Two-Mile Dead Heat Ends in Photo Finish

Three canoes locked in a two-mile long dead heat sprinted for the finish line yesterday as John Berry of Petersham and Brent Lyesiuk of Orange, who started in 46th position,  dug in to pull ahead and win their fourth River Rat Race by slightly more than half a canoe length. The three canoes took about 41 minutes to run the 5.5-mile race.

The two men edged ahead in the last 100 yards or so, leaving last year's winners Dennis Carey and Dale Persons to barely edge past Shane McDowell and Matt Rudnitsky for second and third place respectively. The three boats spent most of the race neck and neck to create the closest finish in recent memory.

More than 300 canoes were entered in the 44th annual running of the River Rat Race and pushed downstream against blustery headwinds.

John Berry and Brent Lyesiuk, 2007 winners, carry their canoe out of the water.

Canoeists in the winners' circle

Canoes backed up along the riverbank, waiting to come up the boat ramp and get dry.

Tim LaRoche rocked the crowd at the Lion Den Pub. The Little Monsters played at Riff Raft's.

Just out for a cruise on River Rat Day .

A Fan is born.