North Platte Buffalo Bill Canoe Race History
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.
Newspaper Articles
Winning Times
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
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