Husky News

There was an arctic chill in the air, pierced at intervals by husky howls that sent shivers up your spine, in a way the frigid temperatures couldn’t. The air was tangible with both canine and human excitement.

The Meadow Lake Race had it’s fourth annual event on January 22, hosted by the four member Meadow Lake Dog Sled club. Grant and Nancy Marsh, and Roger and Vicky Cockrum are the Meadow Lake Dog Sled club, devoted breeders and racers who make this event happen every year.

Grant and Nancy Marsh run their own kennel, where they raise and breed sled dogs. A hound-husky cross, completely unlike the fluffy blue eyed sled dog often associated with the sport.

These dogs are smaller, about half the size of their Siberian Husky counterparts, with the long, slim build of a hound, mixed with the course fur and sturdy physique of the Alaskan Husky.

The Marshes currently have 39 dogs in their kennel south of town. Nancy Marsh has been breeding and racing dogs for 25 years. “Grant has been ever since I met him, which was 8 years ago,” She recalled. “He had nothing to do with dog sleds until I met him. I’m responsible for getting him addicted to it,”

On Saturday morning, 28 trucks bearing licence plates from places as far flung as Nova Scotia, Pennsylvania and Alaska were parked in the Marsh’s yard. Grant Marsh estimated there were “840 dogs at least.” “This is the best turn out we’ve had, ever,” he said, “(When) 19 ten-dog teams turn up to a race, it’s a pretty big turnout.”

Entrants ranged from amateurs to World Champion dog sledder, Blayne (Buddy) Streeper. The Streeper family, are from Fort Nelson, British Columbia. They were working their way back home after a grueling six day, three hundred mile race across central Oregon in mid January.

The Atta Boy 300 Championship is considered the world championship of dog sled racing. Buddy Streeper, 22, has won the event two years in a row. “It was a difficult race,” said Streeper. He won the race after returning from an 18 minute deficit to win by two minutes. “It was one of them runs you only dream about.” He’s been dreaming about sled dog racing a long time. “My father has been at it for 30 years,” said Streeper, “I was born into it.”

Source: Meadow Lake Progress