From the dunes, along the bay
August 17th, 2017

From the dunes, along the bay

Bouctouche hosts annual Clarence Bastarache Race

By Andrew Wagstaff

Maritime Runner

Aug. 17, 2017

BOUCTOUCHE, N.B. – The annual Clarence Bastarache Race went off without a hitch here on Saturday, Aug. 12, with nearly 100 participants taking part in the 10K and 5K races.

Kip Jackson of Sackville was the top finisher in the 10K, with a time of 36:56.

“I went into the race aiming for a sub-38:00, which was my time at the same event last year,” said Jackson. “I was pleasantly surprised to get the time that I did, and I certainly didn’t expect to win.”

He finished ahead of Jacques Gautreau, who finished in second place at 38:09, followed by Jean-Louis LeBlanc, who came in at 39:36.

Clarence Bastarache (sitting, left) congratulates three of the winners at this year’s annual Clarence Bastarache Race in Bouctouche, N.B. on Saturday, Aug. 12, (from left) 5K female winner Kamylle Frenette, wheelchair winner Damien “TiBas” Duplessis, 10K female winner Anouk Pelletier and 10K male winner Kip Jackson.

Photo courtesy of Luc Cormier

The beautiful course along the waters of Bouctouche Baie, from the Dunes of Bouctouche to the JK Irving Centre, also brought its share of nature’s wonders for Jackson.

“At around the 2.5K mark, there was a large Bald Eagle sitting on top of a tree, looking over the race,” he said. “So that, together with the scenery next to the Strait, made for a memorable experience.”

The top female finisher was Anouk Pelletier of Moncton, who came in at the 44:09 mark.

It was the first of two race wins last weekend for Pelletier, who also finished as the top female in the 10K at the Herring Run in Mascarene on Sunday.

“I always do the Bouctouche 10K, because it is always fun and the course is fast,” she said. “It’s downhill until the last 600m, the big hill for the finish.”

She said the race was a lot of fun, as always.

“I paced my friend for the first 6K, and I sped up a little bit after to pass the women in front of us,” said Pelletier. “The race was fun. I took it for a workout because I wanted to do well at the Herring Run.”

Finishing second among females was Mary-Beth Jaillet at 45:16, followed by Lynne Genest at 45:23.

For complete official results, visit the Race Roster page here.

In the 5K, it was Pierre Luc Roy of Dieppe placing first with a time of 18:08, followed by Jeremie Gervais at 18:43, and Yannick Boudreau at 19:45. The top female finisher was Kamylle Frenette of Dieppe with a time of 20:17, followed by Diane Baxter at 23:04, and Jacqueline Maillet at 26:03.