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 Le Tour Race Reports 2002

Stage 1: Kouchibouguac (110 km) July 21, 2002

The birds were released at 8:30 in overcast skies with no sun visible.  The winds were friendly and blowing briskly out of the SSW.  At home the skies were dotted with a few clouds and the temperature and humidity were quickly rising.  The eventual high for the day was in the low 30's  with a humidex factor of 36 C (97 F).

After yesterday's training toss from the same location and a flight that only lasted 1:30 I expected a real fast one.  At the 2 hour mark there were no birds and I became concerned about them being blown over.  This is the first time that I have seen a helping wind on this course and more than likely the only time these racers will experience it.

At the 2:09 mark 75 out of 79 birds appeared from the north.  It was obvious they had over flown.  Normally they would appear out of the west using the City of Bathurst which is 10 km away as a landmark and then fly west to home.  All birds shipped were clocked.

Congratulations go out to Les Peters for winning the first stage of the Le Tour and all others who did well.  Photos of all the first 3 birds will follow shortly.

The next race is scheduled for Thursday from Moncton a distance of 200 km.

Complete Results

Stage 2: Moncton (200 km) July 25, 2002

The birds were released in Moncton, NB from a distance of 200 km.  Eighty racers were released at 10:00 am in cloudless skies into a slight headwind.  All were home by the end of the day.

Sixty-six birds arrived in the first drop and the winning time was 2:53:55.  Congratulations go out to Joe Martino for winning the second stage and all others who did well.

Myron Kulik was present at the release and at the arrival of the birds.

Next stage is from Moncton and is scheduled for Sunday, July 28.

Complete Results

Stage 3: Moncton (200 km) July 28, 2002

Stage 3 was flown this morning from Moncton, NB a distance of 200 km.  The racers were released at 9:30 am in sunny skies; however, most of the route home was overcast but bright.  The conditions were warm with a slight westerly breeze.  The birds disappeared quickly in the direction of home.  I was expecting a fast race and this time I wasn't disappointed.  A group of 72 birds arrived together and the first one trapped quickly at 2:36:08.  By the end of the day 77 out of 79 birds shipped were clocked.

The previous fastest time recorded for Stage 3 was 2:52:00.  Today's race is the fastest time flown from this station.  Myron Kulik and Leo Boudreau were present at the race. 

Congratulations go out to Jeff Mawbey for winning Stage 3 and congratulations go out to everyone who did well.

Next stage is from New Glasgow a distance of 300 km and is scheduled for Saturday, August 3rd.  This is when the real racing begins.

 Complete Results

Stage 4: New Glasgow (300 km) Aug 2, 2002

Stage 4 was flown this morning from New Glasgow, NS a distance of 300 km.  The birds were released in sunny skies and calm conditions.  Most of the course remained similar except at home the weather was overcast and a brisk breeze blew from the SSE.  The racers took advantage of the friendly winds flying the distance in record time.  Sixty-nine birds were first spotted high and arriving from the north side of the loft.  It was a beautiful sight to see 69 birds stretched out across the sky and almost motionless before they all made a half circle and dropped down to land on the roof of the loft.  By the end of the day all 77 birds shipped were clocked.

Congratulations go out to Jeff Mawbey for winning Stage 4 and scoring his second consecutive first with the same bird.  Also congratulations go out to all for a super race.

The next race is scheduled for the weekend of August 10th and from the same race point.

Complete Results

Stage 5: New Glasgow (300 km) Aug 10, 2002

The Le Tour birds were released this morning at 7:30 am in sunny skies and calm conditions.  The way home was mostly cloudy with a side wind from the WSW averaging about 20 km/hour.  When the birds arrived the conditions were calm and they arrived on schedule considering the conditions.  About 20 racers arrived in the first  group.  They made one short circle, landed and 12 trapped immediately.  The first bird trapped in 5:10:20.  Seconds later, the remainder began arriving in various sized groups and by the end of the day 77 out of 78 birds shipped had clocked. 

Note: All birds shipped are accounted for.  Last birds arrived early next morning.

Congratulations go out to the team of Voyo Radoman and Mike Van der Jagt for winning the last race of the sprint series.  Congratulations also go out to the team of Silvio Mattacchione and Ali Stephen for winning the Sprint Championship.

The birds will be rested for 10 days.  Stage 6, 400 km from the Canso Causeway is schedule for Aug 20th weather permitting.

Complete Results

Stage 6: Canso Causeway (400 km) Aug 18, 2002

Well, you never know about young birds.  It was an easy race for some and a hard one for others.  A group of 6 birds arrived in hot humid weather in an unbelievable time of less than 5 1/2 hours .  This time broke the previous record by over 2 hours.  I suspect that the strong SW wind forced the leaders to fly more over open water, rather than hugging the coastline as they normally do.  For the rest of the day, birds arrived in small groups and singles.  By 9:00 pm of the first day 53 birds were clocked out of 82 shipped.  A total of 70 birds reached home by the second day.

Leo Boudreau's CU 10919 was the first to trap at 5:27:58 hours of flying.  This bird is a sister to last year's winner for Leo. 

This was a day when many of the leaders faltered.  Consequently the the overall standings have changed dramatically.  Only 2 hours separate the top 30 birds after 1500 km (over 900 miles) of racing.  The last stage will probably be an 8 to 10 hour flight and if longer these standings could change dramatically again. 

Congratulations go out to Leo Boudreau and all others who did well in Stage 6.  Good luck to all in the last race of the 2002 Le Tour.

The birds will be rested for 2 weeks.  Stage 7 is scheduled for Labor Day weekend.

Complete Results

Stage 7: Sydney (500 km) Sept 1, 2002

The last stage of the Le Tour Des Maritimes 2002 was flown Sunday September 1st.  Seventy-seven birds were released at 8:00 am in partly cloudy skies with a light SW wind blowing.  Upon release the birds immediately headed in a WNW direction.  The weather throughout Nova Scotia was sunny and warm with a brisk 30 km south westerly winds blowing throughout the afternoon.  At home the conditions were similar except temperatures reached 25 C.   At 5:00 the winds had died down considerably.

By 7:00 and as dusk began to set I had doubts that we would have day birds.  Then about 7:42 and after almost 12 hours of flying a group of 5 birds arrived out of nowhere, landed and trapped immediately.  In the next half hour, another 10 arrived in small groups and singles.

Cal Murray's 2 remaining entries Man 0012 and Man 003 were the first to trap.  Congratulations go out to Cal for an excellent performance in the last stage of the Le Tour 2003 and congratulations to all who had day birds.

                     Complete Results