CCMQ
News from the racing world. The crowd in Mistissini saw an action-packed program at the community’s Sno-Cross/Cross-Coun-try Camoplast Championship. For two days, racers competed on a course where a lack of snow made the going sluggish. Two “spectacular” accidents slowed the program the first day, reported Le Sentinelle of Chibougamau.
Mistissini speedmeister Kenny Gunner was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd when he roared to victory in the Pro 600cc. Curtis Bosum, Danny Gunner and Isaac Etapp, all three saddled up on Polaris, were also in top shape. In the amateurs, Etapp came up with a first place on the Saturday and a 3rd on Sunday. Gunner got a second place on Saturday and 1st on Sunday.
Of major note was Semi-Pro Eric Potvin on a Polaris who got four 1st place wins and one 2nd, a remarkable performance for the young racer.
In the women’s contests, Nathaly Savard on a Ski-Doo swept to three wins in three starts. Her rival of last year, Taria Coon of Mistissini on Polaris, took two 2nd positions.
To the Ouje-Bougoumou Sno-Cross/Cross-Country Camoplast Championship. Serge Audet of Chibougamau powered his Arctic Cat to three victories in O.J., the 500cc and 600cc. In Pro 440cc, Kenny Gunner on Polaris took the gold, while Brian Coonishish on Ski-Doo disposed of his rivals in Semi-Pro 440cc.
In amateurs, the top three were (in order): Shawn Coonishish, Isaac Etapp and Shawn Neeposh. In women, 1 st-place Lydia Iserhoff dropped Nathalie Savard in 2nd, followed up by Taria Coon ir> 3rd.
Congratulations to all participants and organizers for the races.
Raid des Braves
Finally, the Raid des Braves. Yes, you’ve probably heard of it. The Raid is funded by the SDBJ, thepuppet arm of Hydro-Quebec charged with developing the North, lyiyuuschii. SDBJ president Don Murphyis also the Raid’s chairman. Last year, he told us the Raid is “a message. We want to sell the Northas a real part of Quebec to the rest of Canada and the world-as a territory where three ethnies livein harmony, together and have projects together. We want to show the modern side of the North withNatives implicated in real jobs,” real jobs like “mining, forestry, tourism.”
This is not to take away anything from the racers, team organizers, Cree and non-Native sponsors andmany volunteers who make this an exciting event. It is an amazing endurance contest for the teams thatis a testament to the limits of human will, perseverance and ingenuity. The race has attracted interestaround the world because anyone can see it is one of the ultimate contests of human endeavour. Sadly,these are probably not the reasons we see Chantiers Chibougamau, Barrette Chapais, Cambior,Hydro-Quebec and the Troilus Mine on the list of Raid sponsors.
