05/27/06
Michigan men favored to win General Clinton Canoe Regatta
Injuries to Corbin, Kolka make Triebold, Rimer frontrunners; Zaveral might not race in 2007
44TH A
| | | Star photo by Anita Briggs
Michigan residents Andy Triebold, front, and Matt Rimer lost the 2005 General Clinton Canoe Regatta’s C-2 Pro race to Serge Corbin and Jeff Kolka by two seconds. Injuries have sidelined Corbin and Kolka this year, giving the early edge to last year’s runner-ups. |
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NNUAL GENERAL CLINTON CANOE REGATTA
By P.J. Harmer
Staff Writer
The General Clinton Canoe Regatta will have a different look at the finish line this year.
Serge Corbin, who has won the C-2 Pro race the last 21 years and 28 times overall with various partners, will not compete this Memorial Day because of a right-shoulder injury.
It’s likely, then, that two new faces will win the C-2 Pro race, which highlights Monday’s 70-milers down the Susquehanna River, from Cooperstown to General Clinton Park in Bainbridge.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Three former champions — Bruce Barton, Jeff Shultis and Bob Zaveral — are entered in the C-2 Pro event this year. Otego resident Shultis and Mount Upton’s Zaveral teamed up to win the race in 1981, marking the last time a local duo placed first. Barton won in 1999 with Corbin.
Zaveral, who shares the top spot in the 700 Club with Oneonta resident Ted LaMonica at 2,380 miles, again will team with Sidney resident Ed Curley this year. The two finished 11th in 8 hours, 21 minutes, 58 seconds last spring.
Shultis also will have the same partner — Bill Rogers II of Davenport Center — after the two finished 32nd in 8:49:31 last year.
Barton will partner with fellow Michigan resident Tim Triebold. According to the 2005 Clinton results, neither competed in last year’s regatta.
The two gave Corbin his closest Clinton race ever in 1982. That year, Corbin and Richard Tetrault beat Barton and Triebold by one second.
In 2005, Corbin held off another Triebold by the narrowest of margins. Corbin and Jeff Kolka finished in 8:05:42 last year to earn their sixth straight C-2 Pro triumph, beating the Michigan duo of Andy Triebold and Matt Rimer by two seconds.
With Corbin and Kolka (bad knees) sidelined for the 44th annual regatta, Andy Triebold — Tim’s 29-year-old son — and the 22-year-old Rimer are the early favorites.
"I have mixed emotions," Regatta committee member Lori Roseboom said of Corbin and Kolka missing the regatta. "For me, personally, Serge is incredible. He and Jeff are amazing. ... I think (Corbin) will be missed, but it will open up other opportunities for racers. I think they’d rather have (Corbin and Kolka) there to try and beat them."
Also missing is the 2005 third-place team of Patrick Lynch and Steve Corlew, who do not appear among the 53 entries for the 2006 C-2 Pro race.
"It’s a reasonable bet that we’re the favorites after last year’s finish, and also since the third-place team isn’t back," Rimer said via cell phone Tuesday. "I think it will be a good race and a lot of competition. There should be a lot of good teams and it should be an exciting race to watch."
The absences of Corbin and Kolka seemed to disappoint Rimer, however.
"I was hoping to have another shot," he said.
Roseboom said other teams to watch are Jeff Rankinen (Jersey Shore, Pa.) and Todd Roadman (Bedford, Pa); Allen Limberg (Wausau, Wis.) and Jim Harwood (Grayling, Mich.); and Mo Harwood (Horton, Mich.) and Steve Lajoie (Mirabel, Quebec).
Two teams will feature paddlers from Belize as Jerry Rahburn will join Wade Binion (College Station, Texas), and Daniel Cruz will compete with Amando Cruz (College Station, Texas).
"I wouldn’t rule any of the Belize teams out," Zaveral said. "It will be interesting to see. They might be a threat."
Still, Zaveral said he expects Rimer and Triebold to emerge victorious.
"I don’t think there will be anyone close to them," he said. "They are so fast. But, you never know."
Mo Harwood and Lajoie might give Triebold and Rimer a run. Harwood returns to the Clinton after a two-year absence. He teamed with Rimer in 2003 and placed 13th.
Lajoie, who took last year off because his wife was pregnant, teamed with Triebold in 2004 and placed second to Corbin and Kolka. With Lajoie out of the race last season, Triebold and Rimer joined forces.
"We’ve lived close to each other," said Rimer, who has the same partner for the first time in his six years of competition. "Last year, everything just clicked."
Zaveral, 53, said he might fade from competitive racing after this season because he wants to watch his 13-year-old son, Ryan, compete in the AMA Motocross Youth Division. Zaveral said he would like to see LaMonica, 67, continue racing and claim the top spot in the 700 Club, which honors those who have completed the 70-miler 10 times or more.
"I imagine Ted will end up with it if he stays with it," Zaveral said of LaMonica. The two have completed 34 70-milers apiece. "I don’t know if I’ll compete at this level next year."
LaMonica is entered in the Men’s Veteran C1-70 race this year.
"You have to give him a lot of credit and he can go the distance," Zaveral said. "He probably has a good many years left."
Lake Placid resident Terry Kent will go for his fourth straight C-1 Pro title and his fifth in six years Monday.
Kent won last year in 8:43:22, beating 2002 champion John Kazimierczyk by 1:37.
Nine canoes will be in this year’s race. Roseboom said Kyle Kiser of Rochester and Calvin Hassel of Grand Island, Neb., could challenge for the title.
The Regatta has turned the Open Unlimited Kayak division into a professional race this year, with a $250 prize waiting for the champion.
Ted Van Dusen (Carlisle, Mass.), Tom Clemow (Wellesley, Mass.), Shawn Wilber (New Orleans) and Kiril Firov, a late addition to the division, will compete.
