No losers in the Petite Tour du Teche

The third annual Petite Tour du Teche, a series of short races for paddlers ages 5 to 17, was held in Bayou Teche at Breaux Bridge’s Parc des Ponts Saturday, Aug. 2.
“Everyone of these kids is a winner!” said Tour du Teche organizer Ray Pellerin. “They’re out here instead of at home on the computer!”
In fact, every participant in the race walked a way with a miniature cypress paddle with the Tour du Teche logo burned into the blade, taking either first, second or third in one of several age categories and boat classes.
The race is an offshoot of the Tour du Teche, a three-day, 135-mile staged ultra-marathon for adults. Since the inception of the Petite Tour du Teche, paddling clubs have sprung up at St. Bernard School in Breaux Bridge and in the Chitimacha nation down in Charenton.
Boat classes in Petite Tour du Teche are K1 Racing (rudders OK), K1 Recreational (no rudders), K2 and SUP, or stand-up paddleboards. K1 designates solo boats and K2 tandem.
The entry fee is $20 per paddler. The races are held around buoys, within view of spectators on the bank at all times.
Petite Tour du Teche is conducted under the rules of the United States Canoe Association (USCA).
It will always be on the first Saturday in August, weather permitting.

WINNERS
•Fledgling I – ages 5 to 7, course 250 yards.
K1 Racing
1. David Hidalgo - 2:11
2. Ambre Viator - 2:27
3. Ben Darden - 4:45
K1 Recreational
1. David Hidalgo - 2:12
2. Ambre Viator - 2:49
K2 Recreational
1. David Hidalgo/Ambre Viator - 2:16

•Fledgling II – ages 8 to 10, course 250 yards.
K1 Racing
1. Landon Darden - 2:04
2. Jeremiah Rojas - 2:09
3. Isaiah Rojas - 2:12
4. Mary Harris - 2:18
5. Madison St. Blanc - 2:27
6. Edward LeBlanc - 2:27
7. Kaydence LeBlanc - 2:33
8. Robert Miller - 2:33
9. Joseph George - 2:34
K1 Recreational
1. Jeremiah Rojas - 2:00
2. Landon Darden - 2:01
3. Mary Harris - 2:05
4. Isaiah Rojas - 2:07
5. Madison St. Blanc - 2:16
6. Joseph George - 2:17
7. Robert Miller - 2:26
8. Kaydence LeBlanc - 2:28
9. Edward LeBlanc - 2:59
K2 Recreational
1. Jeremiah Rojas/Isaiah Rojas - 2:00
2. Kaydence LeBlanc/Mary Harris - 2:08
3. Robert Miller/Edward LeBlanc - 2:15
4. Landon Darden/Madison St. Blanc - 2:23

•Bantam – 11 and 12, course 500 yards.
K1 Racing
1. Peyton Pellerin - 3:37
2. Conrad Pellerin - 3:38
3. Carson Pellerin - 3:45
4. Georgie Mae Harris - 5:03
5. David George - 5:26
6. Adeline Miller - 5:33
K1 Recreational
1. Georgie Mae Harris - 5:09
2. David George - 5:14
K2 Recreational
1. Georgie Mae Harris/Adeline Miller - 4:47

•Juvenile – 13 and 14, course one mile.
K1 Racing
1. Sean Gabriel - 13:58
2. Peter Harris - 14:53
3. Haley Fabacher - 16:18
K2 Recreational
1. Phillip Calhoun/Sean Gabriel - 15:26
2. Maria Morales/Sophia Gabriel - 16:20
3. Mary Cramer/Katelynn LeBlanc - 20:49

•Junior – 15 to 17, course one mile.
K1 Racing
1. Bethany Wright - 14:26
2. Alyssa Carrier - 15:40
K1 Recreational
1. Chandler Mixon - 13:17
K2 Recreational
1. Chandler Mixon/Logan Boudoin - 12:07
2. Bethany Wright/Alyssa Carrier - 14:13

Major sponsor of Tour du Teche events is IberiaBank. Tour du Teche V will be Oct. 3-5. For more information go to www.tourduteche.com, e-mail info@tourduteche.com, or call (337) 394-6232 and ask for Ken.