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Milton canoe and kayak race celebrates 20 years

World War II veteran Bill Hahn, 96, paddled the Broadkill River from Lewes to Milton in a canoe with Alan Reid. NICK ROTH PHOTOS
Nick Roth
August 30, 2019

Paddlers battled stiff winds and a strong current in the 20th annual Broadkill Canoe and Kayak Races Aug. 24. Participants entered the water at the end of Oyster Rocks Road and paddled west to Milton Memorial Park. 

Nearly 100 entrants competed in various categories, including single kayak, tandem kayak, tandem canoe, four-person canoe and stand-up paddleboard. 

Race winner Nik Alshayev, 33, and Cliff Roach, 58, stayed stroke-for-stroke through most of the race, finishing one second apart in 1:26:07 and 1:26:08, respectively. 

Also featured in the race was 96-year-old World War II veteran Bill Hahn, who served in the South Pacific on the USS Alabama. He rowed the entire race with Alan Reid. Hahn has competed in most of the Broadkill races over the last two decades. 

For more information, call Irish Eyes at 302-684-8889.

World War II veteran Bill Hahn, 96, paddled the Broadkill River from Lewes to Milton in a canoe with Alan Reid. NICK ROTH PHOTOS
Kayakers are off to a great start at the annual Milton canoe and kayak races up the Broadkill River from Oyster Rocks to Memorial Park in Milton.
Charlie Johnson, 69, glides through the finish line in Milton. He clocked a time of 1:44:55 to finish second in the Surfski single division.
Onlookers take photos of canoes and kayaks as they approach the finish line.
Glen Green, 72, crosses the finish line at Milton Memorial Park.
Runner-up Stephen Weiss, 62, pushes hard through the midpoint of the race.
A crew from the Washington Canoe Club finishes strong.
World War II veteran Bill Hahn, 96, paddled the Broadkill River from Lewes to Milton in a canoe with Alan Reid.
Gary White, 64, casually paddles toward Milton.
Michael Keller, 34, paddles toward the Route 1 bridge over the Broadkill River.
Zachary Paikin, 15, and Robert Gingrich, 72, work together like a well-oiled machine.
Gloria Vestal, 56, enjoys the morning paddle.
Brayton Palmer, 49, was the sole competitor in the male single canoe race.
David Kohler, 68, cruises through the halfway point of the race.
Glen Green, 72, looks like a veteran kayaker.
Jeff Evans, 47, puts in hard work to keep pace.
Igor Ioshpa, 57, races past onlookers on a boat.
Jeff Lusk, 53, stays hydrated during the long race.
Charlie Johnson, 69, cruises to a time of 1:44:55.
Race winner Nik Alshayev, 33, left, and Cliff Roach, 58, stay stroke-for-stroke through the midpoint of the race.
Michael Keller, 34, is ready to get the race started.
Karen Febey and Dave Armstrong work together. They finished in a time of 1:43:32, first in the male/female tandem category.
A kayaker and stand-up paddleboarder cruise along the shore of the Broadkill River.
Kayakers space out as they try to keep pace along the Broadkill approaching Route 1.

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Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams. 

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