by Connie Tabbert
Editor
BEACHBURG — Cobden teenager Emily Barron participated in her first five kilometre sanctioned run and placed third overall for women with a time of 41:23. Her mother Diane also participated in the same event.
Liam Buxcey, also of Cobden, placed third overall in men with a time of 35:30. His mother Carole competed in the 10 kilometre run.
Running mates Dianne Johnston of Cobden and Evelyn Turcotte of Admaston-Bromley Township have competed in this five kilometre run each year.
“It was the hottest one,” said Ms. Turcotte.
They were just a few of the many participants in the 6th Annual Spring Chicken Enduro organized by BORCA (Beachburg Off Road Cycling Association). The event was held at the Beachburg Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 9. There were about 250 competitors in the 10, 25 and 55 kilometre enduro and in the 5, 10, 25 and 55 running. The enduro is by mountain or fat bikes through rough trails created and kept by BORCA volunteers.
La Passe residents Brenda Lammi and son Travis, 11, participated in the 25 kilometre enduro.
“It was fun,” said Travis, who had a big smile on his face.
Why?
“Because we had candy,” he added with a laugh.
Seriously, he said he wanted to do it with his mom.
And her answer was, “I wanted to do it with my son.”
Ms. Lammi participated a few years ago, but following a bike accident had to give it up for a while.
“Now I’m back,” she said. “It was very, very hot, but it was a lot of fun.”
There was a mix of everything,” she said. “The technical parts were really hard.”
While the Beachburg trails were fine, the Loran Trails were hard, and the two did a lot of walking. However, Travis noted he did try and do some of the technical things.
To prepare for this event, Ms. Lammi admits they didn’t practice much, only going out on the Beachburg trails twice.
However, she wasn’t too concerned for her son, as he’s a hockey player so in good shape.
“We’re not in it to win it, just to have fun,” she said.
Ms. Lammi said there are some beautiful landscapes throughout the trails.
“You almost expect to see woodland fairies,” she said. “It was just so beautiful.
“And the trilliums were out too.”
It took the mom and son team three-and-a-half hours to complete the course.
Saturday morning, Cindy Jamieson, one of the volunteers, explained that enduro means it’s a long distance event with things added on, such as rocks, mud, gravely areas, etc.
It was a sold out event with the 250 registered, she said.
Her father, Art Jamieson, decked out in a very, bright red chicken costume, led the cyclists and long-distance runners, while driving a 1945 Ford tractor. They travelled up Beachburg Road towards Robertson Drive and while he turned off onto Powers Road, BORCA member Cameron Dube tossed a rubber chicken into the air to start the race and the cyclists went onto Government Road and began their ride.
The cyclists and runners finished at the Beachburg Fairgrounds.
This is a great event, Ms. Jamieson said.
“The finish is here at our beautiful Beachburg Fairgrounds,” she said. “This is such a wonderful community event. The beautiful heritage hall, all the grounds, all used by donation by the fair board and Beachburg Rec Association. Everything is volunteer here. We’re just making a great fun event and getting lots of people to town and showcase our wonderful trails.”
Ms. Jamieson noted the trails were in “awesome condition” and the trilliums are in bloom.
“It’s such a pretty ride.”
Damien McCarthy, owner of GearHeads in Petawawa, volunteered his crew to check out any bikes as requested by the riders.
“We’re just making sure they’re all fixed up and ready to go,” he said.
As for mechanical help on the trails, Mr. McCarthy said there will be basic tools at a checkpoint, but most cyclists in these types of events know to carry what tools they think they may need.
Once the race begins, Mr. McCarthy was also going to be riding.
When riding this type of race, he said there are standard mountain bikes, which run about 1.8 to 2.4 inch wide tires and fat bikes, which run three-inch to five-inch tires.
“They’re a lot bigger, run a lot softer tire pressure and they’re really designed for soft surfaces, like packed snow, sand, mud, all that type of stuff,” he explained.
As a matter of fact, a fat bike was a major prize at the event. The winner was Murielle Gouriou Ovenden.
Mr. McCarthy predicted a standard mountain bike would win this race because there’s a lot of gravel and double-track and a little smoother, but there’s a lot of technical stuff, he said.
“There’s some short sections that a fat bike would be advantageous, but the majority of it, I think a standard mountain bike is going to take it today,” Mr. McCarthy said.
Technical items on the trails include rocks, roots, very steep hills and obstacles to go over, he said. If it rains hard, which there was a chance it could, it would get really slippery and muddy.
“The muddier it gets and the more technical it gets, the better I do,” he added. “That’s where the fat bikes would do better, soft and muddy.”
Shawn Hurd from Barrie was one of the competitors. He said three years ago he purchased a new mountain bike and saw an ad for this race in a magazine and signed up for the first time. Now, while he cycles the 25 kilometres, his wife runs it.
Mr. Hurd admits this race is “a little different. It’s been entertaining. There’s always something that’s interesting.”
Mr. Hurd said this is a fun ride and while he believes the 55 kilometre ride would be much more exciting, he’s not quite ready to tackle it.
Jeff and Jane Johnson of Beachburg participated in the 25 kilometre enduro while their two youngsters, Ben and Will, participated in the chicken race, which was a short, fun race for children 12 and under.
This is the Johnson’s third year for participating.
“I like supporting an event that is in our back yard,” Mr. Johnson said. “I think BORCA has done a phenomenal job of bringing together landowners and outdoor enthusiasts to create a world-class network of trails.
“It’s cool to support it and watch it grow over the years,” he said.
Mr. Johnson said he biked a lot of years ago, but then got away from it. Once they moved to this area, they kayaked, with Ottawa River so close, it made sense. However, the trails are in fantastic shape, so he has taken up cycling again, as has the family.
“It’s a sport we can do with the family,” Mr. Johnson said.
The chicken race was great because it gets the children out and active, he said.
Mr. Johnson is happy with how he’s placed in the race in the last two years.
“I’ve been really happy with my results,” he said. “That’s the nice thing about mountain biking, is that you get to challenge yourself and say, how did I do that day.”
What’s really nice is the division of age groups, which means you are racing against a specific group of aged people, he said..
“One of my favourite things about this event, because of the timing of it, is it’s great motivation to get out and start biking early in the spring,” Mr. Johnson said. “Coming out of a long, cold winter, probably not exercising as much as I’d like to, you sign up for a race and it’s like, OK, I have to start training. It gets you out and gets you going.”
Ottawa participants Steve Williams and Joey Slobodian have participated in five of the six years.
“This is a great grass-roots local event,” he said. “It’s just too much fun.
“The trails are lots of fun. They’re a good mix for an early season race.”
In previous races, they laughed and admitted, “We finished. Our goal is to finish and have fun, because that’s all we’re here for.”
David Druhan from Orleans loves supporting BORCA for their trail building efforts and it’s just a good time.
“I like to get ready early in the season for a big bike ride,” he said.
This is the third time he’s participated.
Speaking to the participants prior to Mr. Jamieson leading the riders and runners, volunteer Cam Dube addressed them, thanking local businesses for supporting the event, Neil Hawthorne for the pork barbecue, Dawn Dube for organizing the bake sale, Simple Things for providing the gifts in the find the chicken event, Whitewater Brewing Company and Madawaska Java for providing refreshments, and of course the many volunteers, because without them this event wouldn’t happen.
At day’s end, Mr. Dube said, “It’s been a fantastic event. Hot, hot, hot and the rain held off.”
The trails were dusty dry, which the participants didn’t mind, compared to the mud-fest that has happened in previous years.
As for accidents, which are quite normal for a cycling race such as this, while there were the minor scrapes, Mr. Dube said nothing serious
Monday morning, Ms. Jamieson said, “Everyone really loved the venue. It was new this year. Tons of positive feedback.”
Previously, the riders started in the Renfrew County Forest Trail, which meant parking along Government Road, and then once done, having to drive to the Beachburg arena for the end results and food.
“People are tired (when they finish),” she said. “Sometimes they just leave, they don’t go back to Beachburg for the meal.”
This time, they started at the finish, she said.
As the racers finished, people were there to cheer them on, lounging in the grass areas, she noted.
“That was really nice,” she added.
The Chicken Race was great fun for the young children, Ms. Jamieson said. They were like the adults, wearing numbered bibs and running around, she explained.
Ms. Jamieson said it was truly an amazing community event, with the fair board and rec association donating the use of the building and grounds, Mr. Hawthorne providing lunch, and refreshments by Madawaska Java and Whitewater Brewing Company.
The five and 10 kilometre running events were still at the county trails, while all other events started and finished at the fairgrounds.
It’s unfortunate many riders don’t finish the race, which is normal, but it’s mostly due to breakdowns, she said. And that’s what happened to Jane Johnson, her bike “just exploded.”
Ms. Jamieson said, “She was so sad. The same thing happened to us one night when we were out together. We were out in the middle of nowhere and then boom, her back end, the derailleur, just totally broke.”
Along with the 25 and 55 kilometre enduro rides, there was also a 10 kilometre cycle, but it wasn’t advertised, it was just something that happened, she said.
The top three winners in each event received a specially-designed magnet medallion, she said.
Ms. Jamieson said the organizers have yet to debrief and talk about the event, but she’s sure it will most likely be held in the same area next year.
“The feed back has been super positive,” she said.
The organizers meet about once a month to plan this one-day event, Ms. Jamieson said.
