Zip Rider canoe wins 2010 Ruta Maya River Challenge

The Zip Rider canoe paddled by Jerry Rhaburn, Efrain Cruz and Felix Cruz and sponsored by Cruise Solutions won the 2010 annual Ruta Maya River Challenge race, outsprinting 6x Ruta Maya champs the Belize Bank team of Daniel Cruz, Erwin Cruz and Amado Lopez, clocking 18:41:07 to win first prize overall in the grueling 4- day race, also capturing the coveted Kinich Ahau (jade head) trophy. The Belize Bank team clocked 18:42:34 to finish in 2^nd place.

The Caribbean Pride canoe paddled by Chris Guydis of Burrell Boom and Jermaine Sanchez and Justin Sanchez from Flowers Bank and sponsored by Citrus Products of Belize Limited clocked 18:54:454 to finish in 3^rd place.

The Reagan International canoe paddled by Nolberto Seguro, Jeremy Sanchez and Sheldon Seguro clocked 19:04:15 for 4th place.

The N.I.C.H. team: Oscar Cardona, Jimmy Valdez and Manuel Rodriguez paddled their canoe into 5^th place 19:30:07.

The Coast Guard Redemption team placed 6^th, Cool Step was 7th, “Is it worth it” was 8^th; “Just Do It’ was 9^th and the Belize Coast Guard Cutter was 10^th.

The Cobb’s Arm Happy Cow Cheese canoe finished 11^th, just ahead of the “No Limit Soldiers” who won the Mixed division in 12^th place overall, clocking 20:33:00. The “Lost & Found” team: Janise Leslie, Eldon and Derwin Sanchez won 2^nd in the Mixed division as they paddled their canoe into 13th place overall, in 20:34:59.

The Print Belize Canoe paddled by Evelio Flores, Javier Guardado and Rudolph Gentle returned as champions of the Pleasure division, clocking 20:43:49 to finish 15th overall.

The Police “Crimefighters” canoe paddled by Neri Waight, Alfonso Guerra and Jerome Ingram won 2^nd in the Pleasure division, clocking 21:01:23 to place 16^th overall.

The “Born to Rule” team clocked 21:55:18 to win 3^rd prize in the Mixed division, finishing 26^th overall.

Mike and Johnny Searle and new teammate Robert Quilter from Manatee paddled their “Junkunu” canoe to win the Master’s Division, clocking 21:08:59 to finish 19^th overall.

Their perennial rivals, the “Grumpy Old Men”: Jerry Wilken, Francis Codd and Stanley Bailey placed 2^nd in the Masters’ Division, clocking 22:21:27 to finish 30^th overall.

The St Francis Xavier canoe paddled by 13-year-old Alfred Lopez, Sergio Lopez and Byron Cruz won by a nose against the 1^st all-girl canoe “Peacemakers” clocking 21:16:44 to finish in 21^st position and win 1^st in the Intramural division; Alfred Lopez was also the youngest paddler in this year’s Ruta Maya

The Police “Peacemakers”: Jane Usher, Audrey Moody and Francisca Cruz, won 1^st in the Female Division, clocking 21:18:40 to finish 22^nd overall.

The University of Belize Black jaguars: Pedro Witz, Kristopher Waight and Elvis Sutherland won 2^nd in the Intramural division, clocking 21:50:42 to place 24th overall.

The St. Ignatius High School team, “Nashus is Back”: Arlin Bautista, Henry Martinez and Oscar Ulloa won 3^rd in the Intramural division, clocking 21:51:06 to place 25th overall.

The dorey, “Can’t Ketch Me down” paddled by Roberto Cabb, Eric Cano and Windell Humes won the dorey division, clocking 22:13:05 to place 28^th overall. The Santa Familia dorey placed 2^nd in the dorey division, clocking 24:07:45 to place 40th overall.

Some 83 canoes had begun the race, and over 67 teams finished the race.

Special kudos go to one paddler, Justin, who lost his 2 teammates who found the Ruta Maya too extreme for them. Justin personified the indefatigable spirit of the Ruta Maya as he paddled his canoe all alone over the last 25 miles from Burrell Boom to Belize City to complete the race. Times Sports sez, “Nuff respect, Justin!”

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