Beech Tree News Network

It took 11 heats featuring at total of 108 terrapins but when the dust had settled, terrapin #40 belonging to Kobe Annis came out on top and took home the $25 top prize.  Second place went to Sally Butler's terrapin #78 ($15), and terrapin #103 - Kypton and Erica McKinney - finished in third place ($10).  The race was held at 9 a.m. this morning - July 4 - at the Roger Gaskey Softball Field in the Charles Black City Park. 

The championship round featured the winners of each individual heat.  Each of the 11 heats had a first, second and third place, which paid out $10, $7, and $5, respectively.  

The annual event, one of the longest running of the entire festival, is sponsored by Cassia Lodge #272 F&AM in Morgantown.  There is no entry fee and each child, up to age 14, may enter up to two terrapins in the race. 

Below is a list of all heat winners:

Heat 1:

1. #1-Weston Merritt

2. #77-Trenton Butler

3. #67-Daniel Martin

Heat 2:

1. #78-Sally Butler

2. #13-Briley Webster

3. #89-Eli Brooks

Heat 3:

1. #58-Shane White

2. #101-Ethan Cardwell

3. #90-Jenna Brooks

Heat 4:

1. #80-Cooper Embry

2. #48-Kealynn Givens

3. #37-Will Embry

Heat 5:

1. #103-Kypton & Erica McKinney

2. #38-Drew Hatcher

3. #70-Maggie Drake

Heat 6:

1. #82-Aliyah Perrin

2. #17-Henry McKinney

3. #28-Carley Givens

Heat 7:  

1. #40-Kobe Annis

2. #18-Hayden Whitaker

3. #7-Alexis Rodriguez

Heat 8:

1. #41-Weston Annis

2. #84-Mattalyn Johnson

3. #62-Alexis White

Heat 9:

1. #53-Kaleb Cannon

2. #96-Parker Smith

3. #85-Addisyn Johnson

Heat 10:

1. #97-Mattie Smith

2. #21-Mason Brooks

3. #108-Bryson Britt

Heat 11:

1. #65-Hayden Cardwell

2. #44-Zackery Gwathney

3. #55-Donavan Hoon

The scene of registration at the terrapin race  9 AM Wednesday.

Defying gravity Wednesday morning at the race is a terrapin owned by Ethan Cardwell (foot shown))

What it’s about-Henry McKinney (L) surrounded by supporters yells for the orange terrapin Wednesday morning at the Catfish Festival. “Orange” finished second in race number 6.

Stay connected to Beech Tree News/WLBQ 1570 AM for the best, most comprehensive coverage of the Green River Catfish Festival.  

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Story by John Embry; photos by Diane Dyer and Roger Southerland.