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HomeNewsClarksville's Riverfest Festival kicked off today with the Regatta boat race

Clarksville’s Riverfest Festival kicked off today with the Regatta boat race

Clarksville Riverfest 2014Clarksville, TN – The Riverfest Regatta, presented by U.S. Bank, is not your typical boat race. The boats racing down the Cumberland River at Saturday morning, September 6th were made of cardboard or plastic bottles along with a few other approved materials.

ā€œWe always enjoy the opportunity to sponsor city events,ā€ said Steve Kemmer of US Bank. ā€œThis is the eighth annual Riverfest Regatta, and we have been part of this event for the past several years! It’s just a great way for us to give back to the community, and they have a lot of fun! The creativity is unbelievable.ā€

Boats competing in the 2014 Riverfest Regatta
Boats competing in the 2014 Riverfest Regatta

ā€œWe’re excited to be here today!ā€ said Kevin Cowling, the manager of operations for the Clarksville Department of Parks and Recreation and the master of ceremonies for the Riverfest Regatta. ā€œWe are hoping that the weather holds out for the second day of the Riverfest Festival. For the Regatta we have a little bit of wind this morning, so the water is looking a little bit choppy which will make it an even bigger adventure for some of the boaters. We’ve got some new faces and a lot of old faces here today, so I’m ready to get this thing goingā€

Kevin Cowling kicks off the plastic bottle boat division at the 2014 Riverfest Regatta
Kevin Cowling kicks off the plastic bottle boat division at the 2014 Riverfest Regatta

ā€œThe Riverfest Regatta is a great event that the city puts on every yearā€ said Ward 3 City Councilman James R. Lewis. ā€œThere is such a great crowd here today! The Clarksville Department of Parks and Recreation does a tremendous job sponsoring this and putting on the Riverfest Festival and the Regatta event.ā€

Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett helps to carry Freedom, one of two County boats entered in this year's Riverfest Regatta
Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett helps to carry Freedom, one of two County boats entered in this year’s Riverfest Regatta

Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett helped to carry one of the counties two entries down to the dock. ā€œI am down here supporting the two boats from Montgomery county government and the Riverfest Regatta, Freedom and Shark Bite. Go Montgomery County!ā€ I asked him who he was putting his money on to win the City and County Departments Division, and he responded “Shark Bites, I kinda think they are going to take it!ā€ He turned out to be correct.

He continued, ā€œThe Riverfest Festival is an awesome event! Any time you can do something like this that lets the public come out and enjoy this great natural resource that we have in the Cumberland River it’s a great thing!ā€

The crew of the Hall of Just Us, the Clarksville Mayor's boat.
The crew of the Hall of Just Us, the Clarksville Mayor’s boat.
Kevin cowling presenting the awards, as Steve Kemmer from US Bank looks on
Kevin cowling presenting the awards, as Steve Kemmer from US Bank looks on

The Kennedy law firm enters a boat in the Riverfest Regatta each year. ā€œEvery year we have been in the Riverfest Regatta, and every year we give it our best!ā€ said Kevin Kennedy of the Kennedy law firm. ā€œNow today the boat is a little bit flimsy. Are we scared? One thing about the Kennedy law firm is that we have no fear!ā€ He turned to his crew and asked, “Can I get an Amenā€ they responded ā€œAmen!ā€ Kevin continued, ā€œNo Fear! So it’s an exciting day to be down here! We’ve got a great breeze. The crowd is excited! This is Clarksville Tennessee at its best!ā€

Twenty one boats competed not only for bragging rights, but trophies were awarded to the first, second, and third place teams in each division.

Below are the full results:

Adult Open – Cardboard

  1. S(t)-Sm by Kenwood High School STEMĀ  – 3:07

Business & Industry

  1. KW N Motion by Keller Williams RealtyĀ  – 1:33
  2. Quackers by the Guadalajara Grill – 1:45
  3. The Silver Pearl by the Fort Campbell Federal Credit Union – 1:50

Church/Civic

  1. Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America – 1:31
  2. Staz A Float by One Church TV – 1:57
  3. IMUA by the Hui Hawaii O Tenesi Hawaiian Civic Club – 2:36

City/County Government

  1. Shark Bite by theĀ Montgomery County Facility Maintenance – 1:16
  2. Leave it to Beaver by the Clarksville Police Department – 1:34
  3. Freedom by Montgomery CountyĀ  Government – 1:39

Plastic Bottle Boats

  1. Voyager II by Trane – 1:37
  2. Freudian Slip by NCC Psychology Cub – 2:29
  3. Netta by Woodlawn Willows – Flipped

YouthĀ  w/Adult

  1. The Kraken by Andy Lee Fry – 4:11

Awards

  • Ship Shape Award- Most Creative Boat Design — Trauma 1.5 by Montgomery County EMS
  • Cardboard Queen- Prettiest Boat — Riverfest Rat Rod by Tennessee Frame
  • Team Unity- Most Spirited & Organized Team — Blachfield ACHĀ  by Blachfield Army Community Hospital
  • Team Attire- Most Creative Costumes — RS Gamblers by RS Rod and Kustoms
  • Titanic Award- Most Spectacular Sinking — Netta by Woodlawn Willows

For more details on the Riverfest Regatta, please visit www.clarksvilleriverfest.com, or follow ClarksvilleĀ  Online!

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Bill Larson
Bill Larson
Bill Larson isĀ  is politically and socially active in the community. Bill is a member of the Friends of Dunbar Cave. You can reach him via telephone at 931-249-0043 or via the email address below.
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