2010 Iditarod in the home stretch

With a few checkpoints from the finish it looks like it is turning into a sprint race. Lance Mackey has the lead by 1 hour and 14 minutes over King. Hans Gatt the winner of the 2010 Yukon Quest is chasing King. All three are into Koyuk and as far as I know they are taking a rest as no one has left yet. With five check points to go, it is anyones race depending on how long someone naps for. A good time to make up some miles if you want to for go the nap. With every team running just under 7 miles an hour, the time to the finish is made up of completing chores,resting and getting back on the trail before your competitor. Skipping an hour nap gets King 14 minutes from the lead.
Some of my other mushers that I follow are still at it as well.
Karen with them pretty sibes had to pull out with a sore hand that she hurt before the race even started. Martin Buser is coming along in 17th place. Kristy Berington is into Kaltag. Newton Marshall from Jamaica is in Nulato and moving along fine mon.
And our good friend from Haliburton Ontario- Hank Debruin is into Ruby. Keep going Hank your doing great-the SHCC Southern/Central Ontario Area our cheering for you.

A picture says a 1000 words at Kortright

www.sleddogcentral.com

Kortright Centre results.

Kortright Centre and Nutro Products 2010 Results.

2-dog Feb.27--------------2-dog Feb.28
1)Igor-14.31--------------1)Igor-14.25
2)Bailey-15.44------------2)Bailey-14.53
3)Daryl-17.23-------------3)Maria-17.34
4)Maria-20.02-------------4)Pat-22.40
---------------------------------5)Sue...

4-dog Feb.27--------------4-dog Feb.28
1)Marlyn-8.56 ------------1)Marlyn-9.21**Gold Marlyn*
2)Barry-9.13--------------2)Kathy-9.32**Silver Barry*
3)Colleen-10.12-----------3)Joel-10.04 **Bronze Kathy*
4)Daryl-10.57 ------------4)Walter-10.19*Reserve Joel
5)Renata-11.58 -----------5)Bailey-10.59
---------------------------------6)Daryl-11.11

3-dog Feb.27--------------3 dog Feb.28
1)Colleen-10.00-----------1)Kathy-10.42**Gold Colleen*
2)Barry-10.57 ------------2)Marlyn-10.58**Silver Kathy*
3)Colleen-11.17 ----------3)Dave-13.29**Bronze Barry*
4)Dave-11:20 -------------4)Vickie-16.39*reserve Marlyn
5)Walter-11.52 -----------5)Frazer-18.26
6)Marlyn-12.10------------6)Steve-20.46
7)Bailey-14.59-----------------
8)Vicky-17.37------------------
9)Steve-20.30------------------

KORTRIGHT RACE Feb.27/28 2010 WAS A GO!!!

Well with one of the crappiest winters in my dogsleddn history we managed to put on a dog race this weekend. After postponing the January date because of lack of snow, it looked like we were going to have to cancel the February date. The Wednesday before the race we received enough snow to put down a base trail on a 2.3 mile track.
Then we waited. On Thursday night some more snow fell and Dave and I packed what we had but it wasn't much. By Saturday Morning 8 inches of packing snow fell and I packed that snow down before the racers showed up and we had a race on our hands.
Our well estiblished sponsors in Nutro Products, The Kortright Centre and Sue Moss from Ravens Watch, we had enough prize money, dog food products and prizes for two days of racing(separate times and race each day).
Saturday we had 4 two dog teams,9 three dog teams and 5 four dog teams. Everyone had a great time and left with some money- some prizes.
Sunday in the morning the trail was quite firm. We had 5 two dog teams,6 three dog teams and 5-4 dog teams. By the last race it was quite mushie everywhere. We managed to get through the day and even my 6 yr old daughter and 8 yr old son got to go around the first loop(thanks to Kathy and Bob and their dogs). They were thrilled but not as thrilled as I was proud.
There was a total of over 600 spectators watched the races over the two days. Global News was there but no one managed to see the shoot because of some hockey game.
Thanks to Dave, Linda and Tom for your help all weekend.
Thanks to Kelly,Dave,Pat and Daryl for timing on the weekend.
A big thanks to all the racers for coming and running this 2.3 miles trail(I hope we can get the whole 4 miles in next year)*Yes I will try again next year!!

A big thanks to The Kortright Centre and Staff and purse for this year.
A another big thanks to Justin Howard and Nutro Foods for all the stuff
(great startline/food/shirts/$$$)
Thanks to Sue Moss for the bootiest and collars(www.working-dogequipment.com)
See you next year and keep em between trees.

Short track at Kortright is a go.

Well, a few hard days work and we have a 2.3 mile short track ready for Saturday and Sunday,Feb.27/28,2010. We will set this up as two separate races one on Sat. and one on Sun. The trail is in the three flat fields of Kortright. There is NO head on passing. No means no it's a piece of cake. Embarassing actually, the Kortright race does have a reputation apparently.
Drivers meeting around 10-10:30am -we will not be in a rush so don't panic.
Same for Sunday. When we figure out what we are going to run we will do a bib draw with some creative picking for racers who can run different teams (we will have heats).
This is a fun race so enjoy yourselves and the company..the nicest racers you'll ever meet will be here.

Kortright update for Thursday Night

I spoke with the Kortright Centre this evening and like Burlington, the snow has not really started to fall. We have already called off the four mile trail but we are still hoping for the short track event. For the Siberian husky teams that can wait we are hoping to make the call in the morning and see what mother nature has to offer.
I will post on my blog after 8:30am what we are planning to do.I will also email the racers on my contact list.
I am still very positive and hope to race short track after some snow falls and I pack the trail on Friday. Talk to you tommorrow.
dogsleddn

At Kortright today

I made my way to The Kortright Centre today. I was thinking positive all the way there. I headed into the main building and noticed a picture of our friend and racer (Michelle) in the cafeteria that was donated by a photographer, poster size and well framed. Wow this is positive!!The snow looked good as I got on the snowmobile.
I made my way around the first three fields and I said "not bad". As I drove around the back I could see there was not enough snow through the treed part of the trail and I was on the ground. By the time I got to the small bridge I knew there was no way we could race on the back side of this Kortright trail. I made my way around the whole trail and decided to just work on the first 2 miles. By 1 pm I thought I had done as much as I could for the day without causing any damage.
I will wait until Thursday to make the call to shut the whole thing down.
I need that snow that the area news has been speaking of.#@*&%4!
Anyways the 4 mile race is cancelled and I will let you know tommorrow about the 2 mile loop. Please email me if you are interested in attending..dogsleddn@hotmail.com
I will have $1200 for the fun run that we can split up between the racers that show up.(no entry fee). I'll update another post tommorrow.

"WOW!!!" Some Late February Snow

Here is Maureen, Natalie and Matthew at PineVista Resort. The only picture I had with snow in it this year.We love it there and try and go when we can to re-group, re-energize and re-motivate.
Well, we finally go some snow here in Southern Ontario. The first real bit in 2010.
"what's going on with that?". 7 pm and it's still coming down. I hope I don't get too much-just kiddn. I will not be able to get to Kortright until Wednesday this week. There is some snow but I will have to go check things out. The one problem that the warm weather may have caused some difficulty is the small creek at the bottom of Kortright was running the last time I was there. I need to get around that bridge so we can get to the other side of Kortright and finish the race.
I will let you know Wednesday what I can do.
If there is going to be a race I may need some help Thursday or Friday with straw bails. If you can help email me. I will be there Wednesday Thursday and Friday if I think I can pull it off. Foresure, I can do the three fields and back down the end part of the first field like we did a few years ago. I'll give you more info wednesday night.

Hans Gatt wins the Quest.

In record time Hans Gatt pulls into the finish of the Yukon Quest.
Lance Mackey is expected to arrive anytime in second place. What an exciting race and the first time Lance has been beaten in over 7000 miles.
Congrads to Hans Gatt!!!
Get some rest guys it's off to the iditarod next.
I have not heard from the horses mouth but I hear they are looking for some snow still so we can race in Canningtion this weekend. Checkout sleddogcentral.com to see if the race is a go. I will let you know if I hear anything as well.

Lance in the lead by 1 minute.

WOW! Lance is in the lead at Pelly Crossing check point. He has the lead over Hugh Neff by 1 minute. Both teams rested for 5 hours and 28 minutes. Lance left one minute before Hugh and the were off. They came into Macabe Creek dog drop within the same minute and both drove straight threw. Hans Gatt was only 13 minutes behind them. This is the most interesting race I have followed and is any one's championship.
Lance tells yukonquest.com that "Hugh and I have run over 4000 miles together during races". Hers is a picture from yukonquest.com of the three leaders all looking pretty good and getting a meal. Lance looks as relaxed as he did there as he did in the picture of us at the Jamaican fundraiser in Toronto.

Haliburton Race this weekend.

The Haliburton Race will happen this weekend. Lots of snow and a good trail I hear.
I had some great memories at this race. I finished fourth just a few beers short of third (siberian Class). My favorite memory of this race was all the teams pulling in with their trucks and I drove into the park with my new Red PT Cruizer. I had my Sled on the roof with my new Canadian flag strapped to it. My three dogs in crates in the hatch. Lynn Hiley told me she was speaking with Leigh Gilcrest and she said here comes Joel..."he sure can make an enterance". That same weekend during the race I had some head on trouble with an open French speaking team from Quebec. We were heading down the trail and my Tyler wasn't moving to the side and the French team wasn't going to budge either(head on Race). They ran right into each other and there was a big tangle. The french man was swearing at me in French something to the tone of #@4*+#2#$%^ cursing the church aparently. Refusing to even get off his sled, I walked up, picked up my sled lifting it in the air and my lines magically(fluke) came out clean. I called Tyler ahead and we were on our way. Still yelling at me, I said your welcome. When I checked the times when I got in I had beaten the open French team. It was my goal for the second day to beat him over all. I did and I think that motivation actually help me keep me in my fourth position. I don't have any pictures of that race but here I am with my PT.Cruizer and Sasha at Wasaga beach.
I hope everyone has fun at the race and I hope to see you all at Cannington next weekend and at Kortright if the weather co-operates (I'll be the team arriving in the park in the Vanilla Pt Cruizer with the sled strapped to the roof with the Canadian flag on it and three dogs in the hatch).

Yukon Quest update

Well, few days into the race now. Some team's into Slaven's Roadhouse Dog Drop.
Zack Steer in front,Hugh Neff in second and Lance Mackey in third. There is still a long way to go but Eagle Checkpoint next stop. The mushers are having a fun time so far according to the news from yukonquest.com
One quarter of the way to to finish. Still more fun to come until they start getting serious.

If you are looking for any info on The SHCC S/C Ontario 3-4 dog Champioships at Kortright, look at my Dec 3,2009 Post.
The date has changed to Feb.27/28,2010.

Weather is just not co-operating this year

We haven't had anymore snow since the last post. Still a few more weeks until the new date of the Kortright Race but what a crappy winter.
The Quest started this weekend. I hope everyone has a great race and dogs/racers stay safe. I tried to get some results from the website but it is still to early and hard to fiqure out. Looks like Hans Gatt has the early lead. I check back in a few more days.I had a few people calling me for some used sleds but I told them to buy a bike instead (just kidding I'm working on it). I'll keep you up to date with our Southern Ontario weather but it might be a early golf season at this rate.

SHCC S/C Ontario 3-4 dog championships

Well, the bad news is the race on Jan.30/31,2010 will not happen. The good news is that I just spoke with the Events co-ordinator from Kortright and a new date for this year's race is set for February 27/28,2010.
I emailed everyone and received 15 emails infavour of the new date and one undecided.
I spoke with Nutro Products and they said "lets get it on".
I wanted to feel comfortable myself with the date with Apsley being on the same date but Apsley is an open event. This would be the first year that the Kortright/Nutro Products/SHCC had the titles to present which is very good for the club and siberian husky racing. The Marshall is good for that weekend.I have to check with the timers and I'll see if Sam is available.
The SHCC 3-4 dog Championships for S/C Ontario are up for grabs.
I may have lost my chicken wing people but I have a month to work on them.
I also have a month to get some snow on this wet muddy trail.

Rides for spectators by windrift kennel also confirmed.

Thanks for all the support. It makes me proud to run Siberian's.

Hackers- Vultures

I have had a few comments on my blog from people trying to sell things that were really not related to me or my blog. I am sorry for that but I am even more sorry that while trying to erase these comments I deleted my last post. It had to do with the crappy weather and the fact that I might have to cancel the Kortright race for this year. I am still hanging on to the date and I will make the call on Wednesday this week. I am planning on having the event on another weekend this year but as you know I am waiting for racer committment before approaching the Kortright Centre and Nutro Products. I will let you know how that goes soon- most likely on Wednesday.

For you people who feel they have to leave comments on other peoples blogs, why don't you throw some money towards my race and I will put posts up about your product, if not get lost.

SOME SNOW IN THIS PROVINCE WOULD BE NICE ANYTIME SOON.

Last good run at the luge

Well we managed to have a good time even if our hill was melting after each run.

If we don't get anymore snow it might be the best run we have all winter.

At least Matthew and Natalie enjoyed the worst winter in history. If I keep bugging mother nature she just might dump on us before Jan.30/31,2010.

I have had a request to be a third or a fourth in a major curling tournement Jan.30 so if mother nature can't provide a proper winter outside I will have to move indoors to enjoy this winter.

A Few Hot Days for January

Well, the next 3 or 4 days are looking really bad weather wise. It's going up above zero degrees and maybe some rain in there. The sun is out right now and that isn't helping things at all.
We can only hope that after this heat wave is over some real cold stuff comes flying in for the next couple of weeks and dumps some serious snow. I'll keep you up to date as we get closer to the Kortright race. For now here is a couple shots of my kid's luge hill slowly melting to the ground. I'll add some pictures of them in action when they get home but it was to dark last night for any.
Good luck to our Southern/Central Ontario racers going to Kalkaska, Michigan at the Kalkaska Winterfest and our friends that are racing in Daaquam,Quebec at the Canada International Championships. You will do us proud as usual.

Irvinevalley Red'g Siberians

Irvinevalley Red'g Siberians have 4 puppies that will be ready for sale. Ready to go home at the end of Jan.2010. Sally tells me she has 3 males (two grey and one red) and one red female.

If you are interested please call Sally directly and visit her website for more information on her dogs. There are more pictures of them on the website as well. Please mention you heard about her kennel from dogsleddn.blogspot.com

http://www.irvinevalleysiberians.weebly.com/

Kortright Race Jan.30/31, 2010.

A couple of Walter Grohman's Copper Bullets waiting to go or waiting for their kennel mates to return. (These shots are from last years race 2009).

2010 and we're just sitting around waiting for more snow. A little bit since New Years day but still could use a lot more. Happy New Years Everyone (2010 starts for me on Feb.01,2010).

*10cm of snow packed down turns into 1 cm of packed trail. It would be nice to have 10 cm of packed trail so you do the math. Not looking good right now.............

I'll keep you informed as we get closer. I still have time but I'd rather have it sooner than later.

Have you seen any snow!!!!

Question: What question/statement does a dogsledder hate to hear in January?

Answer: Should I rake the leaves or cut the grass.......

A Few more weeks until the SHCC- S/C Ontario 3-4 dog Championship.

No snow insite at least in this area of Southern Ontario.

Everything is in place, the purse, wild wing lunch both days for racers, prizes slowly coming in, gold-silver and bronze medals for both classes and a pretty cool looking T-shirt ready for print waiting for the alls clear. All we need is some snow on the trail.

I'll keep you updated but it's not loooking good as of Christmas 2009.

Some nice news-for me that is- my favorite bar QB's in Burlington,Ontario is going to put some pictures of me racing at different events and some framed pictures of Lance Mackey signed as well. Of course they have info on them of the Kortright dogsleddn event.

Check out QB's on the you tube link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dARVvxYvxMQ