By Randall C. Melton, Communications Director, Down East Animal Refuge
SCOTLAND NECK NC (JUNE 23) – The Second Annual Greater Roanoke River Boat Race brought out local people to the Roanoke River Boat Landing on Highway 258, just north of Scotland Neck, to enjoy good food and raise funds for Down East Animal Refuge shelter.
DEAR sold over 600 individual boat entries. Tickets for the race were sold all the way up until one hour before race time. First place prize of $500 went to Matt West of Raleigh, with $300 to second place finisher Linda Gaudet of Bethel, and $200 to third place winter Cordie Glover of Suffolk, Va. Tickets were not the only items that raised money for the non-profit Scotland Neck shelter. Newly designed “DEAR to My Heart” and previous race t-shirts were a very popular item with the race crowd. DEAR also sold seafood plates, rib lets, hot dogs, hamburgers, and drinks before and after the race.
Food sales slowed as race time neared. Dozens of people drifted from where food sales were and headed to the Roanoke River Bridge and dock to watch the race. Lower
than normal water levels on the river created excellent boat racing conditions. The current was very strong throughout the river. Over 600 boats, small boat shaped plywood cutouts, were numbered, sorted, bagged and placed aboard boats for a short trip upstream. Once at the designated location, all the boats were dumped into the river. Now the waiting game started. The swift currents in the river brought the boats downstream to the bridge.
People gathered on boat ramp under the Roanoke River Bridge on Highway 258 to see who would win the race. It was about 30 minutes before the first boats came into sight. The winning boat was about 50 feet ahead of the second and third place finishers.
DEAR was very successful in getting assistance and participation from the local business community. These sponsors included Town of Scotland Neck, Down East Peanuts, Meherrin, Shields Fertilizer Company, BB&T, Sara Lee, and AirBoss Rubber Compounding (NC) Inc. DEAR would like to say a special thank you those sponsors that assisted with selling tickets, getting word out, and providing food to the event. Those sponsors were Josey Brothers, Luigi’s, Ace Hardware, Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center and Eco-Park, and The Freez.
The race would not have happened without the help of volunteers. Those volunteers included those who helped get the boats in and out of the river. These volunteers were Tony Hale’s and Joseph Bower’s boat crews. Staff members from Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center also provided assistance in setting up tents, tables and chairs for food and ticket sales. DEAR also wants to thank Robert Davis, Danny Hatchcock, and others that provided their valuable time to make the race a successful event.
DEAR welcomes the public to attend its monthly meetings held on the second Thursday of each month. Watch our web site for the specific time and location of our next meeting. These meetings give the public an opportunity to learn more about what the organization does and learn about volunteer opportunities at the shelter. More information on DEAR can be obtained by contacting DEAR at P.O. Drawer 40, Scotland Neck NC 27874, (252) 826-2500, or by emailing us at information@downeastanimalrefuge.org. More detailed, updated information on our activities can be seen at our web site:
http://www.downeastanimalrefuge.org.