From seasoned paddlers chasing fast times to first-time participants just hoping to stay dry, the 44th annual Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny once again brought the community together along the Ganaraska River in Port Hope.
The annual spring tradition features a mix of canoes, kayaks and creative “crazy crafts,” drawing thousands of spectators and participants each year. Interim chair Brandon Harsell estimates over 10,000 people attended this year’s event in Fannyville, with nearly 150 entries across all categories.
Harsell says volunteers braved rainy conditions on Friday to make sure everything was setup for Saturday’s races, which also saw 50 crazy craft compete.
On the water, competition remained strong. Derek Dobos and Holly Hamilton took first place in the Canoes and Kayaks division with a time of 1:04:27, finishing just five seconds ahead of last year’s winners Louis and Michel Cabardos. In the kayak division, Martin and Matthew Zwetsloot posted the fastest time at 1:07:13, while Anton Grigorjevs led solo kayaks and Paul Winkley topped the solo canoe category.
The Crazy Craft division once again delivered some of the most entertaining moments, with The Cursed Bog taking top spot at 1:13:02, followed by the Barbie Dream Boat and Up The Creek.
For many, however, the event is about more than competition, and Louis and Michel Cabardos who have won multiple races both together and separately were more than happy to pass along some hard-earned advice for anyone considering a run down the Ganaraska.
The event also marked a return to the river for longtime co-chair Barry “the Bear” Adamson, who stepped down from the leadership role this year, in part so he could finally get back in the race.
After more than 15 years out of a canoe, Adamson joked that while he was excited to be back on the water, his crew had already made it clear he wouldn’t be doing much paddling.
Meanwhile, Port Hope councillor Adam Pearson noted large crowds at Fannyville, calling it one of the busiest he’s seen.
Organizers say about 50 crazy crafts completed the race, helping round out a day that continues to grow year over year as one of Northumberland’s most recognizable spring traditions.
For a complete list of all participant times be sure to check out floatyourfanny.ca.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
