FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hahira, Georgia, October 29, 2020 — Everybody had a good time on a fine sunny day with the water just right. We had a few more paddlers than last year, and more vendors and sponsors, so WWALS Boomerang 2020 was a rousing success!

WWALS Boomerang 2020

“The winner drove up from Tallahassee: Jackson Buttery, who finished the six-mile round trip in one hour sixteen minutes and 42 seconds. He got the $100 cash First Prize.” said Bobby McKenzie, the WWALS Boomerang mastermind.

Jackson Buttery winning and with First Prize

Of the racers, 10 were male and 12 were female, in 16 boats, of which 6 were tandem kayaks and 10 were solo kayaks.

And they’re off

The four McKenzies in one canoe (Bobby Mckenzie and his 2 young sons and 1 daughter, all from Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, in the Alapaha River watershed) did register, although they did not race, so that’s 13 male and 13 female paddlers, for 26 in all, in 17 boats.

“I would say considering the Coronavirus and the other metrics listed, the Boomerang had a stronger showing this year than last. Plus the vendors have grown and we had a fourth outfitter join us at the ramp, Madison Outdoor Adventures, along with Banks Lake Outdoors, NWXpeditions, and VSU Core. We also got more sponsors this year, adding Olympia Bend and Life Outdoors and SBMS CrossFit.”

Other winners included first, second, and third for various distances, classes (solo or tandem) and genders, as well as for upside down, backwards, and last:

Joseph Johnson and Elizabeth Brenner, First Tandem 4 Mile, with special mention of Upside Down and Backwards. They’re from Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, in the Withlacoochee River basin.

Movie: 1:14:00 (4) 21 Joseph Johnson & Elizabeth Brenner, First Tandem 4 Mile Upside down backwards (47M)

“I told them it was good they signed a photo release, because we’d be playing the video of that,” said WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman. “Also, despite the pandemic, we did not lose money on this event, and nobody went away mad.”

Upside down backwards tandem –Joseph Johnson & Elizabeth Brenner (14M)

Russell McBride, Second Prize, 6 Mile, from Quitman, Brooks County, Georgia, in the Withlacoochee River watershed.

Josh Duncan, Third Prize, 6 Mile, from Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, in the Alapaha River watershed.

Roberta Shiver, First Solo 4 Mile, from Hahira, Lowndes County, Georgia, in the Withlacoochee River watershed.

Angela Duncan, First Female Overall, 6 Mile, from Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, in the Withlacoochee River watershed.

Trista Delaney, First Female Overall, 6 Mile, rom Middleburg, Clay County, Florida, in the St. Johns River watershed.

Yasmeen Booth and Destiny Kennedy, First Female Tandem, 4 Mile, with special mention of being from outfitter VSU CORE, both rom Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, in the Withlacoochee River watershed (that’s where Valdosta State University is).

Yasmeen Booth & Destiny Kennedy, VSU CORE

Grace Harp and Abby Branch, First Female Tandem 6 Mile, from Hahira and Valdosta, in Lowndes County, Georgia, in the Little River watershed.

Lorena and Jesse Cole, Husband and Wife, 6 Mile, from Hahira, Lowndes County, Georgia, in the Little River watershed.

Bret Wagenhorst, First Finisher, 2 Mile (he paddled the 2 miles very fast), from Tifton, Tift County, Georgia, in the Little River watershed. He reminded us that the next WWALS paddle race is the BIG Little River Paddle Race at Reed Bingham State Park, between Adel and Moultrie, Georgia; stay tuned for details.

Bret Miller, First among repeat Boomerang paddlers, 6 Mile, from Barney, Brooks County, Georgia, in the Little River watershed.

Boomerang paddlers are good sports, and also enjoyed receiving:

First Disqualified, Adam and Kavan Parker, from Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, in the Withlacoochee River watershed;

Last Male Solo 6 Mile, Anil Shinde, from Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, in the Withlacoochee River watershed;

Last Overall, Sarah Cole, of Hahira, Lowndes County, GA, in the Little River watershed.

Final Finishers

“I’d like to thank all those who helped, especially Nathan Carter, who spotted at the shoals, Dan Phillips, the sweep to make sure everybody came back, and Suzy Hall, who organized getting the food from Carters, as well as everyone who came, totaling around 40 or so.” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman.

All with banners, except a few who had already left.

The race is still mostly local, with 15 from Valdosta and 6 from Hahira, both in Lowndes County, but did draw a paddler each from as far away as Tifton, Middleburg, and Tallahassee, as well as one each from Quitman and Barney in Brooks County, plus shoal watcher Nathan Carter is from Ray City in Berrien County, Georgia.

The watersheds the racers came from were: 10 Withlacoochee, 8 Little, 6 Alapaha, 1 St. Johns, 1 Munson Slough (the winner, from Tallahassee).

Everything about WWALS Boomerang 2020 is here:
wwals.net/pictures/2020-10-24–boomerang

Bobby McKenzie, having been WWALS Outings Committee Chair for about a year, had previously asked to hand over to Bret Miller. The WWALS Board agreed at its October 18, 2020, Quarterly meeting, and at the end of the Boomerang Bobby handed the Outings Chair paddle gavel to Bret.

–Bobby McKenzie to Bret Miller

This Saturday we are paddling on Banks Lake near Lakeland, Georgia, to see the sun set and the Halloween Full Moon rise! Wear a costume.

For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS calendar or the WWALS outings and events web page. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

About WWALS: Founded in June 2012, WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) advocates for conservation and stewardship of the Withlacoochee, Willacoochee, Alapaha, Little, Santa Fe, and Suwannee River watersheds in south Georgia and north Florida through education, awareness, environmental monitoring, and citizen activities. John S. Quarterman is the Suwannee Riverkeeper®, which is a staff position and a project of WWALS as the member of Waterkeeper® Alliance for the Suwannee River Basin.

Contact: Bobby McKenzie, 808-445-4503, chevy752001@yahoo.com
Facebook and Meetup Event: WWALS Boomerang
https://wwals.net/pictures/2020-10-24–boomerang

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Below is a table of all the times:

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

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