‘Big boat’ first in Chitimacha 20

Team Pont Breaux, consisting this year of teenage triplets Carson, Conrad and Peyton Pellerin and Pat Guidry in a four-man kayak, busted their record in the Chitimacha 20 Saturday by 5 minutes and 39 seconds.
This despite the double whammy of a headwind and an incoming tide that trimmed the times of nearly all of the returning racers in this annual prelim to the Tour du Teche family of ultra-marathons in the fall.
Saturday’s race was 20 miles from New Iberia City Park to the Chitimacha Tribal Reservation in Charenton.
The Pellerins and Guidry finished first overall in two hours, 42 minutes and 3 seconds. Last year in a six-seater with their father, Andre Pellerin, and cousin Greg Pellerin, the brothers’ time was 2:47:42.
In second place, again, was Morris Paillet of Houston (PRP Racing) with 2:55:53. Last year Paillet drafted on the big boat to finish in 2:47:47.
The only returning paddler who bested his 2015 time was River Racer, Brad Rex of Lafayette, who finished at 2:56:15 this year, 2:57:22 last year. He was second place in solo kayak, just seconds behind Paillet.
Randy Hargroder (Team Hargroder) was third in that division at 2:58:29. In 2015, 2:54:46.
The New Iberia team of Tave Lamperez and Robert Berthet were first in tandem canoe with a time of 3:11:12.
Gerry Fisher, also of New Iberia, was first in the Voyageur Division (recreational paddlers) at 3:12:44.
Second in tandem canoes were Darryl Davis of Diamondhead, Miss., and Wayne LaBauve of Pearl River (The Dark Horse) at 3:15:39.
Coming in second in Voyageur solo kayak was Troy Aymond of Katy, Texas, with 3:27:44. First in solo canoe was George Gonzales (Gonzo) at 3:39:56.
These teams did not race last year.
Rounding out the 20-boat field were”
David Dupree of Rayville, solo kayak, 3:20:07 (3:08:15 last year);
Robin Lashway of Galveston, Texas, solo kayak, 3:28:58;
Denise D’Abundo of Baton Rouge (Double D), solo kayak, 3:36:59 (3:35:15 last year);
Glenn Broussard of Breaux Bridge (Divine Mercy), solo kayak, 3:42:53;
David Richards of New Orleans, solo kayak Voyageur, 3:45:37;
Matthew Bonura of Houston, solo canoe (first place), 3:49:26 (3:36:53 last year);
Christi Lancaster of Houston, solo kayak female Voyageur (first place), 4:21:00;
Beau Risner of Thayer, Mo., solo unlimited Voyageur (first place), 4:28:46;
Bill Thomas of Colleyville, Texas, and Keith Grimball of Patterson (Pimp N Paddle), tandem unlimited (first place), 5:02:22;
Brandy Milliman of New Iberia, and Paige Whipp of Baton Rouge (Bayou Babes), tandem unlimited female Voyageur (first place), 5:37:53;
Lindsey Evans of Baton Rouge (Mer-Cat), solo kayak female Voyageur, 8:11:36.
The next event produced by the Chitimacha 20 organizers is Petit Tour du Teche, races for youths, Saturday, Aug. 6, in Breaux Bridge.
Tour de la Rivière Rouge (275 miles) and 410 de Louisiane start Oct. 1 at Bossier City. Tour du Teche 135 starts Oct. 7 at Port Barre. Go to www.tourduteche.com for more information.