Canoe and kayak enthusiasts from across the province gathered in Cambridge Sunday for That Dam Hespeler Paddling Race. This is the 22nd year for the race, which is held on the last Sunday in April.
“The last four years my wife and I decided to ramp it up as far as getting local people involved and so we’ve been really working hard. We’ve got the local community giving us donations and helping with awards,” explained organizer Don Stoneman.
The races run between five and 20 kilometers. The course runs from the Hespeler dam to the bridge at Blackbridge Road.
“It’s a tough race. It’s kind of shallow water in here which means it’s kind of hard work,” said Stoneman.
Some proceeds of the race go to Bridges for Youth in Cambridge, but Stoneman says the main goal of the race is to develop a paddling community in Cambridge and appreciate the Speed River.
“We’re trying to help promote the downtown but we want to get people out on the water, and the Speed River here is a wonderful stretch of water,” Stoneman said.
