A small boat takes home a huge prize in the
Alexandria Bay Poker Run’s $10,000 game of chance.
By Stu McDonald

(Winner's Pictures)

For as long as there have been poker runs, it’s been proven time and again that you don’t need to own the biggest, fastest boat to win the card hand. Participants at the Alexandria Bay Poker Run saw this for themselves when Chris and Rebecca Spillman of Wake Forest, N.C., who had entered their 28’Active Thunder, “New Moon” in the event. One of the three smallest boats in the event wound up being the big winner of the night as the Spillmans took home more than $10,000 in cash. “The slowest boat won the money,” joked Spillman, who grew up in upstate New York and had taken a second place in the 2005 with three jacks. “You don’t have to have the 50-footer that goes 120 mph to have a great time. This proves it. We won $10,000.” His boat has a top speed of 70 mph with power provided by a pair of small-blocks. It was the first time that the Poker Runs America went with a winner-take-all format for the Alexandria Bay event and on June 22nd, performance boaters from far and wide descended on upstate New York in search of the big prize. This event is one of the most picturesque poker runs anywhere across North America and the boats they brought with them equaled the beauty of the area. As the participants arrived at the Edgewood Resort, host hotel for the weekend, the sight of Aqua Mania’s new catamaran greeted them on the lawn outside the reception. This was the well-known Skater 46, “Budweiser Select,” which Aqua Mania owner Rick Merola had recently purchased from David Scott. (Final check time for “Lawrason’s” before the run began.) Heads turned down on the docks as David Luciani and John Lang arrived with their new 43’ Nor-Tech Super Cat, Lawrasons. Powered with twin Mercury Racing 1075 SCi and Dry Sump Six drives and sporting some most exotic graphics, this boat was a hit with everyone. Also making its debut was the new 32’ Sunsation SSR entered by our new Sponsor, Mark’s Truck and Boat Center, from Rochester, New York. Located on the St. Lawrence River in the "Heart of the Thousand Islands" in northern Jefferson County, A-Bay, as it’s often called, is a riverside tourist resort community that provides scenic beauty and quiet charm. This idyllic spot in the Thousand Islands has captured the hearts and imagination of tourists, historians, boaters, fishermen and everyday residents. Visitors to this historic tourist village will find an amazing array of sites to see, as well as fun and leisure activities. Enjoy a dinner cruise of the breathtaking and picturesque Thousand Islands; a tour of the century-old historic Boldt Castle; a picnic or concert at Scenic View Park; browse the unique regional merchandise at dockside shops; or take part in the annual Poker Runs America Alexandria Bay Poker Run presented by Mercury Racing. As the sun began to set over the bay, the poker run entrants adjourned to The Top of the Bay Restaurant for some excellent food and plenty of liquid libation. Poker runners met up with old friends and made new ones with the participants who were at their first event. (The all new 32’ Sunsation SSR heading out to the start.) The next day drivers and navigators congregated in the ballroom of the Edgewood Resort, for the mandatory drivers meeting, where Dave Kirkland described the day’s course and gave full safety instructions for the poker run. At 10am, much to the delight of the hundreds of spectators on the docks, engines where fired up and the fleet headed out to the start, led by PRA president and publisher Bill Taylor in his 47’ Fountain pace boat, Poker Runs America, Rick Merola of Aqua-Mania in a 38’ Donzi and Rejean and Jennifer Doucet in their 45’ Sonic. As with past events at Alexandria Bay, the local marine police and the U.S.Coast Guard were on hand to hold back the spectator boats and lead the poker runners out of the bay on the first leg of the run. The first leg took the fleet westwards on the St.Lawrence River, under the Ivy Lea Bridge at slow speed. Then it was time to hit the throttles for the long, high speed run to Cape Vincent and the first card stop. After collecting their cards, the fleet once again got up on plane for the run to Clayton, New York and lunch at O’Brien’s Restaurant. (The State Police lend a helping hand.) Once all participants had finished their lunch it was time to feed the boats. Gas pump dials spun as fast as one armed bandits, only with these spins it was all pay and no win. Eventually with all boats fueled it was time to set off on the long leg to Ogdensburg to pick up the fourth card of the day. After leaving Clayton the fleet was met by the Coast Guard boats as they arrived at the 30-mph zone. Once all the boats were amassed, the Coast Guard put on the flashing lights and sirens and led the fleet through the channel, past Alexandria Bay at 50 mph. This is the third year in a row that the U.S.Coast Guard has helped us with this event and our thanks go to them for their continued assistance. Weather conditions were perfect for the complete poker run and everybody made it to the card stop and back to the finish at Alexandria Bay without any incidents. With boats moored at the town docks for the evening it was time to party, and party they did. Not many poker runners made it back to the Edgewood without first visiting the “Dock On A Bay.” After a few hours of telling tales of their exploits during the day (some of which may actually be true) it was time to head back to the host resort for the Awards Dinner and the revealing of the cards. On arrival at the ballroom, the crews handed in their cards and received their Participant Plaques. Every lady was handed a beautiful rose, donated by Rio Roses, sponsor of all the Poker Runs America 2007 events. (Jennifer and Rejean Doucet acted as pace boat in their 45’Sonic, “Distraction”.) Poker Runners and their guests enjoyed the delicious meal, for which the Edgewood is known, but as desserts were served, all eyes were fixed on the cards, with good reason. For the first time in the history of the Alexandria Bay Poker Run it was a “Winner Take All” event from which this years lucky winner would be taking home a cash prize of $10,000 and another $5,000 of prizes. Before the first cards were revealed, Kirkland announced the winners of some special awards. The award for Most Exotic Graphics was presented to the latest boat from the Sunsation, the 32’ SSR. Vice-President of Sunsation, Joe Schaldenbrand, accepted the trophy. Best-dressed crew went to John Lang, David Luciani and all the rest of the crew aboard Lawrason’s, the new 43’ Nor-Tech Super Cat. The “Most Exotic Engine Compartment” award was presented to Chuck Allen for the engine compartment in his new 36’ Nor-Tech Super Cat. At last it was time to find the big winner. As the cards were turned there seemed to be a lot more pairs than normal and the lead changed many times. With just four card hands left it looked like Brian and Janet Lundy were going to be the big winners, but this was not going to be their lucky day. Out of the last four card hands, one of them produced a pair of aces. These were the proud possession of the Spillmans, who had been joined in New Moon by their aunt and uncle, Jodi and Paul Farley. A small boat was the big winner of the night at the 2007 Alexandria Bay Poker Run. With the luck they’ve had in the last three years, don’t be surprised to see the Spillmans holding the high cards again. Poker Runs America would like to thank Suzanne Keeler, Georgene McKinley, Brent and Jennifer Sweet, from the Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce for their valuable assistance in the organizing of this event. (Jennifer and Rejean Doucet acted as pace boat in their 45’Sonic, “Distraction”.) PRESENTING OUR SPONSORS… Mercury Racing Snap-on Ogilvy & Ogilvy Fountain Powerboats Custom Marine Aqua-Mania Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce Myco Trailers R-Tech Performance Mark’s Leisure Marina Lake Cumberland Marine Gordon Bay Marine Edgewood Resort Rio Roses Formula

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