New Record Set in 5th Annual Crate Run!

The 5th Annual Crate Run was held on the weekend of August 8th and 9th, and was blessed with beautiful sunny weather for the high tide runs on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

There was good competition on Saturday in both the Junior (ages 5 - 12) and Adult (18 +) categories. Ten year old Lucas Hudson of Parker’s Cove, the returning 2008 Junior Champion, took the honors again on Saturday with his run of fourteen crates. Seventeen year old Philip Messinger of Round Hill was a first time participant, and as the sole entrant was given a free ride to win the Teen (13 - 17 years) category with a run of six crates.

In the Adult category, Grace Gillighan of Port Lorne won “Best Sport” for her five consecutive runs, with her best two runs totaling twelve crates. Josh Albright from Granvillle Ferry was a late entry and edged out Gillighan for top honors with a two run total of thirteen crates.

On Sunday everyone had to work a bit harder to win, with multiple entrants in each category. The Juniors were out in force, with eight entrants jostling to run first. The fourteen crate total from Saturday quickly fell, as four of the competitors beat this mark. This age group will run all day, given the opportunity, and after five rotations through the full roster, Dalton Courtney with his best run of 37 crates was declared the 2009 Junior Champion. Honorable Mention goes to Brett Potter with his best run of 26 crates and Lucas Hudson with his best run of 22 crates.

The Teen entrants took off as if shot from a gun, with fourteen year old Corby Courtney covering the entire string of 44 crates on his first run. That all-star effort was matched shortly by fourteen year old Michael Gregory creating a tie. In subsequent runs Gregory, of Parker Mountain Road, once again covered the entire string and then turned around to start back - yielding a 45 crate run. This set a new record for total crates and made him the winner of the Grand Prize for 2009.

Four adult competitors kept things interesting, and Mr. Johnny Reid from River John took top honors for his run of twenty two crates. Honorable Mention goes out to the Hudson family, for having the entire family participate - Bucky, Bev and Lucas - good job and great spirit you guys!

The prize winners for each day were awarded bragging rights for the year and gift certificates provided by our generous sponsors - Action Jax, Delaps Cove Fish Products, Premiere Fitness & Tanning, and DeeWee’s Takeout & Convenience. Sincere thanks to each of you - we very much appreciate the support from our local businesses.

This annual event is a lot of fun for contestants and spectators alike, and there is a long list of folks who make it all possible. Thank you to the BayShore Harbor Authority and their President Jeffery Longmire for allowing us to use the Parker’s Cove wharf facilities, and to Captain Shane Clayton for moving his boat to make room for us to run. Thank you to Greg Marshall of Parker’s Cove Lobsters for storing our crates all year, and to Jack Halliday of Broad Cove Contractors for storing and transporting the float, and hauling crates. Thank you to Blair Longmire and Doug Andrews for hauling and stringing crates in preparation for the runs, to Dana Robinson for the loan of his skiff, to Danny and Ashley Hudson for manning the rescue skiff both days, and to Carl and Barbara Hogan for the use of their sound system.

Thank you to Captain Dale Longmire for providing his boat as the “launch pad” on Saturday, and to Shawn Everett for lending his truck to anchor the string on Saturday afternoon. Thank you also to Captain Jared Halliday who provided his boat as our platform on Sunday, and to Bruce Hamilton who manned the video camera on both afternoons. Bruce captured some great action footage, and excerpts will be posted to YouTube for your viewing pleasure - look for it on the FCDA channel - www.youtube.com/fundycommunities

We have also created a DVD which contains the video footage of the runs and some high quality still photos of the day. If you are interested in purchasing one of these discs for the modest cost of $10 + HST, please contact the FCDA office.

This year the 6th Annual Crate Run will be held on Sat. August 14th at 2:30 and Sunday Aug. 15 at 3:30,and volunteers are needed to assist with hauling, stringing, and returning the crates to storage. Please consider donating an hour or two of your time so that this event can continue.