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Duck Race Celebrity Regatta
(formerly known as the Celebrity Time Trials)
5:00 p.m. SummerFest Sunday, August 11, 2002
On The River in Memorial Park, St. Marys, Ohio

What is the Celebrity Regatta?

The Duck Race Celebrity Regatta consists of two heats of six innertubers "racing" down the Duck Race course on the St. Marys River (see photo below). The first three finishers in each heat qualify for the Finals.

All SummerFest weekend right up to the Regatta start at 5:00 pm Sunday, wager tickets will be sold at the Duck Race Booth for $1.00 each. The purchaser will write his name, phone number and the name of one celebrity on each ticket, and place it in that celebrity's ticket bin. In this way, betting lines can be generated to provide "odds" on the participants.

After the Finals, one ticket will be drawn at random from the ticket bin of the winning celebrity, and that ticket's purchaser will win $100.00. The winning celebrity will be proclaimed "Anas Curriculum Deus" (Duck Race God) and crowned with whatever piece of trash the Duck Race Committee finds appropriate or handy.

The celebrities are volunteering their time and energies. They are only committed to show up, not necessarily to strive to win. For their trouble, they will receive a Duck Race tee shirt, a hearty handshake and, if requested, a thorough hosing-down when they come out of the river. Not to mention the fact that they will have a lot of fun.

Celebrities are chosen by invitation only. The Duck Race Committee looks for a mix of St. Marys folks who through their talents, occupations, or personalities are well known throughout the community, thus providing a "draw" for spectators and wagerers.

Inner tubes courtesy of Mike's Tire Service.

2002 Regatta Celebrities

2002 Regatta Celebrities
(L-R, front) - Fred Hullinger, 2002 SummerFest Committee Chairman; Kacie Bruggeman, 2001 SummerFest Pageant Queen; Amy Cron, 3-time state qualifier in 2 OHSAA swimming events; Linda Bubp, owner, Pet Round-Up; Ken Koverman, Post Commander, Lima Post Ohio Highway Patrol; Dr. Bob Keighley*, Partner, St. Marys Surgical Associates. (L-R, back) - Derrick Seaver, State Representative; John Bergman, Auglaize County Commissioner; Katie Hertenstein (as Duffy the Duck), St. Marys Seahawks Swim Team coach; Al Solomon, Auglaize County Deputy Sheriff; Mark Ashman, MHS and University of Dayton basketball star; Stephen Kill, multi-sport MHS athlete and 2002 "Mr. MHS."
...and they're off! Mark Ashman Kacie Bruggeman Linda Bubp Dr. Bob Keighley* Stephen Kill Ken Koverman Derrick Seaver ...whew!
The Duck Race Celebrity Regatta
 Ravine of Champions

2002 Champion: Dr. Bob Keighley*
Partner, St. Marys Surgical Associates, Inc.

2001 Champion: Al Solomon
Auglaize County Deputy Sheriff

2000 Champion: Kurt Kuffner
Business Manager, St. Marys City Schools

1999 Champion: Jennifer Botkin
1998 SummerFest Queen
 

* 2002 Final Heat was cancelled due to lightning: Dr. Bob Keighley won drawing held between six finalist qualifiers.

The Duck Race Celebrity Regatta
 Slough of non-Champions

Mark Ashman* Did Not Win in 2002
MHS & University of Dayton Basketball Star

John Bergman Did Not Win in 1999, 2000 or 2002
Auglaize County Commissioner

Bruce Brown Did Not Win in 1999
Principal, East Elementary School

Kacie Bruggeman Did Not Win in 2002
2001 SummerFest Queen

Linda Bubp Did Not Win in 1999, 2000, 2001 or 2002
Owner, Pet Round-Up

Bill Cheslock Did Not Win in 2001
MHS Guidance Counselor

Jim Coons Did Not Win in 2001
WCSM Radio Personality

Amy Cron* Did Not Win in 2002
3-Time State Qualifier in 2 OHSAA Swimming Events

Jeff Eyrich Did Not Win in 2001
Executive Director, Valley Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Greg Freewalt Did Not Win in 1999
Mayor, City of St. Marys

Joe Ginter Did Not Win in 1999 or 2001
St. Marys City Schools Teacher

Don Glaser Did Not Win in 2000
Prudential Insurance Agent

Katie Hertenstein* Did Not Win in 2002
St. Marys Seahawks & former MHS Swim Team Coach

Dean Hobler Did Not Win in 1999
President, St. Marys City Council

Fred Hullinger* Did Not Win in 2002
2002 SummerFest Committee Chairman

Chris "Priest" Kellermeyer Did Not Win in 2001
Lead singer, Apolsai

Stephen Kill* Did Not Win in 2002
"Mr. MHS" 2002

Charlie Knous Did Not Win in 2000
Owner, C & C Loft & Lounge

Ken Koverman Did Not Win in 2002
Commander, Lima Post Ohio Highway Patrol

Michael Makley Did Not Win in 1999
Principal, Memorial High School

Kraig Noble Did Not Win in 2000
City of St. Marys Law Director

Larry Schaaf Did Not Win in 1999
Owner, Schaaf Auto Sales, Inc.

Ben Schultz Did Not Win in 1999
25-Year MHS Sports Aide and Volunteer

Derrick Seaver Did Not Win in 2001 or 2002
State Representative

Jennifer Strickland Did Not Win in 2001
2000 SummerFest Queen

Lori Triplett Did Not Win in 2000
1999 SummerFest Queen

Kimmer Wale Did Not Win in 2000
2000 SummerFest Committee Chairman

Todd Yohey Did Not Win in 1999
Principal, West Elementary School

 

* 2002 Finalist: Final Heat was cancelled due to lightning.

Duck Race Celebrity Regatta participants must:

1. Be able to swim.
2. Wear shoes in the River.
3. Start and Finish inside the lane.
4. Remain afloat on top of their inner tubes at all times during the race.

St. Marys River - Home of the Duck Race
The Duck Race Course Starting Gate

Unofficial Duck Race Theme Song:
"Kickin' Back"
Chris Botkin
Why a Duck?
Click me to make it stop!
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Original material ©2002 Chris Botkin ~ all rights reserved ~ surfers since June 11, 1997.
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