Mia Kairouz and Simao Santa Barbara fastest at 2026 Bluewater International Gran Fondo
The 2026 Bluewater International Granfondo once again delivered a sold-out celebration of cycling across Lambton County, drawing more than 1,000 riders to the shores of Lake Huron for its 10th anniversary.
Beginning and ending at Mike Weir Park, cyclists rolled out onto quiet country roads, orchard-lined climbs and sweeping lakefront views, tackling routes of 30 km, 50 km, 100 km and 160 km. With timed segments replacing traditional start-to-finish racing, riders pushed hard where it mattered most, chasing personal bests, podiums and provincial titles in the Ontario First Responder Road Cycling Championships.
The 160 km Gran Fondo featured four timed sections, producing one of the most competitive men’s fields in event history. Simao Santa Barbara set the tone early and never faltered, clocking a combined segment total of 40:30.6 to secure the fastest overall time of the day. Scott Elliott followed at +26 seconds, with George Condy rounding out the top three at +1:27. Roland Gallardo and Carl MacMillan completed the top five, each delivering consistent pacing across all four segments. The rest of the top ten—Robert Featherston, Chrischen Vergara, Zbigniew Lukasik, Kris Henrikson and Graham Avery—showcased the depth of the men’s field, all finishing within seven minutes of the leader.
The women’s 160 km timed sections produced a dominant performance from Mia Kairouz of Amherstburg, who stopped the clock at 52:09.5 to take the fastest female time of the day. Angie Dinchik followed at +3:00, with Katie Hudon and Jennifer Krueger locked in a tight battle for third, separated by just five seconds. Marlee Sauder, Monique Channer and Katanya Polimis completed the top seven, each conquering the long course with strong pacing and resilience.
The Lambton 100 km route featured three timed segments and delivered another thrilling showdown. Alex Poirier of Sarnia proved untouchable, posting a combined time of 30:13.1 to take the overall win. Dennis Turriff followed at +14 seconds, with John Cahill and Sean Blake close behind. Connor Loeven, John Rossini, Frank DeDecker, Jaime Saavedra, Sean McWatt and Sarbjit Chana rounded out a fiercely competitive top ten, all within two and a half minutes of Poirier.
The women’s 100 km saw Laura Drope of Sarnia dominate the timed sections with a 32:30.5 total, earning the fastest female time and provincial honours. Maria Teresa Gonzalez Coubert followed at +2:53, with Kate Brennan in third at +3:57. Nicole Blenkinsop, Susan Clements, Erin White, Wendy Ghobril, Kate Cain, Jennifer Bjazevic and Heather Janzen completed the top ten, each delivering consistent efforts across all three segments.
The Sarnia 50 km route featured one timed section and produced blistering speeds. Joel Vosburg of Kelowna delivered a flawless ride, stopping the clock at 15:03.1 to take the men’s fastest time. Kent Gore followed just three seconds back, with Kelly Johnson at +7 seconds. Soren and Keith Child, Jordan Banninga, Bob Bikes Braun, Chris Top, Brian Hillis and Anas Ibrahim completed the top ten, all finishing within two minutes of the leader.
The women’s 50 km timed section saw Stacey Severs of Sarnia take the win in 18:02.2, followed by Natalie McCormick at +34 seconds and Tiffany Dunn at +39 seconds. Anna Churchman, Gail Furlan, Kristin Butler-Schmidt, Laura Silic, Angie Smith, Carley Warner and Lucinda Wallace rounded out the top ten, each delivering strong pacing on the short, fast course.
The Ontario First Responder Road Cycling Championships were once again decided on the fast and tactical 50 km course, with provincial titles awarded based on the single-segment finish times. The men’s championship produced a decisive and high-speed battle, with Joel Vosburg claiming the provincial title thanks to a blistering 15:03.1. Kent Gore and Kelly Johnson completed the podium, both delivering sharp, disciplined rides to secure second and third.
A tightly packed chase group defined the depth of the men’s field, with Soren Child, Keith Child, Jordan Banninga, Bob Bikes Braun, Chris Top, Brian Hillis, and Anas Ibrahim rounding out the top ten. Their performances showcased the strength, fitness, and competitive spirit within Ontario’s first responder cycling community.
The women’s First Responder Championship followed a similar pattern of fast, decisive racing. Stacey Severs powered to the provincial title with a commanding 18:02.2, setting the benchmark for the field. Natalie McCormick and Tiffany Dunn completed the podium after strong, consistent efforts on the rolling course.
The remainder of the top ten — Anna Churchman, Gail Furlan, Jo Kim, Danielle Quinn, Laura Silic, Angie Smith, and Carley Warner — each delivered determined, well-paced rides, highlighting the growing depth and competitiveness of the women’s first responder ranks.
Despite the damp weather, the packed routes, lakeside finishes and a festival atmosphere at Mike Weir Park, the 2026 Bluewater International Granfondo once again proved why it remains Ontario’s #1 Granfondo. Riders capped off the day with hot meals, cold drinks and live music, celebrating personal achievements while supporting St. Joseph’s Hospice and Bluewater Health’s Palliative Care Program—bringing total charitable contributions to more than $520,000 since the event began.
Top 10 Men - Bluewater 160km
1, Simao Santa Barbara, —, 40:30.6, —
2, Scott Elliott, —, 40:56.7, +0:26.1
3, George Condy, —, 41:57.9, +1:27.3
4, Roland Gallardo, —, 42:04.6, +1:34.0
5, Carl MacMillan, —, 44:12.5, +3:41.9
6, Robert Featherston, —, 44:58.1, +4:27.5
7, Chrischen Vergara, —, 45:45.6, +5:15.0
8, Zbigniew Lukasik, —, 45:53.2, +5:22.6
9, Kris Henrikson, —, 46:58.9, +6:28.3
10, Graham Avery, —, 47:24.1, +6:53.5
Top 10 Women - Bluewater 160km
1, Mia Kairouz, —, 52:09.5, —
2, Angie Dinchik, —, 55:10.1, +03:00.6
3, Katie Hudon, —, 1:00:08.9, +07:59.4
4, Jennifer Krueger, —, 1:00:13.2, +08:03.7
5, Marlee Sauder, —, 1:00:58.5, +08:49.0
6, Monique Channer, —, 1:03:02.8, +10:53.3
7, Katanya Polimis, —, 1:03:49.2, +11:39.7
8, Kirstie Allan, Waterloo, 1:16:47.5, +24:38.0
9, Roxanne Vis, —, 1:17:43.0, +25:33.5
10, Brenda Schwaabe, —, 1:20:45.7, +28:36.2
Top 10 Men — Lambton 100K
1, Alex Poirier, Sarnia, 30:13.1, —
2, Dennis Turriff, Toronto, 30:27.4, +0:14.3
3, John Cahill, London, 30:36.2, +0:23.1
4, Sean Blake, London, 30:48.6, +0:35.5
5, Connor Loeven, Sarnia, 31:49.2, +1:36.1
6, John Rossini, London, 31:56.0, +1:42.9
7, Frank DeDecker, Dorchester, 31:59.6, +1:46.5
8, Jaime A. Saavedra, London, 32:03.0, +1:49.9
9, Sean McWatt, London, 32:27.5, +2:14.4
10, Sarbjit Chana, Windsor, 32:29.5, +2:16.4
Top 10 Women — Lambton 100K
1, Laura Drope, Sarnia, 32:30.5, —
2, Maria Teresa Gonzalez Coubert, London, 35:24.0, +02:53.5
3, Kate Brennan, —, 36:27.9, +03:57.4
4, Kim Drake, Stratford, 37:20.1, +04:49.6
5, Heather Baxter, Sarnia, 38:06.1, +05:35.6
6, Nicole Blenkinsop, Brights Grove, 39:29.6, +06:59.1
7, Susan Clements, London, 40:30.9, +07:... (approx +08:00)
8, Erin White, Bright’s Grove, 40:50.7, +08:20.2
9, Wendy Ghobril, Sarnia, 41:02.6, +08:32.1
10, Kate Cain, Burlington, 41:47.9, +09:17.4
Top 10 Men — Sarnia - 50K
1, Joel Vosburg, Kelowna, 15:03.1, —
2, Kent Gore, Camlachie, 15:06.0, +0:02.9
3, Kelly Johnson, Sarnia, 15:10.4, +0:07.3
4, Soren Child, Chelsea, 15:33.5, +0:30.4
5, Keith Child, Chelsea, 15:47.2, +0:44.1
6, Jordan Banninga, Sarnia, 15:47.7, +0:44.6
7, Bob Bikes Braun, Forest, 16:30.5, +1:27.4
8, Chris Top, Petrolia, 16:37.4, +1:34.3
9, Brian Hillis, London, 16:53.8, +1:50.7
10, Anas Ibrahim, Hamilton, 17:21.0, +2:17.9
Top 10 Women — Sarnia - 50K
1, Stacey Severs, Sarnia, 18:02.2, —
2, Natalie McCormick, Sarnia, 18:36.4, +00:34.2
3, Tiffany Dunn, Sarnia, 18:41.3, +00:39.1
4, Anna Churchman, Sarnia, 18:48.1, +00:45.9
5, Gail Furlan, Sarnia, 19:01.6, +00:59.4
6, Jo Kim, Point Edward, 19:13.8, +01:11.6
7, Danielle Quinn, Sarnia, 19:14.4, +01:12.2
8, Laura Silic, St. Thomas, 19:28.0, +01:25.8
9, Angie Smith, Sarnia, 19:28.1, +01:25.9
10, Carley Warner, Corunna, 19:29.9, +01:27.7
Top 10 Men - First Responder Championship
1, Joel Vosburg, Kelowna, 15:03.1, —
2, Kent Gore, Camlachie, 15:06.0, +00:02.9
3, Kelly Johnson, Sarnia, 15:10.4, +00:07.3
4, Soren Child, Chelsea, 15:33.5, +00:30.4
5, Keith Child, Chelsea, 15:47.2, +00:44.1
6, Jordan Banninga, Sarnia, 15:47.7, +00:44.6
7, Bob Bikes Braun, Forest, 16:30.5, +01:27.4
8, Chris Top, Petrolia, 16:37.4, +01:34.3
9, Brian Hillis, London, 16:53.8, +01:50.7
10, Anas Ibrahim, Hamilton, 17:21.0, +02:17.9
Top 10 Women - First Responder Championship
1, Stacey Severs, Sarnia, 18:02.2, —
2, Natalie McCormick, Sarnia, 18:36.4, +00:34.2
3, Tiffany Dunn, Sarnia, 18:41.3, +00:39.1
4, Anna Churchman, Sarnia, 18:48.1, +00:45.9
5, Gail Furlan, Sarnia, 19:01.6, +00:59.4
6, Jo Kim, Point Edward, 19:13.8, +01:11.6
7, Danielle Quinn, Sarnia, 19:14.4, +01:12.2
8, Laura Silic, St. Thomas, 19:28.0, +01:25.8
9, Angie Smith, Sarnia, 19:28.1, +01:25.9
10, Carley Warner, Corunna, 19:29.9, +01:27.7
Link to 2026 Bluewater International Gran Fondo Results: https://www.timingshack.ca/20260802-bigf
2026 Bluewater International Granfondo Photo Gallery
