A veteran of the Memphis paddling circuit took this year’s Bluz Cruz Kayak and Canoe Race along the Mississippi River near Vicksburg.

Elmore Holmes’ Epic V-12 Surf Ski finished ahead of the pack when the 10th running of the event wrapped up Saturday afternoon at Vicksburg City Front. His time was 2 hours, 1 minute and 37.8 seconds. Holmes, 46, has raced multiple times in canoe and kayak races along the Mississippi River in Memphis.

In second place was Bronko Nagurski, 58, of Eutawville, S.C., with a final time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, 40.7 seconds.

Canoes launched at Madison Parish Port near Tallulah before the 22-mile race ended on the Vicksburg waterfront. Race organizers credited picture-perfect weather for a successful running.

“The weather was great and I believe everyone had a great time,” said organizer Wayne Pratt, 49, who finished 65th in his Wilderness Systems/Pamlico kayak.

Among female racers, the best time belonged to Dana Kinderman, 31, of Ocean Springs. Her time of 2 hours, 36 minutes, 23 seconds was good for 19th overall.

Vicksburgers who were among the 91 who finished the race were Doug Cousineau, 85, the race’s oldest-ever participant, in third place; Tim McCarley, 51, in 14th place; Matt Hendrix, 33, in 17th place; Alan Kennedy, 37, in 21st place; Bryan Pratt, 45, in 27th place; Alejandro Sanchez, 33, in 34th place; Max Wamsley, 16, in 38th place; Thomas Tarver, 25, in 41st place; Scott Waisner, 49, in 50th place; Rodney Lehman, 26, in 56th place; Forrest Logue, 19, in 60th place; Layne Logue, 47, in 61st place; Kevin Philley, 30, in 64th place; Jana Jacobson, 30, in 77th place; Travis Boyle, 37, in 84th place; Jonathan Hopkins, 35, in 86th place; and Shane Adcock, 31, in 87th place.