Tour du Lac-brome
A massive event exuding conviviality, determination, and jubilation
Blazing heat and high humidity could not deter runners participating in the numerous running events over last weekend’s 39th annual Tour du Lac-brome. With over 4,000 athletes converging on Knowlton’s Lions’ Park the scene was that of conviviality and determination, and jubilation. They came in droves; the athletes, their families and friends, spectators and the volunteers and sponsors from all over Quebec, parts of Ontario, and New Brunswick and the US. The Lion’s Park in Knowlton looked like a carnival had come to town.
Eric Fleury, manager of the event, was pleased with the overall results. “We more than doubled the number of entrants in Friday’s five-kilometre Canicross event. It is getting more and more popular each year. And this year marked the second highest number of participants in the history of the event. Everything started on schedule. Even though the heat contributed to a dropout of almost 20 per cent of 4,200 registered the organizers saw 3,500 finishers.
But Fleury lamented the loss of 20 volunteers at the last minute on Friday and is already worrying about next year’s event. He says that these kinds of events rely on volumes of volunteers and are therefore always at risk of running into snags if there would not be enough to cover all the tasks required. He needs
them to be reliable. More than 1,600 runners for the 10kilometre road race that started at Foster concurrently with over 900 runners for the 20-kilometre at the Lions Park meant a bevy of volunteers needed to support the athletes with hydration during the race. It also meant manning the thousands of medals because each participant finishing his or her respective event received one.
Tour du Lac-brome takes a year to plan for. Fleury says that more than 200 volunteers were working this weekend. Most were doling out water along the way to the runners. Fleury was grateful to the ten youngsters along with family members representing the local soccer association managed by Jackie Royea, who were clad in black T-shirts. They stood courageously throughout the weekend at the finish line cheerfully greeting all incoming runners with cups of water.
It is a massive undertaking for a threeday event that has become known as one of the three most popular running events in Quebec. Owen Falquero, former president of the TBL Chamber of Commerce was onsite to promote Aviron Knowlton Rowing Club. He is confident that the event raises visibility to the area and consequently contributes to the economy. Gilbert Arel is the TBL manager. He is also a runner who has participated in the event a number of times. He is counting on the 40th Tour du Lacbrome to be even bigger and better.
Above, friends with big bravos to greet the finishing runners of the 10-kilometre and 20kilometre road runs on Sunday morning at Tour du Lac-brome.
Right, Ikram Zahi of Montreal jumping for joy at the end of his 20-kilometre run on Sunday morning at Brome Lake. First place winners are: 22.2 km Country Road Christian Vachon (Magog) 1:25:29:9 Elizabeth Mokrusa (Montreal) 1:38:23.3 20 km Road David le Porho (Montreal) 1:03:55:3 Catherine Cormier (New Richmond) 1:14:49:8 10 km Road Julien Pinsonneault (Saint-hyacinthe) 00:35:58:1 Annie Jobin (Sherbrooke) 00:42:46:6 9 km Trail Max Read (Ottawa) 00:10:26:00 Lyne Bessette (Bromont) 00:46:34:3 2 km Trail Samuel di Pasquale (Saint Bruno) 00:7:22:5 Coralie Guilmette (Granby) 00:9:34: 5 km Road Maxime Provencher (Thetford Mines) 00:18:14:9
Annie-laure 00:19:11:6 1 km Olivier Beaupré (Longeueil) 00:3:50:3 Florence Phaneuf (Delson) 00:4:06:6 Duck Mile Abdelkrim 00:05:10:3
Anne-laure 00:05:41:7 5 km Canicross Remi Smida 00:19:03:4
Joannie Girouard 00:19:23:8 Menard Benazout Menard (Montreal) (Montreal) (Montreal) (Saint-apollinaire) (Sainte- Croix)