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Monday, 25 August 2008 |
By ANGELA WEAVER
Staff Writer
CELINA — Carnival food and inflatable rides were joined by cranes and rows of trailers and tents lining downtown Celina as the 2008 Governor’s Cup Regatta kicked off with the opening ceremony at noon Saturday.
Regatta Co-Chairman Tom Saddler hosted the 15-minute ceremony held in the main tent on the Midway.
Hydroplane testing took place Friday morning and afternoon, and heat racing, as well as a pancake breakfast and musical entertainment, took place Saturday. Sunday began with another pancake breakfast, more heat racing and a trophy presentation after the last heat.
“We — Co-Chairman Lou Schiavone and I — work on the event around nine months a year almost every day,” said Saddler, who worked on the original races from 1966 to 1970 with his parents. “The committee works full time for about two to three months up to the race,” he said.
This year’s event featured approximately 100 boats in eight different classes, Saddler said during the ceremony. Some of those boats can reach up to 150 miles per hour.
This year, the Regatta is the site of the inboard summer nationals, Saddler said.
Col. Brad Spacy, the commander of the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, thanked spectators for their support for their military.
“We love doing our job,” Spacy said. “We love the support we get around the state.”
This year’s Regatta all volunteer and is paid for by four sponsors — FormulaBoats.com, the city of Celina, Pepsi Co. and Time Warner Cable, the newest sponsor.
The first Governor’s Cup Regatta was held in 1958 through a partnership between the St. Marys Boat Club and the Celina Lions, Saddler said.
He was able to get enough people together in 1995 to re-start the event after it stopped in 1970.
After a performance of the Star Spangled Banner and “O Canada,” Canada’s national anthem, Saddler dismissed the crowd.
“I hope you enjoy the racing and enjoy the weekend,” he said. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 29 August 2008 )
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