Canoe Classic Shows Off Spokane River

In local canoe and kayak circles, it’s a happening. Organizers also want it to be an experience.

“One of the whole ideas behind this is that people understand how important and how wonderful the Spokane River is,” Cory Brewer said of the Spokane River Canoe Classic.

“We want them to come out and experience the river.”

The eighth annual edition unfolds June 17, with three divisions to handle everyone from the neophyte to the most experienced paddler.

The starting point is Corbin Park in Post Falls. Registration runs from 8-9 a.m., with the boats setting off at 9:30. The cost is $10. Forty or more boats are expected.

Citizen - or recreation - racers will cover a 7-mile course that runs along the Centennial Trail and ends at the Harvard Road bridge, 3 miles west of the Washington-Idaho border. That’s also the exchange point for relay teams.

The relay and Classic marathon continue another 5 miles to Plantes Ferry Park, taking paddlers through Class II rapids at Flora and Sullivan.

A bring-your-own family picnic at Plantes Ferry is the setting for the awards ceremony about noon.

Brewer said entrants don’t have to have canoe experience, “but they should be able to stay relatively upright. We want this to be a fun event, and we don’t want them to spend a lot of time in the water.”

She also noted the $10 entry fee includes four prerace clinics. Two remain - Tuesday and Thursday. Info: Vic Castleberry, 624-8384.

For additional information on the Classic, contact Brewer at 838-4224 or Smith at 927-2644.

Bowling

Corey Thomas and Jeremy Allen shared the spotlight in the final Junior Bowlers Tour event of the season at Valley Bowl.

The third-seeded Thomas defeated Brian Long, Allen and top-seeded Curtiss Bergheim to capture his second JBT title. Along the way, Thomas had high game for the boys, a 268. High for the girls was Heather Stevens’ 233.

Allen wound up with high average for the season, a 204.6, and led the all-star team that also includes Thomas, Chad Dudley, Bergheim and Long.

Jessica Neumann had high average for the girls, a 179.

Rock climbing

Rock climbers will have an opportunity to try out several brands and types of shoes Saturday during a rock-shoe demo day from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Minnehaha rocks.

There are basically two types of rock shoes - “structured,” with a mid sole and generally used on longer climbs, and “unstructured,” that are very soft with a high degree of foot sensitivity for sport climbing.

Info: Paul Fish or Bob Clark at Mountain Gear, 325-9000.

Softball

Spokane Fastpitch came through the losers’ bracket after a first-game loss to finish fourth in an Amateur Softball Association men’s C fastpitch national qualifier in Portland last weekend.

After winning six in a row, Spokane lost 2-1 to eventual champion Merron Construction of Sacramento, Calif.

Spokane placed three players on the all-star team - shortstop Mark Taylor, pitcher Dave Berghammer and outfielder Steve Allen.