This weekend was a special one for those in Bainbridge as the Annual General Clinton Canoe Regatta marked its 50th year. As our Elyse Mickalonis tells us, attendance wasn't exactly what organizers anticipated, but there was still plenty of excitement on the waters of the Susquehanna River.

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BAINBRIDGE, N.Y. -- From carnival rides to tractor pulls, there was something for everyone this Memorial Day weekend in Bainbridge.

“Each time you move up a class you increase the weight, first class 1,050 pounds, second class 1,100 pounds,” said Scott Fox, Hamden Resident, about the tractor pull.

But it was a series of canoe races that drew people from near and far to cheer on family and friends.

“We pulled a team together during the last week and we races the al relays, so we had a great time, everybody had fun,” said Tom Payne, Massachusetts.

Severine Tisne, France Resident, added, “The water was a lot higher than last year, so it felt like it was faster.”

This weekend marks the 50th Annual General Clinton Canoe Regatta. The event normally attracts more than 1,500 paddlers to 50 races in one or two-person classes on the Susquehanna River. On Sunday Paddlers made their way from Oneonta to Bainbridge in a Grand Prix Relay race and Open Stock Aluminum race among others.

“We found out we were going to be going against adults didn’t think we would do that good just wanted to go out and we finished first and it’s great,” said Thomas Swislosky, Unatego High School Sophomore.

Brandon Swislosky, Sidney High School Freshman, added, “When we got here it was like, ‘Wow, we beat them all,’ it was amazing.”

Organizers say they didn’t have as big of a turn out as they hoped for this weekend, but it’s an event that brings people together and one they plan on continuing year after year.

“Our numbers have dropped little bit, but not bad. So it’s just like everything around here, because the population kind of decreased in this area, but it’s a great event,” said John Harmon, Regatta Chairman.

50 years of competition and fun.

Paddlers will embark on a 70-mile race down the Susquehanna River on Memorial day.
The race will start in Cooperstown and end Bainbridge. It’s the world’s longest single-day flat water marathon canoe race and part of the North American Triple Crown of Canoeing.