Catahoula Holds First Pirogue Race

Teche News—Thursday April 30, 1970

Over 900 barbecued chicken hungry persons gathered in the Clayton Boudreaux Memorial Park to eat chicken dinners and watch the first annual pirogue races held in Catahoula Lake this past Sunday. The races were sponsored by the St. Rita Catholic Church Council.

Winners of the pirogue races were:

Under 10 age group: 1st, Norman Blanchard; 2nd Neil Blanchard; and 3rd Jody Bourque

11 to 14 age group: 1st, Tony Borel; 2nd Steve Broussard; 3rd Paul Doucet

15 to 18 age group: 1st, James Hamners Jr.; 2nd Allen Buford, and 3rd Brent Poche

Men’s singles: 1st, Roy Blanchard; 2nd Jackie Theriot; and 3rd Howard Latiolais

Women’s Division: 1st, Mary Lou Broussard; 2nd Ida Blanchard; 3rd Sonja Blanchard

Men’s team race: 1st Rivers Verret and Howard Latiolais; 2nd Bernard Blanchard and Roy Blanchard; and 3rd Jackie Theriot and Errol Courville

Traffic was heavy in the. men's singles of the pirogue races held in Catahoula Lake this past Sunday. The participants are, from left, Bernard Blanchard, Martin Latiolais, Roy Blanchard (the winner), Eric Courville, Howard Latiolais, Jackie Theriot and Father Frank Bussieres.

The pirogue, a unique watercraft necessary in navigating the shallow water of Louisiana marshlands, was first built by aboriginal Indians and is still commonly used in the state, the Louisiana Tourist Commission says.