The first
leg of the race was to mountain bike the four mile length of Talcott Ridge down
to the Curtiss Soccer Fields. At the fields the scout teams had to scale a ten
foot wall, orienteer a compass course, and rappel on ropes across a branch of
the Farmington River.
The teams then ran five miles to
Pettibone’s Tavern and around to the canoe landing, jump in canoes and row
downriver back to Curtiss Fields about 5 miles, picking up firemaking materials
along the way. Returning to Curtis Fields, they had to build a fire to burn
through a rope two feet above the ground to stop their time and complete the
event.
The winning
scout team on straight time was Grant Osborn(18), Ryan Mead(17),Jeffrey
Mead(17), all Eagle Scouts of Troop 175, in 3 hours and 17 minutes - a new
course record. The second
Place team on corrected Time was the Scully brother team of Brendan 17,Will 15
and Kirk 12 from Troop 174 followed in third place by Mike Vallen(16), Cortland
Carter(17) and Keegan Rice(12) from Troop 175. Nick
Civitillo the Scoutmaster of Troop 174, Michaels' Troop said "The scouts
went all out for Michael and we are all very proud of them." Todd Bailey
Scoutmaster of Troop 76 was equally effusive, "The Adventure Race had two
goals - to raise much needed money for Michael Bubnash and to raise the level
of Scouting awareness in Simsbury - both goals were
accomplished"
Mike’s Dad,
Greg Bubnash summed it all "Thank you Scouts for all that you have
done". Donations
to the Bubnash Family Fund may be sent to Scoutmaster Brad Mead, 73 East Weatogue St, Simsbury Ct. 06070.
80 Scouts
from the three Boy Scout Troops of Simsbury held their Adventure Race on Sunday
June 15 for the benefit of Michael Bubnash, an Eagle scout hurt in a auto
accident. Racing in three man teams, the scouts began their Journey at Pennwood State Park on mountain bikes. Greg Bubnash, Mike’s father started the race with the three scoutmasters of Troops 76,174,175
, Mary Glassman, the First Selectman, and Father Metzler of St. Mary's Church
who blessed the event.
Each team received time allowance according to their ages and as
a result the overall race winning team on corrected Time was Eric Barch(11)
Greg Bombara(11) and Nicholas Carabillo(11) of Troop 175 who arrived at
the final fire building station only 15 minutes behind the lead team and built
their fire with flint and steel in under 90 seconds. They won the race on
corrected time by over an hour.
The Race
was held to benefit Michael Bubnash an Eagle Scout from Troop 174 who was
in a car accident last year that left him struggling to recover from both
physical and brain injuries. Michael was at the race cheering the teams on and
enjoying the friendship of many who had come to help the cause. "We raised
almost $25,000 from the Scout teams who has gone around town raising money from
merchants and friends said Scoutmaster Brad Mead of Troop 175, the organizer of
the race. The team of Cortland Carter, Mike Vallen and Keegan Rice raised over
$5,000 themselves in the month before the Race. Many other teams raised well
over a $1,000. The Community really came together for Mike. Due to the
extensive press coverage which included stories about the Adventure race in the
Simsbury Post, Hartford Courant, on the local radio stations and even the
Chicago Tribune, I have been receiving checks in the mail every day from all
over the country."
