No sunglasses per Charities For Profit.

Duck Race Celebrity Regatta
5:00 p.m. SummerFest Sunday, August 10, 2008
On The River in Memorial Park, St. Marys, Ohio

What is the Celebrity Regatta?

The Duck Race Celebrity Regatta consists of two heats of five 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 RRR Tire Service.

2008 Regatta Celebrities


Introducing our Celebrities:
(in alphabetical order)

Mike Freewalt Rookie
"Elvis Presley"

Lance Ibrahim Rookie
"Local Star Athlete" and Club Soccer Coach

Andy Lynch Rookie
WTLW Channel 44 Sports Director

Tony Godinho Rookie
Designated Ringer for Tareese Nedderman
St. Marys Club Soccer Representative

Leslie Norris-Townsend Rookie
TV Host of Wish Upon A Song SCRATCH

Julie Reams Rookie
West Elem. Teacher & MHS Events Manager

Mike Reams Rookie
Industrial Arts Teacher & FCA Advisor

Doug Spencer Did Not Win in 2006
Auglaize County Commissioner

Scott Weber Defending Champion
MHS Girls Soccer Asst. Coach

Marissa Wenning Rookie
2007 Summerfest Queen

 

August 11, 2003 Evening Leader story

The Duck Race Celebrity Regatta
 Ravine of Champions

2008 Champion: Tony Godinho
Designated Ringer for Tareese Nedderman
St. Marys Club Soccer Representative

2007 Champion: Scott Weber
Designated Ringer for Paul Dingledine
St. Marys Girls Varsity Soccer Coach.

2006 Champion: Alyssa Ahlers
2005 Summerfest Queen

2005 Champion: Craig Gottshalk
St. Marys Board of Education

2004 Champion: Nick Fortman
"Mr. MHS" 2004

2003 Champion: Amy Cron
3-Time State Qualifier in 2 OHSAA Swimming Events

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

Kenneth Baker Did Not Win in 2005
Superintendent, St. Marys City Schools

Brad Bartlett Did Not Win in 2003
Independent Candidate for Mayor & Owner of Bartlett's Drive Thru

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

B.J. Bethel Did Not Win in 2005
Sports Editor, The Evening Leader

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

Jonathan Burke Did Not Win in 2005
2005 "Mr. MHS"

Kari Burke Did Not Win in 2005
2004 Summerfest Queen

Mike Burkholder Did Not Win in 2007
Evening Leader Managing Editor.

Kyrstan Chambers Did Not Win in 2004
2003 SummerFest Queen

Bill Cheslock Did Not Win in 2001
MHS Guidance Counselor

Brian "Red" Christopher Did Not Win in 2006
SMPD Officer

Stacy Clausing Did Not Win in 2003
2-Time OHSAA State Track Champion

Ken Cline Did Not Win in 2003
St. Marys Fire Department Chief

Jim Coons Did Not Win in 2001
WCSM Radio Personality

Jasmine Craft Did Not Win in 2004
OHSAA Swimming State Qualifier

Sara Dieringer Did Not Win in 2005
"Little Riders" Coach

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

Bill Fitzgerald SCRATCH - Did Not Win in 2007
2007 Summerfest Committee Chairman

Bob Fitzgerald Did Not Win in 2004
2004 Summerfest Committee Chairman

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

Mike Freewalt Did Not Win in 2008
"Elvis Presley"

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

Don Glaser Did Not Win in 2000
Prudential Insurance Agent

Ron Gorby Did Not Win in 2003
Owner/Operator S&W Motel and Suites

Kendra Gottschalk Did Not Win in 2004
SMCS Teacher

Sue Grothaus Did Not Win in 2007
WBL Champs and Division II State Runnerup MHS Girls Softball Coach.

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

Graeme Hodson Did Not Win in 2005
Goodyear Plant Manager

Mark Huber Did Not Win in 2005
2005 SummerFest Committee Chairman

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

Joe Hurlburt Did Not Win in 2004
WKKI Sports Radio Personality

Lance Ibrahim Did Not Win in 2008
"Local Star Athlete" and Club Soccer Coach

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

Kelly Kill Did Not Win in 2006
Director St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce

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

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

Tom "Boog" Knous Did Not Win in 2003
"Mr. MHS" 2003

Rick Kogge Did Not Win in 2004
Owner, Kogge Inc.

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

John Krupa Did Not Win in 2003
Staff Reporter for The Evening Leader

Dave Lewis Did Not Win in 2006
MHS Assistant Principal

Brett Liming Did Not Win in 2006
2006 Summerfest Committee Chairman

Kay Maher Did Not Win in 2003
Owner/Operator of Miller's Café

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

Jack McBride Did Not Win in 2007
MHS Vo-Ag Teacher

Kurt Meier Did Not Win in 2006
CPA Business Owner

John Menker Did Not Win in 2004
Owner, The Style Salon and Buckeye Storage

Dean Moeller Did Not Win in 2007
Chamber of Commerce President and local business owner.

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

Leslie Norris-Townsend SCRATCHED in 2008
TV Host of Wish Upon A Song

Julie Reams Did Not Win in 2008
West Elem. Teacher & MHS Events Manager

Mike Reams Did Not Win in 2008
Industrial Arts Teacher & FCA Advisor

J.R. Riffle Did Not Win in 2006
WKKI Radio Personality

Dave Ring Did Not Win in 2006
MHS Head Soccer Coach

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

Scott Schulte Did Not Win in 2007
MHS Athletic Director

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

Jason "Shroom" Schumm Did Not Win in 2006
WEBN Cincinnati Radio Personality

Derrick Seaver Did Not Win in 2001, 2002 or 2003
State Representative

Ashley Silver Did Not Win in 2007
2006 Summerfest Queen

Doug Spencer Did Not Win in 2006 or 2008
Candidate, Auglaize County Commissioner

Jennifer Strickland Did Not Win in 2001
2000 SummerFest Queen

Steve Stroh Did Not Win in 2004
St. Marys Youth Center Director

Lisa Tobin Did Not Win in 2007
School Board member

Lori Triplett Did Not Win in 2000
1999 SummerFest Queen

Derek Turner Did Not Win in 2005
City Engineer Tech

Doris Wale Did Not Win in 2006
SMPD Officer

Kimmer Wale Did Not Win in 2000
2000 SummerFest Committee Chairman

Marissa Wenning Did Not Win in 2008
2007 Summerfest Queen

Ralph Wiley Did Not Win in 2007
School Board member

Doug Wilker Did Not Win in 2004
2004 Band Parents President

Laura Yelton Did Not Win in 2005
State Farm Select Agent

Todd Yohey Did Not Win in 1999 or 2003
SMCS Ass't Supt. & 2003 Summerfest Committee Chairman

Claire Zink Did Not Win in 2005
2004 Homecoming Queen

Kelly Jo Zink Did Not Win in 2003
2002 SummerFest Queen

 

* 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!
Thanks for surfin' through Botkinland Index

Botkinland is best viewed with  Netscape 4.0 or higher ~ 1024×768 resolution ~ Crescendo! midi plug-in ~ Happy Surfin'!
Original material ©2008 Chris Botkin ~ all rights reserved ~ surfers since June 11, 1997.
fin