1000 Islands Regatta in Brockville: Strong performances despite unstable weather

The HRL was in Brockville this weekend for the 1000 Islands Regatta. Strong winds forced the cancellation of Saturday afternoon races, but Sunday’s full program delivered an exciting show for spectators. Several drivers stood out in high-stakes finals, as the season standings remain tight in multiple classes heading into the Valleyfield Regatta.

Novice Class

The day began early Sunday at 8:30 a.m. with the Novice races.The final, which brought together 10 boats, ended with an impressive victory by Sydney Manessis aboard the N-244 Miss Virgo. This first win of the season pushes him to 2nd place in the overall standings with 528 points, just behind Olivier Maisonneuve (N-109 L’Angle d’attaque), who remains in the lead with 538 points after finishing 2nd in the final. Médéryk Guillet (N-66 Thunderboat) rounded out the podium in 3rd place, continuing his steady progression.

2.5 liters Class

Kyle Hayes (S-35 TM Special) continued his dominance with a third consecutive final win, bringing his total to 660 points so far this season. He remains undefeated and the clear favorite heading into Valleyfield. Francis Sauvé (S-817 Formax Racing), a promising rookie, claimed 2ndplace, while Lucas Desrochers (S-104 D-Rock Racing) delivered the comeback of the weekend, charging up from the back of the pack to finish 3rd. The Local Driver Award for Outstanding Performance was presented to Bennet Armstrong (S-11 Total Chaos) for his strong showing on his home course.

Formula 2500 class

John Shaw (F-92 Tenacity) maintainedhis consistency with a win in the final, keeping him atop the standings with 648 points. Eddie Kanfoush (F-500 Centless 16) finished 2nd, just 2.4 seconds behind, setting up an exciting showdown in Valleyfield. Tommy Shannon (F-4 Pièces d’auto Valleyfield) took 3rd place after another steady and efficient performance.

Hydro 350 Class

Martin Rochon (H-773 RTX) claimed the final win for a second straight year in Brockville, showing mastery of the course. He was followed by Tommy Shannon (H-306 Dognasty), who earned his second podium of the weekend, and Karl St-Vincent (H-37 Bull Shark) in 3rd place.

One of the most exciting moments of the day was a head-to-head heat between Rochon and rookie Marc Lalonde (H-751 Lalo Racing)which Lalonde won. He eventually finished 4th in the final, confirming his potential.

Current Hydro 350 standings:

Paul Barber (H-52 Legacy 1) : 229 points

Tommy Shannon (H-306 Dognasty) : 218 points

Patrick Haworth (H-924 Game On) : 217 points

Pro-Hydro Class

Part of the official HRL championship, the Pro-Hydro class saw Guillaume Charette win the final with a clean performance. He was closely followed by Dominic Maisonneuve, who continues to show consistency and speed in this growing category known for powerful boats and tight racing.

Grand Prix Class

Despite the absence of GP-71 The Wild One (Andrew Tate) due to a damaged sponson, five boats took part in the final. Ken Brodie (GP-50 Freedom) successfully defended his Brockville title, winning the final for a second consecutive year. He was followed by Ken Lupton (GP-577 Lucas Oil), while Warwick Lupton took 3rd place driving the GP-33 JLM Motorsport, subbing for his son Jack, who remained in New Zealand for the birth of his daughter.

Current Grand Prix standings:

Ken Lupton : 130 points

Andrew Tate : 95 points

Éric Langevin (GP-212 Sylco) : 84 points

The HRL wishes the best of luck to all Grand Prix teams heading to Madison this weekend for the next round of the GP Challenge.

Next stop: Valleyfield Regatta

The HRL returns to action July 12–14 in Valleyfield. For many drivers, it’s the most important stop of the season.With several classes still extremely close in the standings, the 85th edition of this legendary event promises high-stakes racing and intense competition.