North PlatteBuffalo Bill Canoe Race

 

                                         click here for newspaper articles NP 72    NP 75     NP77 

                                                                                        NP85 

 

 

Here is a brief History of the NP race along with the winning C-2 times from each year

 

The North Platte " Buffalo Bill" Canoe race is run on a section of the North Platte river from Hershey to North Platte. The length is 18 river miles. The race has always been held in late July because this is peak irrigation season. During a dry year the river is running bank-full to supply water for irrigation canals downstream. The river is shallow and swift moving and there are dozens of islands on the course that make river reading a challenge. The race started in the late 60's and by the mid 70's was the biggest canoe race in Nebraska. In the early 80's the average turnout was 80 to 100 canoes. The number of entries gradually declined and the local sponsors decided not to continue the race after 1995. The MCA will be holding a race there this year and would like to continue doing so since this is the longest running canoe race in Nebraska. Below are the winning times for each year.

 

1967/1968 ?

1969 M Wright/A Miller 2:01:46 *

1970 V Mares/E Albert 2:04:00

1971 V Mares/E Albert 2:02:48

1972 G Hassel/W Bockmann 1:58:35 *

1973 G Hassel/W Bockmann 1:56:30 *

1974 G Hassel/W Bockman n 1:52:19 *

1975 G Hassel/W Bockmann 1:53:47

1976 M Steib/T Streib 1:48:20 *

1977 G Hassel/W Bockman n 1:51:00

1978 C Hassel/D Bockmann 1:59:05

1979 W Bockmann/J Grell 2:08:13

1980 J Willard/J Acer 1:47:31 *

1981 C Hassel/D Bockmann 1:48:20

1982 C Hassel/D Bockmann 1:46:33 *

1983 G Hassel/C Hassel 1:35:12 *

1984 G Hassel/C Hassel 1:48:24

1985 G Hassel/C Hassel 1:55:11

1986 G Hassel/C Hassel 1:39:16

1987 D Plumlee/T Mason 1:38:29

1988 G Hassel/C Hassel 1:38:51

1989 G Hassel/C Hassel 1:47:06

1990 G Hassel/C Hassel 1:45:34

1991 C Hassel/R Hassel 1:38:11

1992 C Hassel/R Hassel 2:04:24

1993 C Hassel/R Hassel 1:52:29

1994 C Hassel/L Capen 1:34:58 *

1995 T Mason/R Moore n/a

1996 no race

1997 C Hassel/L Colliard 1:41:07

1999 C.Hassel/L. Capen 1:40:57

2002 C.Hassel/L. Capen  1:28:58 *

2003 C.Hassel/L. Capen  1:44:26

2004 C.Hassel/L. Capen  1:46:11

* Record Time

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