Ken Gerg (left) Ron Bomberger

Ninety miles of paddling and more than five miles of overland portages through mud, rocks, roots, gravel and ditches tested Cameron County's finest during the 24th annual Adirondack (N.Y.) Canoe Classic.

The father and son team of Mark Anthony and Matt Anthony blew away a seventeam field in the Family Division during their first Adirondack appearance. Their three-day total time of 15 hours, 32 minutes and change was more than an hour faster than the runnersup.

The Anthonys credited local canoe enthusiast Ken Gerg with providing invaluable advice as they prepared for the endurance test. However, Mark Anthony pointed out that 15- year-old Matt's "fantastic boat control" was also a major factor.

Meanwhile, Gerg and paddling partner Ron Bomberger of Manheim returned to the Adirondacks with determination and made a late charge to claim second place in the C-2 Stock Veterans Class (age 60 or above). Their time was 15:37.32.

The race marked Gerg's 19th appearance in the 90-miler and the resultant exhaustion had him hinting that he might call it quits after the 2007 Adirondack Classic.

Organizers limited the field to 250 boats for the enduro that started in Old Forge and ended at Lake Flower in Saranac Lake. Among the divisions were solo canoes, kayaks and eight-paddler "war canoes."

Racers had to carry their vessels over steep terrain on eight portages between the waterways. The rest of the time, they paddled through wind-blown lakes, narrow rivers and flat water.