Husky News

As far as Laurie Niedermayer, organizer of last weekend’s First Mate Racing’s Cariboo Challenge - Home of the Jack Gawthorn Memorial Sled Dog Race, is concerned, everyone came out a winner.

The weather co-operated, providing cool temperatures and an abundance of snow,

leaving everyone includeing the event planners, dog drivers and spectators as pleased as could be.

The races opened on Saturday at the 108 Hills Health Ranch under cloudy skies, a dusting of snow and dampness in the air. Amid the sea of colourful toques, excited sled dogs yapped incessantly, turning the yelps up to a frenzied pitch as they approached the start line to begin their race. Niedermayer said the snow on Saturday was on the heavy side, so the track was slow and run times were also slower than usual.

That may have been a good thing for the Mayor’s Challenge race which saw dignitaries from various Cariboo communities mush off for a whirlwind tour behind teams of dogs who obviously had a passion to run.

The four pooches pulling the sled for Scott Nelson, Mayor of Williams Lake, didn’t particularly care where they ran and managed to dart off down the wrong fork in the trail. Nelson saw a part of the countryside nobody else got to experience that day, but miraculously ended up back at the parking lot a short time later.

100 Mile Mayor, Donna Barnett, was pitched off her sled just a few metres past the start line but was quickly bundled back in with a driver who rallied to ride along and work the controls.

CRD Director, Jon Wolbers, won the race, despite losing control on the first turn and upsetting his sled. He brushed off the snow and carried on, fortunate that his dogs hadn’t continued without him.

Second place in the Mayor’s Challenge went to Clinton Mayor, Roland Stanke, with Mayor Nate Bello from Quesnel in third. Nelson took fourth and Donna Barnett finished the race in fifth place. The dignitaries raised money for their local SPCA animal shelters by taking pledges for their participation.

Sunday’s events ran under brilliantly sunny skies and colder temperatures which resulted in a faster track.

“Everyone took from four to 10 minutes off their times on Sunday,” said Niedermayer.

For the 55 teams that were registered, it was two days of well-groomed tracks, beautiful scenery and a share of cash prizes at the finish line.

“The purse was split evenly, so everyone walked away a winner,” said Niedermayer.

Local residents, Claudia Wickert and Rainer Peters had an exceptional day, with Wickert taking second place in the 6 Dog Purebred race and Peters landing a second place

in the 8 Dog Open category.

Niedermayer said

that this year’s participation was up more than twofold from last year, with many returning racers.

Doug Ebbert, from Saskatchewan, who Niedermayer noted as being one of the top sled dog racers in Western Canada, was a return visitor. He took first place in the 8 Dog Open and second place in the 6 Dog Open. He was also awarded the Jack Gawthorn Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and commitment to the sport.

“He’s been coming for years and is always helpful and eager to share his knowledge,” she said.

The 2006 Canadian Open Championship winner, Ken Bernard, from Hinton, Alberta, was also there, placing in the top three of four events.

“Ken just loves this course and said he’ll be back,” she said.

Some dog drivers, like the Ramsay family from Manitoba, travelled great distances to take part in the Cariboo Challenge. Shelley Ramsay said that she, her husband Rob, and seven-year-old twin daughters, Gracie and Jamie have been coming since the girls were 17 months old.

“We go all over the place, but this is one of our favourite races,” she said. Gracie and Jamie each competed in the Junior class.

There were a total of nine prize purse events run over the weekend and the top three finishers from, first to third in each category were:

Junior - Dawson Kokesh; Gracie Ramsay; Brandon Paterson.

4 Dog Open - Ken Bernard; Bruce Young; Cory Hommy.

4 Dog Purebred - Laurie Bryce; Dana Jensen; Mac Ramsay.

4 Dog Novice - Karla Fehr; Nicole Swan; Scotty Smith.

Skijoring - Bruce Young; Ken Bernard; Rob Ramsay.

6 Dog Open - Ken Bernard; Doug Ebbert; Rob Gallant.

6 Dog Purebred - Rob Bryce; Claudia Wickert; Kelly Kokesh.

8 Dog Open - Doug Ebbert; Ken Bernard; Cory Hommy.

8 Dog Purebred - Fabian Schmidt; Rainer Peters; Mike Langlois.