The International Big Rideau Speed Skating Championship took place yesterday in Portland, Ontario. The race, part of Marathon Skating International, featured 5km, 10km, and 50km distances. Click here for all the results.
Photo from A Leesh
Skaters braved very very cold conditions and cracked ice to complete the races. Lots of skaters fell thanks to cracks in the ice. Second place finisher Benoit Letourneau fell four times. He must be sore today 
Despite the falls, organizer Marco Smits put on a fun show, with the likes of short track speed skater Tania Vincent and Canadian comedian Rick Mercer. It seems that the entire town or Portland and the surrounding area gets into the action and behind the event.
Photo from A Leesh
The men’s race featured Adrian Loewen and Benoit Letourneau leading hard and trying to leave each other in the dust. The race was decided in the last straight-away of the 50th lap, with Loewen edging out Letourneau for the win.
Alicia Weiss shared her pictures- check them out here- Skate the Lake. Portland, ON. January 31, 2009.
Photo from A Leesh
Women 50km
1- Susan Cameron
2- Dominique Lalonde
3- Suzanne Dionne
Men 50km
1- Adrian Loewen
2- Benoit Letourneau
3- Peter Doucet
Here are a few of my pictures-
Tons of icicles
Must be nice to be covered in fur on a day like today
Morgane Echardour registering
Eventual winner, Adrian Loewen, getting ready
In the town-hall
Beautiful skies greeted the skaters
Gathering at the start/ finish line
Rick Mercer gets to drive the Zamboni
Dominique Lalonde
Awards
Rick Mercer receives the Marco Smits award
Sharing the podium with the ladies
Women 29 and under
Women 40-49
Women 50+
Men 19 and under
Men 20 to 29
Men 50-69
Men 60 and over
Top-3 women- 3rd- Suzanne Dionne, 1st- Susan Cameron, 2nd- Dominique Lalonde
Top-3 men- 3rd- SpeedSkateWorld.com’s very own Peter Doucet, 1st- Adrian Loewen, 2nd- Benoti Letourneau
What to do with my prize money. Buy doughnuts? Muffins?
Soup and sandwich (and gasoline)
Filed under: International, Long Track, Marathon, Pictures, Race Series, Reports, Results
Way to go Peter!! Congrats man.