Photo: Team Guava Limb – Champions of Lions’ Club “Save the New River” Race 2024
by William Ysaguirre
SAN ESTEVAN VILLAGE, Orange Walk District, Sun. Oct. 13, 2024
Team Guava Limb: Javier Guardado, Danny Cruz, Jr. and Andres Cabb returned to win the 3rd annual Lions’ Club “Save the New River” canoe race for a 2nd year, from Bat’s Landing near Tower Hill bridge to the San Estevan Lion’s Den, on Sunday morning, October 13.
The Guava Limb boys paddled into 1st place in 2:03:57, to win the $500 first prize and a trophy.
The Belmopan Blue Waves: Rudolph, Ruel and Rhuan Sho finished 2nd overall in 2:04:16, to win first prize in the Family category; they also won the 2nd station prize of a gift certificate at the first Bypass bridge near San Jose Palmar.
The Black Orchid team: Wilberto Daniels, Kenrick Daniels and Brandon Lind finished 3rd overall in 2:04:44, to win 2nd prize in the Male category; they also won the first station prize at the Tower Hill bridge.
The “Brothers” team: Luis, Josey and Yonie Garcia, finished 4th overall in 2:04:47, to win 3rd prize in the Male category.
The “Warriors” team: 12x Ruta Maya champion Amado Cruz and Cristian Lopez were 5th overall in 2:11:09, to claim 1st prize in the C-2 category; they also won the 3rd station prize from the Lamanai Riverside Retreat passing the resort.
The Table Rock team: Dhazslim McNabb and Alberto Soto finished 6th overall in 2:13:48, to win 2nd prize in the C-2 category.
The “Boom Tribe”: Shane Young, Jeffery Seguro and Shennel Pook finished 7th overall in 2:15:40, to win 1st prize in the Mixed category; they also won the 4th station prize at the Banquitas House of Culture.
The “Prairie Scooters”: Cherly Olson, Tom Swierczynski and Luis Marin were 8th overall in 2:20:57, to win 1st prize in the Masters category; they also won the 5th station prize at the 2nd Bypass bridge.
The Travellers’ “Fine and Dandy like Brandy” team: Fernando Oliva and Miguel Mangandid was 9th overall in 2:24:23, taking 3rd prize in the C-2 category.
The “Grumpy Old Folks”: Jerry Wilkens, Minette Guerra and Helena Usher rounded out the top 10 overall, to win 2nd prize in the Masters category.
The Guydis Canoes team: 2-times Ruta Maya champ Chris Guydis, Jayda Guydis and 5-year-old Connor Daniels brought up the rear in 2:45:24, to win 2nd prize in the Family category. Connor, a student of Pancotto Primary School in Sandhill, was the youngest paddler in the race.
The San Estevan Lion’s Club organizes the race each year to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting the health of the New River as a habitat for all the colorful birds, animals and fish who inhabit the river, to contribute to Belize’s biodiversity for generations to come. This means monitoring and guarding against misuse of the river water that results in fish kills, algal blooms and the putrid smell that indicates something amiss.
Each team also won a six-pack of Belikin Beer from the race sponsors Bowen & Bowen. Other sponsors included Wild Dog Foods/ Blue Creek Insurance Company; the Social Investment Fund; Centaur Communications Corp. Ltd; the Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño; the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation; BELAGRO; Oceana Belize; the Orange Walk Town Council; Bat’s Landing/ Lamanai Eco Tours; the Vega’s: Jeremy, Zamir and Omir; RF & J Stone Company; Zeta Ice; the Castillo’s: Oswaldo, Ruby and Oscar; Kevin Gutierrez and Harold Westby; “Lee Bit ah Everything”; Creation Designs; and other private individuals.