Lake Winnipesaukee Poker Run Nets $175,000-Plus For Charity

Between powerboats motor-vehicles, some 80-plus participants and their crews took to New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee and its roadways last Saturday for the HK Powersports Land and Lake Poker Run. And in just one day, the group raised more than $175,000 for Easter Seals of New Hampshire.

Super Stock racer and Lake Winnipesaukee local Chris Hopgood put his raceboat to good use last weekend. Photos courtesy HK Powersports.

More than $2 million has been raised for Easter Seals since the first poker run was first held in 2001.

Good to their words, Super Stock-class racers Chris Hopgood and Daren Kittredge, both of whom have homes in the Lake Winnipesaukee area, participated in the event. Hopgood ran his 32-foot CELSIUS raceboat, while Kittredge ran his MTI 390X pleasure catamaran. Though both competitors are eager to get back on the racecourse, the enjoyed the event.

The poker run included a healthy contingent of high-performance powerboats.

“We had a great time and raised money for a good cause,” said Hopgood. “We couldn’t have asked for better weather and the turnout was awesome.”

Added Kittredge, “I have done a ton of poker runs since 2003. This is one of the smaller ones, but the lake is beautiful and it’s for a great cause. And the pre-party and after-party were great, too.”

Hopgood and Kittredge supported their home-water event.

Kittredge ran his 39-foot pleasure boat.

Though he could not be reached for comment as he currently is leading a poker-run group in the Bahamas, Florida Powerboat Club head Stu Jones participated in the run for the first time on board a 2025 model-year Nor-Tech 390 Sport center console. They were joined by boats.com writer and speedonthewater.com contributor Marilyn DeMartini.

“The weather and water were spectacular,” she reported. “And Stu said he’d never seen anything like Lake Winnipesaukee and that he enjoyed all the people.

Florida Powerboat Club president Stu Jones (seat on the gunwale) was in the mix.

This year’s event was dedicated to late Peter Makris, the father of host-venue NASWA Resort owner Cynthia Makris, and Brian Connelly, a Nor-Tech dealer in the area.

“We had the biggest turnout in the 23-year history of the run,” said Greg Connelly, the son of the longtime passionate Nor-Tech fan. “I ran my 32-foot Doug Wright and my family was with my mom and brother in our 34-foot Nor-Tech. “

The Connelly family appropriately rode on a Nor-Tech center console.

Said Easter Seals-New Hampshire president and chief executive officer Maureen Beauregard in the release, “I want to thank all who came out to show their support and for being with us in our ongoing journey to make truly meaningful differences in the lives of those we serve.”