Published: July 17, 2008 11:26 pm            

CANAL FEST: Diaper Derby pins champion

And they’re off?

Getting a group of infants to compete in a carpet race takes coercion.

Ava Brodfuchrer, 14 months, reached for a marshmallow placed just inches over the finish line by her father, Ron, of Pendleton, to grab the title in this year’s Diaper Derby.

The event was the culmination of 14 elimination rounds and comes with a $100 gift certificate to Babies ‘R Us.

Ron acted as “catcher” for his family’s team, along with three other parents crouched along the finish line, each with their own assortment of keys, candy and comfort objects designed to get the babies moving.

“We found that in the last week or so, she’s kind of a daddy’s girl,” Ron said.

Ava’s mother Christine positioned the child at the “gate” area, at the other end of about eight feet of carpet laid out near the corner of Tremont and Webster streets in North Tonawanda Thursday.

The couple said the marshmallows seemed to be doing the trick in earlier rounds, with Ava once going for a juice pack instead.

Crying broke out early in lane one, although more than one child advanced in a state of tears throughout the event — gripping determination.

One-year-old Samantha Krause set the speed record for the day, in the tenth heat, closing the distance in under five seconds. Other contenders were happy just to sit with their mothers and explore the texture of the raceway carpet, barely acknowledging their screaming parents down field.

Pat Dean, a volunteer line judge for the event, said pretty much anything goes except walking, which is grounds for disqualification.

“Anything was fair game,” she said.

The DeGraff Memorial Hospital veteran and current volunteer said she has seen all kinds of tricks used by parents to bolster their child into local baby fame, but nothing that stands out.

“I really can’t say,” she said. “Being a grandmother I’ve seen all kinds of crazy things. Whatever works, I guess.”

The event had for many years been run by the YMCA in North Tonawanda, with DeGraff taking over for the first time last year.

About 40 kids took part Thursday.

Contact reporter Neale Gulleyat 693-1000, ext. 114.

        

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