It has been 87 years since Robert Bruce was asked to organize the first Ohio River event in 1938. During that 87-year time period there was a war that stopped the annual event, floods, and an occasional lack of interest. Fortunately, there has always been someone along the way willing to pick up the event and carry on the tradition of championship racing alongside the community.

That tradition for the last fourteen years has been carried on by the hard work of Sharon and Sam Winer. Last weekend’s event was no exception to that tradition. Under perfectly blue skies and warm breezes, the tunnel style boats returned to enjoy the hospitality of the community and the hundreds of visitors to the event.

Saturday saw the four classes of boats, SST 45, SST 60, SST120 and Formula 200 boats run two heats in their respective classes. Those heats gave each of them their location on the starting grid for Sunday’s championship races.

The weekend’s events were well organized and stayed on track. Each race began on time as scheduled until the last race Sunday. With only one and half laps left in the Formula 200 feature race there were no incidents. But on lap 28, with only one and a half laps left in the final race, Jonah Gilbertson’s boat from Minnesota flipped in the north turn. After a few tense moments Gilbertson surfaced and waved to the rescuers he was okay. At that point, officials determined the race was official and declared Tyler Welch winner and Champion of the Event. For his efforts he was awarded the Wetzel County Trophy to have his name forever inscribed on its base.

The free event was well attended and children had the opportunity to play on the inflatable rides. Danny Westfall entertained the crowds with thousands of floating bubbles. Food vendors and crafts persons were rewarded with a profitable weekend. On Friday evening, Main Street was filled with fire trucks, pageant queens and princesses and a long line of racing boats as the Regatta parade made its way through town.

The many community sponsors can feel proud that their financial help to fund the free event makes the community one of the most enjoyed on the racing circuit.

Winners for this year’s events: SST 45, First Place #30 Ashton Cafarelli, 2nd place # 52 Addison Dunford, 3rd place # 91 James Klein. In the SST 60 class: 1st went to #23 Mark Padfield, 2nd Place Jonah Gilbertson, 3rd place #13 Joseph Padfield. In the SST 120 class, 1st place went to #5 Brian Tabara, 2nd place went to #47 Jake Allama, and 3rd place went to #24 Jonah Gilbertson. In the Formula 200 class 1st Place went to Tyler Welch, 2nd place Aiden Benton, 3rd place Jake Allama.