Sun-soaked soapbox races return to Bloomfield

Several hundred people lined Mill Street in Bloomfield Saturday – sitting on hay bales, lawn chairs and even a couch – to cheer on 70 racers in the kids’ soapbox derby.

Attendance was expected to be high just as it was for the Bloomfield Hallowell Recreation Committee’s fishing derby in the spring.

“I don’t think we had 50 kids three years ago (before the COVID-19 pandemic), said recreation committee member Barry Turpin, who was the day’s statistician and the one who saved the day with extra participant medallions stashed in his car.

“People have been sitting around for three years with nothing to do. So anything that’s out there that they can get the kids out and have a good time, they come out and the kids have a great time. With our fishing derby, we usually have a hundred sign up and we had 170 sign this year. ”

Because of the numbers, the committee had to keep to one run each down the Mill Street hill, in effort to keep the sun-soaked crowd happy to participate in the after party which included trophies in the age-categories for first to third places along with medallions, free ice cream and pizza for all participants.

Highlights from the races (Sue Capon photos):

First to third-place winners in the ages 11-12 category were Jasmine, Milton and Ivy.

For the ages 9-10, first to third-place winners were
Parker, Kirya, Benjamin and Jack.

With most entries in the ages 7-8 category, competition was split into two groups. Group 1 first to third places were Lane, Mark and Luke and Group 2 winners were Everett, Riley and Tate. (not all available for photo). As well as earning first-place, Everett (far right) was the day’s fastest racer with a time of 23 seconds. (CK)

Hendrix, Eli and Sadie were the age six category first to third place winners.

In the age five group, Madeleine placed first while three racers tied for second – Declan, Bentley and Sayer.