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Le Tour Des Maritimes Invitational Testing Station

 2007 Summary

 The Challenge

Le Tour Des Maritime Invitational Testing Station (TTS) is a series of 9 races.  This year the birds flew a total of 2430 km over one of the most challenging courses in Canada.  This is mostly a head wind course and because of the nature of the geography for the last 3 races, the birds, unless they fly over water have to fly considerably further than they are credited.  Just flying all 9 races and arriving home is an accomplishment.  Flying all races in race time can be described as an outstanding achievement.  This year the birds were challenged several times with strong wind conditions.

In my opinion this has been one of the most competitive Le Tour Series ever.  After 9 races, 2430 km and over 41 hours of flying just over an hour separates the top 10 birds, less than 3 hours separates the top 20 birds and less than 5 hours separates the top 30 birds.  The big separation occurred after the Antigonish race (370 km) where a third of the birds arrived the next day.

Map of the Course   Provided by Nelson Paw   Note: The New Glasgow release was replaced by 2 Truro releases and the Sydney race point was replaced by St Peters on Cape Breton Island.

2007 Facts

- 96 entries of which 74 began racing and 58 were still in the loft at the end of the series

- 53 birds flew the series in race time

- birds received no medication until training began

- birds were flown on the light system

- birds were only exercised in the morning for approximately 1 hour

- birds received 10 training tosses before racing began at 107 km

- once racing began the birds received no training but their 1 hour daily exercise

- birds flew 9 races totaling 2430 km during a period of less than 6 1/2 weeks

- birds flew the last 5 races  totaling 1850 km (1156 miles) in a period of less than 4 weeks

- birds flew the last 3 races totaling 1220 km (762 miles) in a period of 13 days

- 56 birds out of 60 shipped flew 450 km on the day

- this is a predominantly head wind course, the prevailing winds are from the NW

- the birds had to fly in strong wind conditions several times

- flying velocities ranged from 900 m/m to 1219 m/m for an average of 995.5 m/m