there,” said McCullough, who added that the race’s route would require participants to paddle for about a quarter of a mile. “I brought the idea up to the board of directors in January, had a full member meeting, and they approved me to go forward with it.”

All-day event to feature live music, food, and raffles

Racers would be vying for various cash prizes, but McCullough said the final details were still being worked out. The event, which is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., would also include raffles, draft beer, food until 3 p.m., and live music courtesy of Danny Leblanc.

“I’m hoping to make it an all-day event,” McCullough explained.

McCullough, who will be officiating the competition, admits that the inclusion of the word ‘rat’ in the name of the race was a friendly nod to a similar annual event held in a nearby town.

“I was thinking of calling it a ‘kayak race,’ and then I thought I might as well put ‘rat’ in the name because it’s a more catchy title,” she said. “People know what the ‘river rat race’ is, you just say that and everybody knows what it is.”

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Event aimed at showcasing club's manmade pond

McCullough said one of her goals in organizing the race was to better utilize the pond, which she said was one of the club’s biggest assets.

“We do fishing derbies out there in the spring and ice-fishing derbies in the winter,” she said.

Although McCullough, who said she belongs to a big kayaking family, said she hoped the event might become an annual tradition in the community, she said her main goals with the kickoff event was to generate revenue and increase membership at the club.

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“I think doing this every year would be a great idea, and I’m happy to have quite a bit of support from the club’s membership,” she said.

Response to the announcement of the race had been overwhelmingly positive, McCullough said.

“I do have some entries already, and I’ve had more than a few people talk about what a great idea it is and how they want to be a part of it,” she said. “(This race) is aimed at anyone who enjoys kayaking or just wants to have a fun day.”

Organizers looking for volunteers

Participants will be required to be over 18 take part in the race, McCullough said, although she added that future races might be opened to children.

“It’s 18 and over because I was kind of nervous about being responsible for other people’s kids,” she said. “Maybe we can include the kids next year, because I have had people ask me about that.”

Participants would also be required to pay an entry fee, sign a waiver, wear a lifejacket, and have their kayak washed before putting it into the water, McCullough said. All racers should pre-register by Friday, June 9 by calling 978-632-9792, McCullough said, but entrants would be permitted to register by noon on the day of the race, if there are slots available. Participants are encouraged to drop off their kayak the night before the race, McCullough said, adding that members would be on hand through the overnight to keep an eye on the boats.

The number of races would be determined by the number of participants who signed up for the event, McCullough said.

Officials were looking for volunteers to perform various duties at the race, including collecting money, serving as spotters, setting up buoys, and to quick-wash the bottoms of the kayaks. McCullough said she was also looking to borrow some sawhorses to prop the kayaks for washing.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the event is urged to call 978-632-9792.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: West End Beagle Club Kayak Rat Race June 10 Gardner