2025 Bed Race Results

Kiwanis Breakfast Club, Zafra, Inc., Hockey Team Squads Collect Golden Bed Pans in Rotary Club Bed Races

 

Celebrity Division Winners - Tom Neale, president of the Kiwanis Breakfast Club of Plattsburgh, holds the Golden Bed Pan. He teamed up with
 
Photo Courtesy of Jimm Collins
 
PLATTSBURGH, NY -- The Kiwanis Breakfast Club of Plattsburgh, led by Tom Neale, and the Plattsburgh State men's hockey team took home the coveted Golden Bed Pan in the Celebrity Division of the Annual Rotary Bed Races, which was held in conjunction with Battle of Plattsburgh festivities, on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. Ryan Brienza from Zafra, Inc., along with a second squad from the Plattsburgh State men's hockey team, won the Golden Bed Pan in the Industry Division race. The bed races are hosted by the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh and held on the second Saturday in September.
 
The Rotary club launched the bed races in 2010 in an effort to attract students from both SUNY Plattsburgh and Clinton Community College downtown for the Battle of Plattsburgh events. Twenty-four teams, including student-athletes from various sports teams at both colleges push the beds in the races.
 
 

 

 

Vicki Marking, co-chair of the bed race committee and past Rotary club president, said while the fastest teams earn bragging rights, the students get involved in a fun event. "We've been pleased with the turnout each year," said Marking. "The races draw more than 120 student athletes and their friends from both colleges downtown to participate in the races. They are teamed up with a business, not-for-profit, and/or what we call 'local celebrities." It's great to see the students involved in the community."

Industry Division Winners - Ryan Brienza of Zafra, Inc., holds the Golden Bed Pan. He teamed up with

Photo courtesy of Jimm Collins

In addition to Kiwanis Breakfast Club President Tom Neale, this year's 'Local celebrities" included: North Country State Senator Dan Stec, former Assemblyman Billy Jones, Plattsburgh City Mayor Wendell Hughes, Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Michael Cashman, SUNY Plattsburgh President Alexander Enyedi, and Clinton Community College President Ken Knelly to name a few. In the Industry Division, we had battles between car dealerships, credit unions, real estate agents and other small businesses. Individuals participating included Shea Brennan of Brennan Buick GMC, Cliff Berg of CB Electric, UFirst Federal Credit Union and DFCU, as well as Gaelan Trombley of Kavanaugh Realty.

 

Races Raise Funds for Community Efforts

Since initiating the bed races 16 years ago, the Rotary club has raised more than $120,000. Linda Brienza, Rotarian and bed race committee co-chair, said this year’s races raised $9,500 in sponsorship support. "We want to thank the many businesses and non-profit organizations that sponsored the teams and races. Their support makes the races so successful."

The Rotary Club of Plattsburgh, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026, has more than 135 active and honorary members.  Funding from the bed races along with financial support from other Rotary club events is used to support a number of endeavors, such as:

  • Academic scholarships for SUNY Plattsburgh, Clinton Community College, and CVPH Medical Center Radiology School
  • Financial support for local school district student programs,
  • $50,000 for the Plattsburgh YMCA Capital Campaign Project; and,
  • $50,000 for the Strand Center for the Arts theater renovation.