WATERFEST VIII drew record crowds to Ridge Ferry Park and the Oostanaula River April 25-26. The annual spring fundraiser attracted more than 1000 people and helped raise more than $20,000 for CRBI’s advocacy, education, water monitoring and restoration programs.

The event included two days of water-related competitions and educational events, including the 13-mile canoe and kayak race on the Oostanaula, Canoe & Kayak Tug-O-War contests and an Environmental Quiz Bowl for area elementary school students.

The Canoe Tug-O-Wars highlighted the weekend’s festivities as a dozen teams faced off in what proved to be grueling contests of strength and skill. Muscles burned, boats flipped and when the waves settled, Rome High School’s entry of Matthew Summerlin, Stephen Ward, Sarah Huffman and Austin Rogers out-tugged Suzuki Manufacturing’s entry in the finals to take home gift certificates from local restaurants and the tug-o-war trophy.

Some 50 children and adults faced off in the Kayak Tug-O-Wars, including 30 children from the Rome Boys and Girls Club and the Open Door Home.

In the Environmental Quiz Bowl, eight teams from six area elementary schools competed with East Central taking the championship and Cave Spring placing second. Members of Gary Jones’ championship team were Christi Smith, Conor Kelly, Amelia Adcock, Kate Wood, Chance Chaffin and Winston Gammon. Heather Willis’ Cave Spring team included Raven Ayer, Austin Mink, Peyton Moore, Leeanne Powell, Brandon Ray, Jennifer Jacobs, and Kirsten Holmes. 

More than 140 paddlers raced on the Oostanaula. Javier Comelli of Marietta clocked the fastest time, completing the 13-mile course in 1 hour and 38 minutes.

Canoe-a-thon competitors raised a total of $3000. Sheila Cox of Rome took first place, generating $1115 and took home the Old Town Canoe from Johnson Outdoors. Richard Burris of Rome took second and the kayak from Terrapin Outdoor Center and Carol McNavish of Woodstock placed third, winning the weekend getaway at Snowbird Mountain Lodge. Mike and Linda Sarver of Rome won merchandise from Patagonia with their fourth place finish.

Full race results (pdf file, requires free Adobe Acrobat reader)

WATERFEST IX is set for April 24-25, 2009 at Ridge Ferry Park.