The 11th Edition of the Yukon River Quest is over!
The Yukon River Quest is the longest annual canoe and kayak race in the world. Except for two mandatory rest stops totaling 10 hours, paddlers race non-stop over approximately 740 kilometers (460 miles) from Whitehorse to Dawson City. Held annually in the north during the last week of June (around the summer solstice), it is a true “Race to the Midnight Sun”. The YRQ is widely recognized now as one of the toughest ultra marathon paddling events on the planet, where the world’s best paddlers gather to compete.
2009 Official Winners & Special Awards
• 73 teams started the 2009 Yukon River Quest and 56 teams finished
• This was the 3rd largest field in the 11-year history of the event
• The women’s tandem canoe and tandem kayak records were broken
Winning voyageur Team Texans on Lake Lebarge.
SPECIAL AWARDS
First Place Overall: Team 73 “Texans”, Richard Ameen, captain
Prize: Free entry for captain and team in 2010 race, donated by YRMPA
Top Yukoners: Team 1 “Relentless”, Tim Hodgson & Jane Vincent
Prize: Two small kegs donated by Yukon Brewing
Top Women’s Team: Team 64 “Dawson Before Dusk”, Veronica Wisniewski & Liz Bosely
Prize: Two packs donated Coast Mountain Sports
Top Senior Team (55 & over): Team 29 “The Austrian”, Heinz Rodinger
Prize: Panoramic photo donated by Inanda Images
Top Solo Teams: All solo winners (see list below) received gold and/or silver canoes donated by Gold Trail Jewelers – Dawson
Most Improved Team: Team 20 “Yakumama”, Joanie Pelletier & Kari Johnston, (finished 3 hours, 47 minutes faster than their 2008 time)
Prize: Golden paddle donated by Klondike Visitors Association
Spirit of the Yukon Award (sportsmanship & race spirit): Team 77 “Team Dene”, Charlie Tssessaze, capt. (for stopping to assist Team 73 which had been dumped by a large boil in the river near Minto).
Prize: Yukon River gold nuggets donated by Raven Ink.
Honorable Mention: to Team 22 “Wildfeet” Marc Hebert for providing food and water to fellow team in need at Little Salmon. Gift of 2008 race DVD donated by Northvids.com
Red Stove Award (for team that “wins” the race between last 2 teams): Team 75 “Team Kai”, Tim Taylor & Phil Lafave
Prize: Two halves of a Yukon Stove donated by Haywire Industries
Top Yukon Canoe & Kayak: Team 1 “Relentless”, Tim Hodgson & Jane Vincent C2, and Team 23 “Yukon Wildflower” Ingrid Wilcox K1. Prize: $500 each donated by YRMPA
CLASS WINNERS
(teams must finish under 60 hours to receive prize money)
Voyageur Class – Overall
1. Team 73 “Texans” – 40:52 ($2100)
2. Team 77 “Team Dene” – 41:42 ($800)
3. Team 62 “London Pride” – 53:48 ($450)
Voyageur Class – Open
1. Team 73 “Texans” – 40:52 ($2100)
2. Team 77 “Team Dene” – 41:42 ($800)
3. Team 62 “London Pride” – 53:48 ($450)
Voyageur Class – Women
1. Team 51 “Paddlers Abreast” – 53:48 ($2100)
2. Team 32 “Team Whoa” – 57:19 ($800 donated to Paddlers Abreast)
Solo Teams – Overall
1. Team 45 “XL” Carter Johnson K1- 44:24 ($900)
2. Team 11 “Numbnuts” Shaun Thrower K1 – 47:00 ($400)
3. Team 2 “Giddyup II” Brett Norvill K1 – 51:29 ($200)
Solo Kayak – Men
1. Team 45 “XL” Carter Johnson K1- 44:24 ($900)
2. Team 11 “Numbnuts” Shaun Thrower K1 – 47:00 ($400)
3. Team 2 “Giddy Up II” Brett Norvill K1 51:29 – ($200)
Solo Kayak – Women
1. Team 23 “Yukon Wildflower” Ingrid Wilcox – 62:20 (no cash)
Solo Canoe – Open
1. Team 65 “Alberta Beef” Kevin Mellis – 53:15 ($900)
2. Team 42 “Black Duck” Ivars Simanis – 62:20 (no cash)
3. Team 60 “Salvation River” Michael Denny – 68:19 (no cash)
Tandem Canoe – Overall
1. Team 1 “Relentless” Tim Hodgson & Jane Vincent (mixed) – 47:22 ($1100)
2. Team 15 “Canoe-Dog Lackies” Gaetan Plourde & Aaron Hachey (men) – 47:32 ($525)
3. Team 64 “Dawson Before Dusk” Veronica Wisniewski & Liz Bosely (women) – 48:53 NEW WOMEN’S C2 RECORD! ($325)
A canoe paddles toward the midnight sun around midnight on at the end of Lake Laberge.
Tandem Canoe – Men
1. Team 15 “Canoe-Dog Lackies” Gaetan Plourde & Aaron Hachey – 47:32 ($1100)
2. Team 16 “Black Prince” Robert Withers & James Heath – 50:51 ($525)
3. Team 71 “Paper Covers Rock” Patrick Von Wiegen & Michael Code – 55:33 ($325)
Tandem Canoe – Mixed
1. Team 1 “Relentless” Tim Hodgson & Jane Vincent (mixed) – 47:22 ($1100)
2. Team 30 “Team B Pari Passu)” Joe Evans & Barbara Kraler – 49:52 ($525)
3. Team 66 “Just For Fun” Brad Krog & Dawn Krog – 50:01 ($325)
Tandem Canoe – Women
1. Team 64 “Dawson Before Dusk” Veronica Wisniewski & Liz Bosely (women) – 48:53 NEW RECORD! ($1100)
2. Team 20 “Yakumama” Joanie Pelletier & Kari Johnston – 51:05 ($525)
Tandem Kayak – Overall
1. Team 74 “Oxford Hopefuls” Lou Maurice & Hilary Greaves (women) – 51:48
NEW WOMEN’S K2 RECORD! ($1100)
2. Team 40 “The Wiebe Clan” Darrell Wiebe & Jennifer Allen (mixed) – 52:03 ($525)
3. Team 17 “Dave and Pete” Peter Budden & Dave Townsend (men) – 53:15 ($325)
Tandem Kayak – Men
1. Team 17 “Dave and Pete” Peter Budden & Dave Townsend – 53:15 ($1100)
2. Team 61 “Vati-kaki” Francois Coetzer & Philip Coetzer – 54:33 ($525)
3. Team 24 “Bugmen 1” Peter Whaley & Matt Gunning – 55:16 ($325)
Tandem Kayak – Mixed
1. Team 40 “The Wiebe Clan” Darrell Wiebe & Jennifer Allen – 52:03 ($1100)
2. Team 37 “Two-Kon Tango” Carl Schoch & Lana Davis – 56:42 ($525)
3. Team 59 “P.K. Rose” Steve Geick & Janice Rose – 66:15 (no cash)
Tandem Kayak – Women
1. Team 74 “Oxford Hopefuls” Lou Maurice & Hilary Greaves – 51:48
NEW RECORD!! ($1100)
2. Team 43 “Water Grrlz” Melinda Miles & Zoe Oakley – 64:57 (no cash)
Photo credit Harry Kern, YRQ
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