On four legs or two legs, the participants in the dog race ran down the paths set up at the Base de plein air André-Nadeau. It was an initiative of the Estrie Canicross Club for the benefit of the Estrie Animal Protection Society (SPAE).
This first competition, supported by the Federation of Mushers and Canine Athletes of Quebec, received nearly 200 entries from across the province. The organization registers almost 300 departures for the two courses of 1.9 and 4.2 kilometers.
The strong gusts that hit Estrie on the night of October 11-12 did not damage the circuits, confirms the secretary of the Estrie Canicross Club, Andréanne Beaudry. “For a first edition, I think we did well,” she rejoices.
SPA, which serves no less than 45 municipalities in Estrie, envisages spinoffs of around 10,000 dollars. The amount is “very satisfactory”, according to the head of communications, Alexis Savoie. “It’s a great opportunity to join them because they’re very much joining us in their cause.”
Furthermore, the name of the race is a nod to the Marche des Belles Moules, which SPA had already organized previously.
Democratize the sport
The Course des Belles Gules is primarily a fundraising campaign for the services offered by SPAE. Alexis Savoie notes that more than $60,000 a month is needed just for veterinary care of the animals. In addition to the $30,000 monthly to feed them.
However, he assures that the organization in Estrie is in “good financial health”. But “the numbers are growing fast,” he says.
For the secretary of the Estrie Canicross Club, the competition also gives visibility to the outdoor sport, which is gaining popularity. “These are not disciplines that are particularly well-known […] We are still seeing an increase in the number of members in the club, especially with the pandemic, more people have adopted dogs.
Similar races took place this year, notably in Rimouski, Saint-Félicien, Rawdon and Abitibi. In Estrie, the Canicross Club is more used to holding races on snow. It was therefore a first for the club to introduce amateurs to still rocky pistes.
Quebec also stands out in cross-Canada canicross, notes Andréanne Beaudry. However, the region lags far behind the European network, she says.
