Beauharnois Regatta concludes the 2025 HRL Season in style

The final stop of the Hydroplane Racing League (HRL) circuit took place this past weekend at the Beauharnois Regatta. The event brought together 62 entries across seven classes: Novice, 2.5 litres, Formula 2500, Hydro 350, Jersey Speed Skiff, Pro Hydro, and Grand Prix.

 

The 2025 season ended under the banner of fierce competition, particularly in the Hydro 350 class, where the championship battle was among the most intense. Several titles were confirmed over the weekend, but official results will be announced in the coming days once inspections are complete. For the Novice class, one final race remains on the calendar at Crystal Lake, but Beauharnois already marked the end of the road for some young drivers reaching the age limit.

 

 

The next generation shines in Novice

The Novice class delivered close racing, showcasing the vitality of the next generation. Several drivers, competing in their final Novice season, are already considering a move up to the 2.5 Litre class to continue their development.

 

The HRL wishes to extend a special thank-you to Mr. Robert Abbott, who once again provided inspiring leadership throughout the season. His contribution made a real difference in guiding young drivers and strengthening the future of inboard racing.

 

At Beauharnois, victory went to Olivier Maisonneuve (N-109 L’Angle d’Attaque), ahead of Mederyk Guillet (N-66 Thunderboat) and Sydney Manessis (N-244 Miss Virgo). With this result, Maisonneuve maintains a 10-point lead in the championship over his closest rival, Zack Parent.

 

Another source of pride was the presence of five young women in the Novice class, showing that the future could very well see a woman reach the inboard ranks.

 

 

The end of a perfect streak: Chiasson claims victory

The 2.5 Litre final was highlighted by the first career victory of Mathis-Gabriel Chiasson (S-57 How?), in his new boat who managed to edge out Kyle Hayes (S-35 TM Special), undefeated until then this season. In his interview, Chiasson praised the outstanding effort of his team, who were still working on the boat’s mechanics just hours before the race.

 

Third place went to Garrett Hough (S-50 Centless 15), who had contemplated retiring in 2024 but, thanks to new opportunities, confirmed his desire to continue racing. The season also underscored the dominance of the Hayes brothers, who remained the team to beat all year long.

 

 

Formula 2500: A dramatic final

The Formula 2500 class delivered a thrilling finale, interrupted by a serious incident involving Matthew Brown (S-74 Groupe SFK) and Michael Tremblay (S-555 Happy Sunny) in turn two. Thanks to the intervention of the HRL rescue team, both drivers were quickly cared for. They are now recovering at home, and the HRL wishes them a speedy recovery.

 

In the first final before it was stopped, young Eddie Kanfoush was dominating the race and cruising toward victory. But the restart changed the script: John Shaw (S-92 Tenacity) took control from the start and never looked back, capturing the win. Kanfoush finished second with the F-500 Centless 16, while local driver Jacob Haineault (F-2 Novo Racing) rounded out the podium in third.

 

It should be noted that Matthew Brown confirmed his S-74 will not return in 2026, as the team plans a transition to another class.

 

 

Jersey Speed Skiff: An emotional family win

In Jersey Speed Skiff, family ties took center stage. Samantha Ewancio and her father Jerry (JSS 45 – In the red) captured the final ahead of Jimmie Stewart and Peggy Ewancio (JSS-10 Yumpin’ Yiminy). The victory was especially emotional, as Samantha’s mother Peg and her uncle Jimmie could not have been prouder.

 

Third place went to brothers Samuel and Michael Tremblay aboard Denis Dream. Meanwhile, the JSS-113 Another One, driven by Louis-Alexandre Beaudoin, was sidelined from the final due to mechanical issues.

 

 

Hydro 350: Barber on top

The Hydro 350 class, the most competitive on the circuit, saw Paul Barber (H-52 Legacy 1) take the win over Martin Rochon (H-773 RTX) and Karl St-Vincent (H-37 Bull Shark). An emotional St-Vincent announced he would be stepping away for the 2026 season after securing third.

 

Also worth mentioning was the impressive performance of the H-306 Dognasty driven by Tommy Shannon, who stood out with speed and consistency all weekend long. Shannon confirmed that next year he will focus fully on Hydro 350 and step away from his F-4 Pièces d’auto Valleyfield for 2026.

 

 

Pro Hydro: Maisonneuve leads the way

In Pro Hydro, Dominic Maisonneuve (V-109 Formax) claimed victory, ahead of Chris Galbrait (V-311 Pure Canadian). Mechanical issues forced Guillaume Charette (V-77 Charette Racing) to withdraw on Sunday. In an interview with the HRL media team, Charette confirmed he will retire his Formula 2500 entry (F-77) to concentrate on building a new Pro Hydro hull for 2026. Owner Guy Durand will therefore field two Pro Hydro boats next season.

 

 

Grand Prix: Henderson scores first win

In Grand Prix, Warwick Lupton stepped in for his son Ken at the helm of the GP-577 Lucas Oil to defend the team’s championship title. But in Beauharnois, it was Kent Henderson (GP-757 Canada Boy) who stole the show, earning his first-ever victory in this prestigious class. Éric Langevin (GP-212 Sylco) completed the podium in third.

 

 

Closing the season in style

Despite unsettled weather just before the finals, the full racing program was successfully completed. The HRL will confirm the official 2025 champions in the coming days, following inspections. More news will follow in the weeks ahead.