Media Gallery: Canoe Race Launches Fourth

An annual tradition for more than 100 years, the canoe races hosted by the Cranford Canoe Club at 8 a.m. yesterday along the Rahway River drew a larger-than-average turnout, the crowd thick with enthusiasm and cheers. More attendees also trickled in continually throughout the event, several having first run Cranford's traditional marathon only minutes earlier — the 31st annual Cranford Jaycees' Firecracker Four Miler Run.

When asked how he felt about this year's competition, Director of Parks and Recreation Steve Robertazzi said it was, "good, great, smooth! No one's tipped over yet."

Organizers of the event awarded trophies to the first, second and third place winners of each heat and marathon. In a noteworthy turn of events, first-place winners Connor Leahey, Kyle Markovitch, and Paul Starkey dethroned Rob Pender, John Bush and David Gelber, a trio that has won the 18-and-over marathon 8 years in a row. Check out the winner list below, and our media gallery documenting the competition below: 

Winners:

10-13 Years Old: Carley Quirin, Julia Wilson

14-20 Years Old: Ian Hay, Geddy Warner

21 Years & Over: Jon Stirberg, Mike Pender

Father and Child: Kyle & Howard Markovitch

Mother and Child: Dianne & Elizabeth Mohan

Ma and Pa: Mike & Meghan Holsy

13-17 Years Old Marathon: Jacob Gelbar, Aidam & Connor Langregan

18 Years & Over Marathon: Connor Leahey, Kyle Markovitch, Paul Starkey

Download the movie