6th Annual Amazing Race

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Call Jenny at (613) 342-8889

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It was a beautiful day for a race and after all was said and done on Saturday, June 21, Brenda Reil and Karen Thomas crossed the finish line at Thousand Islands Secondary School in Brockville to claim first prize in the Leeds & Grenville’s Amazing Race. The race started in Athens and took 24 teams of two on a whirlwind tour across the twin counties. Along the way, teams had to complete an array of tasks, from the physical, such as suiting up with the Brockville Fire Department and running a firefighter’s obstacle course, to the mental, such as the Trivial Pursuit challenge in Mallorytown. The 2008 race marked the first time in the event’s six-year history that first place has gone to women.

Mayor John Conley was on hand to start the teams on their way. While in Athens, teams got to know a little bit about the famous murals while completing a seek-and-find task. They also got down to work at the chip wagon by peeling potatoes and made stops at Centre ’76 and Howard Bus Service before moving on to Lyn.

The race covered roughly 200 km, as teams were taken from Athens to Lyn and Mallorytown, through Charleston and back through Athens for lunch. After a quick break, teams went to the Brockville Ontario Speedway in Forthton and made stops in New Dublin, Algonquin, Roebuck, Domville, Prescott, and Maitland, before finishing up in Brockville.

Second place finishers were Chrissy Asbreuk and Michele McKay for the second year in a row. John Conklin and John Worsnop rounded out the top three. Asbreuk and McKay, dubbed “Team Double Dutch,” raised the most money and earned a Fast Forward, which enabled them to skip a challenge in Maitland.

The teams raised $17,300, with all proceeds going to United Way. The event is an important fundraiser for United Way of Leeds & Grenville, which is itself celebrating 51 years of service to the community.

Race organizers praised the efforts of the over two dozen volunteers and the many businesses that opened their doors to the racers.

Do you have an idea for an event for next year's race? Would you like to register as a volunteer or as a racer? Call the office at (613) 342-8889 or e-mail Jenny.