Participants and winners of the 2026 Magaguadavic River Race
The second annual Magaguadavic River Race is in the books! This past weekend, dozens took to the water on a sunny spring Saturday to take part in New Brunswick’s only river race! It was an exciting day on the water, as spectators cheered on paddlers of all ages and skill levels as they navigated the river from Pomeroy Bridge to Milligan Brook, taking them through 7km of class 1 and 2 rapids.
photos courtesy of Dreama Galbraith
The day began with an early morning registration and safety session, before participants first hit the water for a warm-up paddle. Racers were divided into 3 categories: solo canoe, tandem canoe and solo kayak.
photos courtesy of Dreama Galbraith
With the sun and the water on their faces, racers feverishly pushed down river for nearly an hour in a bid to win their individual categories and take home one of the custom-made trophies. In the end, it was Catherine Girard from Fredericton taking the top spot in the solo canoe category with a time of 46:54. Tanner Wolfe from Riverview was the top dog in the solo kayak category with a speedy time of 41:51. And the team of Calvin Taylor and Ian Macleod from Fredericton took the top spot in the tandem canoe category with a time of 42:47.
The event began as a way to bring attention to the Magaguadavic River and help foster the growth of the whitewater paddling community in Atlantic Canada. It drew both bigger crowds and more participants than last year, with paddlers coming from all over New Brunswick and even Nova Scotia and Maine to participate! Organizers hope to see that growth continue in the coming years. “By having these events, it helps bring together like-minded people, while introducing a new generation to the thrills of whitewater paddling!”, said Matthew Hall, one of the organizers. Follow the Magaguadavic River Race page on Facebook so you don’t miss next year’s race!
photos courtesy of Dreama Galbraith
