Published: June 08, 2009 10:35 pm      

Cumberland Thunder Run makes waves

The weather for this past weekend can best be described as perfect for a trip to Lake Cumberland.

But the sun and warm temperatures weren’t the only factors that brought people to the water. Saturday marked the First Annual Cumberland Thunder Run, which began and ended at Lee’s Ford Marina.

“Everybody I’ve talked to, including all managers at Lee’s Ford Marina, all spectators and participants ... everybody was tickled to death” about the race,” said event organizer Dan Weiss. “They didn’t have one complaint.”

Weiss said approximately 40 boats entered the race that sent participants from Lee’s Ford to State Dock in Jamestown, to Conley Bottom in Monticello, to Burnside Marina, to Clifty Creek in Russell County and back to Lee’s Ford Marina. Participants collected playing cards at each stop to make a poker hand.

The first-place winner was Jason Tucker, of Somerset. Tucker went home with a $1,500 prize. The second-place winner, Bruce Weddle, also of Somerset, received a $1,000 prize and C.D. Snyder, of Ohio received a $500 prize for his third-place finish.

Event organizer Justin Lucas was also pleased with the race, which brought out numerous spectators around the length of the course.

“It was a real big success,” Lucas said.

The race, a day-long event, is slated to be held again next year — and the event’s organizers are planning to keep it at Lee’s Ford.

Weiss said participants and organizers alike are “wanting to get back in it and do it bigger and better next year.”

Lucas agreed that anticipation is high for next year’s race, which is already being planned.

“Everybody we’ve talked to is looking forward to next year,” Lucas said.

Weiss said the Web site for the race will soon receive an overhaul that will allow people better access to information about the event.

For more information on the race and future Thunder Run events visit the Web site at www.cumberlandpoker-run.com.