Husky News

The 52-mile Eldorado Gold Cup, now in its eleventh year, runs along the old rail bed from the Madoc Township Hall in Eldorado to Sarafin Road north of St. Ola, and back.

Dogsledders from far and wide gathered in Madoc Township on Saturday for the Eldorado Gold Cup. This is the first of four races in which sledders compete as part of the Ontario Federation of Sledding Sports Quad Crown. The other races are held in Marmora, Kearney, Cannington, and Bancroft over the next four weeks in February. Each sledding driver is awarded points according to his or her place, with the overall winner receiving the Quad Crown.

The 52-mile Eldorado Gold Cup, now in its eleventh year, runs along the old rail bed from the Madoc Township Hall in Eldorado to Sarafin Road north of St. Ola, and back.

Fifteen teams competed this year, the number only slightly down from 2005. Mushers came from Ontario and the U.S. and included two novices, one only 12 years old (Eli Golton).

Each dog team consists of a maximum of eight and a minimum of six dogs. Organizer Sandra Hannah explains that, rather than a two-day race like last year, it was decided to have a change of pace and hold only a one-day event.

Weather also played a part in the decision. She says the trail is very well groomed and competitors were pleased with the conditions, though they would have preferred colder temperatures.

Longtime competitor Ken Golton, from L’Amable, explains that the dogs race better in lower temperatures and feel the warmth by the end of a race, which can last from four to six hours, even with an early morning start. Most dog teams are Alaskan huskies, a mixed breed tailored for speed and endurance.

They are less stocky than the Alaskan malamute, with a short coat that is suited to our milder winters. Golton’s lead dog is a healthy 13 years old and he expects her to run for a few more years yet. All teams train with ATVs out of season, and the dogs are fed a high-protein, high-energy meat diet.

Dogsledding is definitely a family affair and Golton’s sons Jacob and Eli were both in the race. They began sledding at a very early age, first with two or three dogs, building with experience to six or eight. Jacob placed second with his eight-dog team, and Eli, the youngest novice ever to compete, ran with six.

The other novice in the competition, Keri Rutherford, also won the award for top female racer.

In the afternoon, over at the ball diamond, dogs are squealing and squirming with excitement while waiting to participate in the Little Nippers Races. These are one- and two-dog sprints for children age four to nine and ten to fourteen.

Competing in this year’s races were Emma and Jim Krieg, who are with their parents on a year’s sabbatical from Australia. They did very well to place third and seventh in their respective races, especially as they had never even seen snow before coming to Canada.

The Eldorado Gold Cup is a well-organized event with a large number of volunteers handling race logistics, catering and fundraising. Many awards are presented besides the Gold Cup and runner-up prizes.

The organizers would like to thank the community for supporting the event, in particular: Stein Farms for the trophies, John Roofer and the Madoc and District Legion for the prize money for the children, and the Madoc Home Hardware for supplying goody bags for all the children who participated.

Thanks also to Rick Stark who donated a racing sled for a draw by contestants in the Little Nippers Races. It was won by Ian Stein. The winner of the draw held for the gift basket was Joe Paceko, and for the homemade afghan was Joyce Ellis.

At the Madoc Township Hall, along with refreshments and several stalls displaying crafts and other products, there was entertainment by The Young Band.

On the Saturday evening there was a very large turnout for the roast beef supper and award ceremony. Next weekend, February 3, 4 and 5, many of the teams who raced in the Eldorado Gold Cup will be competing in a variety of races at the Marmora Snofest.

Source: Stirling Community Press