Clear summer skies provided the backdrop as racers set out on the Whitewater River's West Fork Saturday morning for the 2022 Brookville Canoefest.

Because of some scheduled maintenance by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, races did not begin at the Brookville Lake tailwaters – and on down the East Fork – as is typical for the last weekend in June. Most of the competitive participants took off from Morgan's Canoe Center at the south end of town. Recreational racers, however, were bused up to Morgan's Landing off Levee Road for the 3-mile cruise into Brookville.

Championship racers – both canoeists and kayakers – paddled 6.6 miles to the finish line near Cedar Grove. Biathletes in both vessels took the same route before padding seven miles back to Brookville via River Road and Blue Creek.

In the C-2 Standard (2-person with standard canoe), Greg Bechtel and Bernie Moller of Cincinnati lost their grip on the traveling trophy as they were unseated by Raymond Bauer and Dwight Walker's fastest finish of the day – 56:22 to 57:15. Oldenburg Academy graduates Christopher and Nicholas Moorman were third in a time of 1:04.29.

Thomas Thomas of Jasonville in Greene County repeated as C-1 (canoe solo) men's champion, improving his time from last year to 56:53. Behind him were Lee Robinson (59:04) and David Landenwitch (59:31).

Also repeating in the winner's circle were Nicholas and Noel Josefik of St. Joseph, Illinois. The duo won the C-2 Mixed (male and female with standard) in a clocking of 1:01.1. Top K-1 kayaker was Edward Parobek (1:11.06), followed by Michael C. Miller at 1:13.25.

C-2 Aluminum (2-person with aluminum canoe) had one entry; Ryan and Britton Siebert finished in 1:14.32. Winning the C-2 Women's race were Adrienne Beers and Eden Josefik (1:13.28). OA alumnae Lydia Gigrich and Alex Bamonte had a time of 1:47.07.

In biathlon action, coed winners were Matthew Howder and Leah Lejeune completing the course in 3:23.32. Jessica Farris and Heather Zins claimed the women's race in 2:37.48. Longtime East Central boys basketball coach David Disbro was the top solo biathlete, finishing in 2:42.16. In short order came Judi Smith (2:53.53) and Rose Roberts (2:56.49).

There were single entries for recreational women's (Anna Helmers and Veronica Hartman; 37:55) and rec seniors (Christa Harness and Karen Baillie; 56:01).

In the rec adult male/youth category, Michael and Maximilian Wessel floated in at 35:30 ahead of Matthew and James Glasshagel (37:13) and Daniel and Dominic Wessel (38:41). For rec men's, Jeff Blakley and Terry Sintz finished in 30:54, followed by Cody Anderson and Andy Day (34:07) and Benedict Glasshagel and Dan Weber (34:29).

Mikaiyla Erfman Meyer and Brandt Meyers were tops in rec mixed (33:55); after them were Ken and Elizabeth Schuster (42:05) and Nick and Marlene Wendel (1:01.45). In rec fledgling, Dominic Lanning and George Glasshagel coasted through in 42:18, followed by Grace Stewart and Libby Weber in 42:37 and Jonathan Weber and Ambrose Orr in 43:48. Junior rec racers were led by Ben Weber and David Lanning (36:19); runners-up were Felicity Lanning and Susan Glasshagel (46:07) and bronze went to Zayleigh Schneider and Philomena Orr (48:26).

Awards were presented later in the day at LegionFest that concluded with a terrific fireworks display nearly 20 minutes in length.