Venture crews successful on Bayou Liberty Sunday
Published 12:10 pm Friday, June 6, 2014
Local venture scout crews 313 from Bogalusa and 200 out of Varnado did extremely well in the 62nd annual Bayou Liberty Canoe and Pirogue Races, which took place Sunday, in Slidell.
The event is sponsored by the Bayou Liberty Civic Center and serves as a fundraiser for them.
Paul Dautrieve, who captured the Milltown Classic in Bogalusa for the third consecutive year the day before, was victorious the Men’s World Pirogue Championship Race for the third consecutive year.
Richard Savoie was runner-up in the race, which is about five miles long.
Dautrieve and Daniel Miley were crowned in the two-person canoe race. Adam Economu and Tyler Seals came in second with Roo Breland and Colby Spears third.
Economu also competed in the Common Boat Race and finished runner-up. Economu missed out on first place by hair to Savoie.
Jacob Stillwell captured the 8-12-year olds Pirogue Race with Christian Kinsley taking runner-up.
Duncan McLinden was second in the Men’s over 40 Pirogue Race.
In the girls’ competition, Alexis Blackwell was crowned in the 8-12s Pirogue Race.
Grace Fornea won her 13-16 year old age group of the Pirogue Races.
Abby Fornea was third in the 13-16s Pirogue Race, while Kirsten Barber finished second in Pirogue Races and third in the blindfold race.
Barber and Morgan Thigpen were the first females to ever reach the finals of the two-person canoe race. The two finished seventh of the eight finalists.
Sarah Kinsley was second in the 8-12s Pirogue Race, while Alissa Williams was third.
Col. Bobby Miller said the teams’ overall effort was outstanding.
“We have by far the largest youth participation in all of the races, including the pirogue and canoe,” Miller said.
Next up for the canoe teams is the Bogue Chitto Marathon Race from McComb, Miss to Lock No. 2, which occurs July 17-19.
After that is the White River Canoe Race in Arkansas, which is taking place July 24-26.