Callie Rohr Memorial Canoe Race

Callie Rohr Memorial Canoe Race
June 14-15, 2008

Race Flyer 08 Race Description 08 Race Registration 08 Release Form

What happened in 2007

It was a great weekend for the third annual Callie Rohr Memorial Canoe Race which benefits the American Brain Association. Fifty-one Recreation and Pro paddlers took to the course and raced the 26 miles on the Headwaters of the Wisconsin River from Rohr's landing in Conover to the finish at the Eagle River Inn in Eagle River. Recreation and Pro paddlers all committed to helping the Rohr's in their mission of "Making a Difference". Jeff and Marcia Rohr lost their daughter Callie to a brain tumor and hope that they can fulfill Callie's belief that some day there will be a cure.

Rohr's Wilderness Tours along with WRJO Radio sponsored this tremendous event, "Paddle for a Cure". Thanks go to Conserve School,The Eagle River Inn, McDonald's of Eagle River, Coca Cola, Cover to Cover Designers,Things of Wood, Bending Branches Paddles, Wild Eagle Lodge, Lake Forest Resort & Club, Lac Vieux Resort Casino, East Balt Commissary, 1st National Bank of Eagle River and Wenonah Canoe who supported the race in the capacity of Bronze, Silver and Gold level sponsors. Race Sponsors are categorized by Bronze=$500.00, Silver=$1000.00 and Gold=$2500.00 donation levels. A big thank you to the many businesses in the area who gave prizes and services to support this great event. Thank yous also go to all the volunteers who gave of themselves to make this event a success; their devotion to the Rohr's vision of "Making a Difference" is evident in the outcome of race weekend. The weekend began with a delicious breakfast Saturday morning by the Conover Lion's Club. The starting line-up drawing lead the events for the start of the Recreation Class races with the new Recreation Racer leading the way down the river followed by Mixed Tamdems starting from Rohr's Wilderness Tours in Conover. The recreation paddlers in several different classes attacked the course over Saturday and Sunday in two equal heats. Day 1 racing ended at River Road in Conover where spectators cheered their progress as they arrived. Saturday evening there was a "Party for Progress" at Rohr's where all enjoyed a cookout, music by Jeff Rohr & Friends and an auction. Jeff Rohr & Friends debuted the CD "Play for a Cure"; a collection of blues, rock and jazz which also benefits the American Brain Tumor Association. The CD can be purchased for $10.00 by contacting Rohr's Wilderness Tours directly.

Sunday brought racing starts at both Rohr's Wilderness Tours and River Road. The Pro Racers started at 9 AM at Rohrs, and the Recreation Classes began Day 2 at River Road. The Pro Racers did the entire canoe marathon on Sunday, which they say, makes this one of the most challenging Pro races in the Midwest.

It was exciting to see the racers as they sped from the Wisconsin River into Watersmeet Lake and then to the finish. Big excitement this year was the new Recreation Racer class. This was a race within itself; three of the boats have participated in the previous two years. Two of the three have been winners in their respective classes. As of Sunday morning Bob Knops and Bill Peshel were leading the class, but when they appeared on the lake Donna Hoelz and Mary Eloranta were leading. It was exciting to watch as they raced for the finish. Weather, wind and the path you take on the lake made the difference; Bob and Bill beat the ladies by 7:50 minutes. What a spectacular finish! Spectators cheered from lawn of The Eagle River Inn and the safety boats waved their flags. The weather was good for the third running of this wonderful race weekend, not too hot this year and a little rain mixed in at times. After all the racers were in everyone enjoyed a fabulous pig roast hosted by The Eagle River Inn along with more raffles, auction, trophies and awards.

The net proceeds of this race weekend go to The American Brain Tumor Association. The Callie Rohr Memorial Canoe Race has raised $13,800 in 2007 which will be used for the "Callie Rohr Research Award" for brain tumor research. In May of 2006 the American Brain Tumor Association gave the designation "Callie Rohr Research Award" in recognition of the Rohr's ongoing efforts of support. This years research award is at St. Jude's Childrens Hospital in Memphis, Tennesse.

Raffle winners for 2007 include:
Accomodations: D. Olson - IL, Mary Reed - WI, Karen Jackson - WI, Dan Fischer - WI, D. Olson - IL
Quilt: Craig Dishner - NC, Deb Streff - WI
Canoe: Jack Combs - WI
Congratulations to all the lucky winners and thank you for helping to make a difference with your participation.

If you missed this event in 2007, the Rohr's say, they are already planning next years "Paddle for a Cure" to be held June 14-15, 2008.

ABTA Message Racers Messages

2007 Race Results:

Recreation Classes - 2 day event - elasped times totaled

Recreation Racer - unlimited

1...Bob Knops/Bill Peshel...Rhinelander, WI/Woodruff, WI...5:28:00

2...Donna Hoelz/Mary Eloranta...Wales, WI/Pewaukee, WI...5:35:50

3...Jessie Stevens/Stephanie Shong...Cambridge, WI/Cambridge, WI...5:38:30

4...Ken Clough...Madison, WI...6:09:42

5...Brian Webber/Marissa Webber...Lake Mills, WI/Lake Mills, WI...6:14:50

Mixed Tandem

1...Tim Davis/Melissa Wenszell...Minneapolis, MN/Richfield, MN...6:32:51

2...Kevin Johnson/Megan Johnson...Madison, WI/Madison, WI...6:39:32

3...Jill Hunger/Steve Hunger...Lodi, WI/Lodi, WI...7:13:59

4...Patsy Sitkiewitz/Nate Britholtz...Presque Isle, WI/Crystal Lake, IL...7:26:20

5...Kevin Botkins/Abi Burkett...Eagle River, WI/Eagle River, WI...7:29:51

Women's Tandem

1...Ruth Jaeger/Judy Swank...Rhinelander, WI/Rhinelander, WI...6:15:18

Adult/Child Tandem Canoe

1...Jagger Scholz/Jim Scholz...Rhinelander, WI/Rhinelander, WI...6:26:16

2...Dennis Kranz/Nathan Cox...Rhinelander, WI/Machesney Park, IL...6:38:49

Solo Canoe

1...Jim Mullen...Hazelhurst, WI...5:56:18

2...Patrick Cannon...Black Earth, WI...6:36:30

Kayak

1...Tom Schneider...Merrill, WI...5:34:08

2...Daniel McMahon...Shoreview, MN...5:48:36

3...Bruce Nelson...Madison, WI...6:06:20

4...Jeremy Johnson...Hartland, WI...6:54:46

5...Karen Mesmer...Baraboo, WI...6:55:41

6...Leah Schubert...Middleton, WI...7:43:14

7...Brian McCoy...Middleton, WI...7:43:17

8...Kathleen Clavette...New Berlin, WI...8:25:14

dnf...Caralle Guintoli...Racine, WI

Pro Classes - 1 day event

Pro Kayak

1...Jaya Elleson...Madison, WI...5:46:40

2...Rich Hodgkins...Palatine, IL...5:54:20

3...Margaret Cipolla...Palatine, IL...5:55:40

Pro C1

1...Jan Perrin...Monona, WI...5:47:30

2...Kevin LeRoy...Fitchburg, WI...5:53:35

3...Neil Wiesner-Hanks...Mequon, WI...5:53:37

4...Fritz Hansen...Burlington, WI...5:54:32

5...Beth Schultz...Oconomowoc, WI...5:54:33

Sponsored by:

Need more information, please contact us! We'd love to have you be a part of this wonderful event.