The Jock River Race Returns!

 April 16th 2022

Note: click on any image to see larger.

Finally after a two year hiatus due to Covid-19 concerns, that "Rite of Spring" beloved to canoeists and kayakers of Eastern Ontario returns with a super attended event on a nice sunny day.   This year all submissions and waivers were done online so everyone could proceed directly to the put-in on Wood's Rd just south of Co Rd 10.   As per usual there was considerable congestion as vehicles park along the side of the road while everyone unloads and tries to navigate through the hole in the fence and bush to reach the riverside.

Wood's Rd. put-in

My boat heads to the water

Unloading

Easter bunnies?

The put-in I believe is on private land and the owner graciously removes a section of fence to allow for Jock Race access.  With 175 boats participating this year you can imagine it is no mean feat to funnel them all through that gap in the fence, but where there is a will there is a way!  I always  aim for the same spot where my yak sits half in the water and is reasonably level and then I wait till I see an open spot along the bank closer to the start line to await my opportunity to start.  I find this the trickiest part of the race trying to hold place in fast moving water.  There is usually a few casualties with some participants capsizing before they reach the start.

Getting to the water

 

My usual launch

The race got under way at noon with 5 boats pulling up to the start at a time so it takes a while for everyone to get going but this helps thin the field out which is good.   Below looking towards the start line from my launch spot gives an idea of how finding a place to park along the banks can be challenging.

Towards the start line

The race goes from Munster Hamlet to Jock River Park in Richmond a distance of 12.5 Km and passes through the Richmond Fen a somewhat eerie wetland where the channel can be somewhat indistinct as it wends through this flooded land but organizers usually tie ribbons to trees to aid in taking the correct channel.  Some paddlers have been known to deviate from this hoping to get a shortcut only to find themselves stuck and practising their gondola skills instead.

The Jock River Race

There are some class 1 rapids the longest ones being near the end of the race.  When I was about 20 min from the finish I turned on the video on my bow mounted camera and you can see that video on a new window at the link below.

Jock Race Last 20 minutes

Below I cruise in happy to have had my first paddle of the season without incident and looking forward to some snacks which are provided at the finish.  I forgot to bring my water bottle so looking forward to some hydration!

I pass the finish line!

So another race is over and a new paddling season begins and I think everyone had a great day (except maybe those who fell in at the start?).  The weather was perfect for this type of event and everyone hung around and had snacks while the results were tabulated and then the medals were handed out.  Perfect start to the season!

Happy paddling!

from

KayakJock