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Lord of the Fork Race

Russell Fork Race History

Informal races on the Russell Fork were happening in the early 90's with Joe Greiner, Brent Austin, Chris Hipgrave, Mike Clark, and a few others. In 1995, it became a timed event. In the first Russell Fork Rendezvous Race, Jeff Snyder in a Wavehopper beat Chris Hipgrave by 19 seconds. This set the stage for a rivalry between the two that lasted several years. Chris won in 1996 and set the course record of 9:53, with Jeff 1 second behind. Controversy surrounded the 1997 race as Hipgrave edged out Snyder by 2 seconds, but some suggested that Hipgrave started a couple seconds early. Amy Brown set the women's course record that year at 12:00. In 1998, the water level was cut back from 1100 to 800, but times were still fast. Hipgrave once again beat the 10-minute mark with a time of 9:58. Andy Bridge, in one of the best C-1 race performances ever, beat all the kayakers except the three in Wavehoppers (Chris, Jeff, and Boone Brothers), setting the C-1 course record of 11:23. Jay Ditty's 10:57 shattered that record in 2007. Danny Inman and Chris Hipgrave traded off wins the next few years, until Tommy Hilleke came onto the scene, winning his first race in 2002. No one beat him through 2004. Tommy's fastest time is 10:17 in 2003. Robin Betz won her first women's division in 2004 and has one each year until 2008. Adrienne Levknecht set the women's course record in 2009 at 11:08. Keith Sprinkle set the hand paddling record in 2009 at 11:39.

The race was renamed 'The Lord of the Fork Race' in 2004 in memory of our brother Jon Lord, who died at Tower Falls in January, 2004.



Results

2009

  1. Andrew Holcombe (Greenboat) 9:57 (first non-Wavehopper under 10 minutes)
  2. Geoff Calhoun (Greenboat) 10:06
  3. Chris Gragtmans (Greenboat) 10:07
  4. Isaac Levinson (Remix 100%) 10:16
  5. Ben Ledewitz (Greenboat) 10:24
  6. Bryan Kirk (Momentum) 10:32
  7. Toby MacDermott (Remix 100%) 10:34
  8. Clay Wright & Dane Jackson (Dynamic Duo) 10:38
  9. Jess Albright (Tornado) 10:43
  10. John Grace (Remix 100%) 10:44
  11. Brian Menzies (Greenboat) 10:47
  12. Andrew Austell (Greenboat) 10:48
  13. Clay Warren (Greenboat) 10:52
  14. Nick Troutman (Greenboat) 10:53
  15. Adam Herzog (Remix 100%) 10:54
  16. Shane Groves (Greenboat) 10:56
  17. Dustin Marquart (Greenboat) 10:57
  18. Will Stubblefield (Corsica S) 11:00
  19. Howard Tidwell (Spirit) 11:01
  20. Adriene Levknecht (Remix 100%) 11:08
  21. David Herman (Greenboat) 11:11
  22. Brian Mattingly (Greenboat) 11:12
  23. Jon Crain (Greenboat) 11:12
  24. Delaney Albright (Greenboat) 11:16
  25. Laura Farrell (Greenboat) 11:16
  26. Matt Walker (Greenboat) 11:18
  27. Curtis Joyce (Corsica) 11:19
  28. Caleb Coaplan (Tornado) 11:20
  29. Jay Ditty (Response) 11:22
  30. Eric Chance (Tornado) 11:24
  31. Jeff Clewell (Greenboat) 11:26
  32. Micheal Patterson (T-Canyon) 11:30
  33. Daniel Stewart (Remix 100%) 11:34
  34. Taylor Fearrington (Greenboat) 11:36
  35. Eric Strittmayer (Tornado) 11:37
  36. Gareth Tate (Greenboat) 11:38
  37. Adam Johnson (Magnum 72) 11:39
  38. Keith Sprinkle (Greenboat) 11:39
  39. Luke Hopkins (Excel) 11:41
  40. James Kodaras (Greenboat) 11:47
  41. Eric Hendrickson (Response) 11:58
  42. Bryan Jennings (Mystic) 12:03
  43. Mark Miller (Burn) 12:32
  44. Rachel Curtis (Jefe) 12:45
  45. Willy Witt (Overflow X) 13:20
  46. Dewey Gibson (Everest) 13:36
  47. Sara Mello (Greenboat) 13:38
  48. Preston Brown (Pirouette) 13:48

 

2008

  1. Andrew Holcombe Greenboat 10:03
  2. Bryan Kirk Momentum 10:14
  3. Chris Gragtmans Greenboat 10:16
  4. Pat Keller Greenboat 10:25
  5. Toby MacDermott Remix 100% 10:28
    Jason Beakes Greenboat 10:28
  6. Chris Hipgrave Remix 100% 10:29
  7. Clay Wright Greenboat 10:34
  8. Adam Herzog Remix 100% 10:38
  9. Matt Walker T-slalom 10:46
  10. John Grace Remix 100% 10:49
  11. Jay Ditty Response C-1 11:03
  12. James Kodaras Greenboat 11:04
  13. Paul Stamilio Greenboat 11:06
  14. Dustin Marquart Tornado 11:10
  15. Brian Menzies Greenboat 11:12
  16. Clay Warren Greenboat 11:13
  17. Howard Tidwell Infinity 11:15
    Will Stubblefield Corsica S 11:15
  18. Drew Austell Greenboat 11:17
  19. Eric Chance Aq. Mystic 11:26
    Ben Ledewitz Tornado 11:26
  20. John McConville Excel 11:30
  21. Robin Betz Remix 100% 11:41
  22. David Herman Corsica S 11:42
  23. Matias Nunez Momentum 11:44
  24. Chris Gallaway Momentum 11:45
  25. Jess Albright T-Canyon 11:46
  26. Brian Mattingly Greenboat 11:47
  27. Gareth Tate Greenboat 11:48
    Jeff Clewell Corsica 11:48
  28. Bill Sheppell Greenboat 11:50
  29. Brian Griesemer Crossfire 11:52
  30. Adam Bixby Tornado 11:55
    Ben Huneycutt Pirouette 11:55
  31. Ben Blake Corsica 11:56
  32. Laura Farrell Greenboat 12:01
    Tyler Fox Blisstick Mac 12:01
  33. Keith Sprinkle Greenboat 12:02
  34. Jon Crain Greenboat 12:06
  35. John Angermeier Corsica S 12:09
  36. Ed Gaker Greenboat 12:18
  37. Mark Miller Burn 12:22
  38. Jason Dillow Dancer 12:40
    Pikey Bucksey Superhero 12:40
  39. Willy Witt Overflow X 12:54
  40. Matt Delong Rocker 13:13
  41. Louise Urwin Mini-mystic 14:03
  42. Charles Armentrout Megarocker 14:27
  43. Delaney Albright Tornado 15:25
  44. Trevar Bennington Greenboat 16:50
  45. Brian Jennings Momentum 21:40

 

2007

  1. Toby MacDermott (Remix 100%) 10:27
  2. Geoff Calhoun (T-Canyon) 10:28
  3. Matt Walker (T-Slalom) 10:43
  4. Adam Herzog (Remix 100%) 10:44
  5. Bryan Kirk (WS Excel) 10:48
  6. Eric Henrickson (Mirage) 10:51
    John Grace (Remix 100%) 10:51
  7. Julian Campbell (Tornado) 10:53
  8. Jay Ditty (New Wave) 10:57 C-1
  9. Eric Chance (Tornado) 11:09
  10. Jason Hale (WS Momentum) 11:10
  11. Howard Tidwell (Spirit) 11:13 (swam the finish line!)
  12. Caleb Paquette (Tornado) 11:19
    Andrew Austell (Corsica) 11:19
  13. Paul Stamilio (Tornado) 11:20
  14. Jay Moffatt (Tornado) 11:25
  15. Isaac Ludwig (Dancer) 11:27
  16. Eric Strittmater (Tornado) 11:33
  17. Gifford Sanders (Crossfire) 11:49
  18. Luke Hopkins (Dancer) 11:52
  19. Brian Jennings (New Wave Quest) 12:04
  20. Nate Helms (Tornado bitch) 12:06
  21. Robin Betz (Remix 100%) 12:09 W
  22. Will Lyons (Cascade) 12:10 C-1
  23. Clay Warren (Response) 12:12
  24. Jason Parker (Tornado) 12:28
  25. Matt Delong (Vortex) 12:34
  26. Brian Mattingly (Jefe Grande) 13:02
  27. Mark Miller (Burn) 13:02
  28. Jon Crain (Jefe) 13:05
  29. Brad Buddenburg (Crossfire) 13:08
  30. Josh Burton (Habitat 80) 13:13
  31. Kirk Williams (Tornado) 13:18 Hand-paddle
  32. Matt Rudolph (Jefe) 14:46
  33. Katie Buddenburg (Mamba) 17:33 W (w/ a brief interruption)

2006

  1. Toby MacDermott: 10:32
  2. Matt Walker: 10:59
  3. Adam Herzog/
    James McLeod: 11:17
  4. Eric Henrickson: 11:20
  5. Jay Ditty: 11:30
  6. Robin Betz: 11:50
  7. Griffin Sanders: 11:56
  8. Dave Finney: 12:01
  9. Eric Nies/
    Willy Witt: 12:35
  10. Brian Mattingly: 13:08
  11. Jon Craine: 13:29

2005

  1. Toby MacDermott 10:51 *tie
    David Jacobson 10:51 *tie
  2. John Grace 10:52
  3. Bryan Kirk 10:53
  4. Joe Barkley 11:35
  5. Caleb Paquette 11:37
  6. Robin Betz 11:42 K-1 W *course record
  7. Jay Ditty 11:43 C-1
  8. Matt Walker 11:47
  9. Nathan Helms 11:49
  10. Eric Henrickson 11:56
    Kyle Wingler 11:56
  11. Greg Hoskins 12:03
  12. Nick Barron 12:10
  13. Ryan Bell 12:12
  14. Will Lyons 12:14 C-1
  15. David Herman 12:27
  16. Nick Urquhart 12:29
  17. Willy Witt 12:46
  18. Eric Nies 12:52
  19. Andy Dodson 12:53
  20. Dalton Creech 26:30 (finish-line beat down!)

2004

  1. Tommy Hilleke 10:52
  2. Jason Hale 10:56
  3. Eric Strittmater 10:58
  4. Caleb Copeland 11:02
  5. John Grace 11:04
  6. Toby MacDermott 11:08
  7. Howard Tidwell 11:12
  8. Adam Herzog 11:22
  9. Nathan Helms 11:24
  10. Caleb Paquette 11:25
  11. Ronnie Dilbeck 11:30
  12. Todd Scott 11:41
  13. Eric Henrickson 11:45
  14. Kyle Wingler 11:53
  15. Jay Ditty 12:12 C-1
  16. Robin Betz 12:26 K-1 W
  17. David Herman 12:28
  18. Matt Delong 12:30
  19. Willy Witt 13:15
  20. Daniel Talley 17:02

2003

  1. Tommy Hilleke 10:17
  2. David Jacobson 10:27
  3. Chris Hipgrave 10:28 WH
  4. Tobin MacDermott 10:53
  5. Eric Strittmater 10:57
  6. John Grace 10:58
  7. Adam Herzog 11:15
  8. Yves Narduzzi 11:37 C-
    9. 1
  9. Eric Henrickson 11:45
  10. Kyle Wingler 11:56
  11. Christopher Scott 11:57
  12. William Ransom 12:08
  13. Matt Delong 12:19
  14. Nikki Kelly 12:20 K-1
    15. W
  15. Ryan Bell 12:56
  16. Willy Witt 13:00
  17. Brandon Roy 13:18 hand-paddle, swim at finish line
  18. Jay Ditty 13:58 C-1
  19. Jason Ratliff 31:38 swim at towers

2002

  1. Tommy Hilleke 10:59
  2. Bo Wallace 11:01 WH
  3. Jason Hale 11:05
  4. Chris Hipgrave 11:08
  5. Eric Strittmater 11:13
    Brian Kirk 11:13
  6. Luke Hopkins 11:20
  7. Pete Persolja 11:25
  8. Nate Helms 11:29
  9. Sam Davis 11:30 C-1
  10. Chris Young 11:33
  11. Cory Hall 11:39
    Todd Scott 11:39
  12. Ben Martin 11:41
  13. Tobin MacDermott 11:51
  14. Adam Herzog 11;56
  15. Griffin Sanders 12:04
  16. Greg Hoskins 12:10
  17. Don Smith 12:13
  18. Eric Henrickson 12:18
  19. Jon Lord 12:20
  20. John Grace 12:21
  21. Chris Pesce 12:29
  22. Willy Witt 12:34
  23. Dave Jeffrey 12:51
  24. Chad Wamack 13:02
  25. Kurt Williams 13:07 Hand-paddle
  26. Jonathan Gold 13:12
  27. Cheezer 13:21 Hand-paddle
  28. Eric Nies 13:42
  29. Jason Ratliff 13:46
  30. Jay Ditty 14:00 C-1

2001

  1. Chris Hipgrave 10:43 sea kayak
  2. Tommy Hilleke 10:56
  3. Danny Inman 10:57
  4. D. Jackson 11:06
  5. Jason Hale 11:07
  6. Peter Persolja 11:15
  7. Chris Young 11:29
    Corey Hall 11:29
  8. Eric Strittmatter 11:37
  9. Toby Ressing 11:44
  10. Toby McDurbin 11:50
  11. Kyle Wingler "Lap Dancer" 12:01
    Greg Hoskins 12:01
  12. Caeleb Copeland 12:04
  13. Willy Witt 12:32
  14. Kurt Williams 13:00 Hand paddle *course record
  15. Jon Lord (Ride in Climax Hole - 1 :00) 13:06
  16. Ben Burgen 13:11
  17. Jay Ditty 14:20 C-1
  18. Matt Walker 14:49

2000

  1. Danny Inman 11:00
  2. Tommv Hilleke 11:30
  3. Eric Strittmatter 11:34
  4. Nate Helms 11:39
    Cory Hall 11:39
  5. Howard Tidwell 11:45
    Jason Hale 11:45
  6. Chris Young 11:49
  7. Clay Wright 11:55
  8. Greg Hoskins 12:12
  9. Duarte Morais l2:21
  10. Eric Henrickson 12:22
  11. Peter Persolja 12:28
  12. Eric Rolston 12 :32
  13. Buffy Bailey 12:34
  14. Jon Lord 12:36
  15. Daniel Talley 12:46
    Steve Matz 12:46
  16. Willy Witt 12:48
  17. Kyle Winkler 12:49
  18. Josh Bethea 13:13
  19. Harry Field 13:35 C-1
  20. Todd Miller 28:32
  21. Alan Jones and Rob Anderson ~2 hours Shredder

1999

  1. Chris Hipgrave 10:12 WH
  2. Danny Inman 11:13
  3. John Stockdill 11:17
  4. BJ Johnson 11:21
  5. Clem Newbold 11:30
  6. Brian Kirk 11:37
  7. Greg Hoskins 11:39
  8. Brian Jennings 11:42
  9. Chris Young 12:12
  10. Corey Hall 12:15
  11. John Grace 12:18
  12. Daniel Tally 12:21
  13. Nathan Helms 12:27
  14. Duarte Marab 12:52
  15. Ryan Bell 12:54
  16. John Lord 12:57
  17. Joey Buranski 12:57
  18. Steven Matz 12:58
  19. JB Seay 12:58
  20. Eric Nies 13:03
  21. Evan Collins 13:05
  22. Brad Key 13:10
  23. Matt Michael 14:14
  24. Brent Austin 14:38
  25. Steve Frazer 14:45 OC-1 *course record
  26. Paul Fantetti 14:46 OC-1

1998

  1. Chris Hipgrave 9:58 WH
  2. Jeff Snyder 10:23 WH
  3. Boone Brothers 10:51 WH
  4. Andy Bridge 11:23 C-1 *course record
  5. Jason Hale 11:28
  6. Jon Stockdill 11:30
  7. Greg Hoskins 11:34
  8. BJ Johnson 11:36
  9. Bryan Jennings 11:49
  10. Eric Strittmatter 11:52
  11. Bryan Kirk 11:53
  12. Joe Pugh 12:02
  13. Chris Hull 12:06
  14. Shannon Carroll 12:10 K-1 W
  15. Matt Terry 12:21
  16. Allistair Donald 12:28
  17. Eric Hendrickson 12:28
  18. John Lord 12:31
  19. Willy Witt 12:45
  20. Brent Austin 12:58
  21. Joe Baranski 12:59
  22. John Grace 13:10
  23. Hope Concannon 13:28 K-1-W
  24. Harry Field 14:57 C-1
  25. Paul Fantetti 16:22 OC-1
  26. Colby Mackey ? Strider

1997

  1. Chris Hipgrave 10:00 WH
  2. Jeff Snyder 10:02 WH
  3. Howard Tidwell 10:37
  4. Jerry Lechowick 10:44
  5. Clay Wright 10:50
  6. BJ Johnson 10:53
  7. Greg Hoskins 10:56
  8. Dirk Davidson 10:57
  9. Danny Inman 11:04
  10. Eric Strittmater 11:09
  11. Jeff West 11:11
  12. Clem Newbold 11:12
  13. Jason Hale 11:14
  14. Chris Hull 11:17
  15. Rick Gusic 11:20
  16. Andy Bridge 11:29 C-1
  17. David Jeffrey 11:49
  18. Matt Terry 11:52
  19. Bryan Jennings 11:57
  20. Amy Brown 12:00 K-1 W *course record
  21. Shannon Carroll 12:18 K-1 W
  22. Terresa Rogerson 12:21 K-1 W
  23. Eric Henrickson 12:29
  24. Katie Nietert 12:26 K-1 W
  25. Willy Witt 12:40
  26. Jon Lord 13:11
  27. Jamie Casson 13:14
  28. Brent Austin 13:33
  29. Andy Lee 13:45
  30. Paul Fantetti 16:43 OC-1

1996 (missing)

  1. Chris Hipgrave 9:53 WH *course record
  2. Jeff Snyder 9:54 WH

1995

  1. Jeff Snyder 10:52 WH
  2. Chris Hipgrave 11:11
  3. Boone Brothers 11:30
  4. Rick Gusic 11:58
  5. Andy Bridge 12:06 C-1
  6. John Horrell 12:26
  7. John Stockdill 12:33
  8. Greg Hoskins 12:35
  9. Joe Greiner 12:47
  10. Eric Strittmater 12:49
  11. Danny Inman 13:36
  12. Chris Bell 13:43
  13. Mike Clark 13:53
  14. Blake Brame 14:07
  15. Marc Harman 25:54

Big thanks to Jack Ditty, Willy Witt, Brent Austin and Greg Hoskins for providing this archive!