** Please note that due to high water and flooding along the Sangamon River, Abe's River Race originally scheduled from May 27th has been postponed to July 15th. **


Get your Abe on!--grow or grab a beard, a swanky stove-top hat and some rockin' shades and join us in celebration of the anniversary of the Lincoln Heritage WaterTrail and the 5th Annual running of the Abe's River Race! No it is not required, but it does make a really cool group picture and you might just win $50!

Paddlers will have the opportunity to explore approximately 13.5 miles of the lower Sangamon River as it flows north from Sangamon County to Lincoln's New Salem Historic Site in Petersburg, Illinois.

This year, you will choose to paddle in your appropriate racing division or paddle recreationally. Each paddler will receive a paddle packet that includes an Abe's River Race t-shirt. However, only racers will be timed and awarded trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each represented division. The cost to race or simply participate without being timed is the same: $30.00 per paddler.

Race staff will be at the Irwin Bridge launch site at 7:00 am Saturday to receive your equipment.

Shuttles depart Riverbank Lodge at 9:00 am. Please provide yourself sufficient time to drop your equipment off at the launch site and complete your registration and sign-in before 9:00 am.

The approximate Take-Out/Finish location 40.005782, -89.843003. This site is within a newly designated City of Petersburg Park. Depending on water levels there may be a sandbar leading to an improved ramp to an equipment loading area, which is about 200 yards from the Riverbank Lodge, your race headquarters.

Paddler Packets will be distributed post-race as paddlers check back in to the registration center at Riverbank Lodge. Your bib tag will be collected and used for prize drawings after the awards are presented.

Please check www.riverbanklodge.com and the sites listed below for more information on local events and tie-ins with this year's Abe's River Race, including pre and post race options for lodging, dining, and entertainment for the Memorial Day Weekend

• Race staff will be at the Irwin Bridge launch site at 7:00 am Saturday to receive your equipment.
  
• Shuttles depart Riverbank Lodge at 9:00 am. Please provide yourself sufficient time to drop your equipment off at the launch site and complete your registration and sign-in before 9:00 am.
  
[*]Paddlers should be prepared to launch at 10:00 am and plan to arrive at the finish, Lincoln's Riverside Park in Petersburg (next to Riverbank Lodge) no later 3:00 pm.

Unique awards will be presented for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in all represented racing divisions (11). Target time for announcement of race results is 1:00 pm but is depended upon the finishing times for all racing divisions. As places are determined by division, results will be announced and posted. Awards will be held and be available through 9:00 pm race-day. Please present your race bib or photo-ID to pick up your award after the results announcements.

**NEW** Cash awards for the fastest overall time in all adult divisions ($100); fastest youth/youth team in either 18 and under Tandem or Adult and child 12 and under ($50); and best "Spirit of Abe" team or individual ($50). YOU MUST RACE TO WIN!

For event-related questions, please click on the *Contact the Organizers* button on the left-hand side of this page.