Streeper Wins Rondy

The Anchorage Fur Rondezvous final results found the top three finishers in the same order they finished after day 2.  Blayne Streeper is this years winner (well done, Buddy).  Arleigh Reynolds was a solid second with Jason Dunlap finishing third. 

One of the really coolest things for me, was seeing Jeff King finish fourth in his first major speed mushing event.  King was driving the Streeper Kennel's second string.  His finish says a great deal about his versatility as a musher and says remarkable things about the athletic depth of the Streeper Kennel.

Well done to everyone who finished and to all those who made the race happen and to all the media outlets who kept fans like me informed. 

On a personal note, I am really longing to stand on the runners again.  Seeing Jeff King, who is a few months older than I am, do so well, inspires me to think that I can still get this old body in shape to race again.  Other commitments conspired against me this year, but one last race WILL happen.  Of this I am certain.  My Bucket List demands it.

Strong Field For Anchorage Fur Rendezvous

Three exciting days of sleddog races begin today in the Fur Rondy Open World Championships.  And this year we have an exceptional line up, including the usual suspects of Buddy Streeper, Egil Ellis, Bill Kornmuller and Arleigh Reynolds.  But those four are not the only powerful teams in the race.  The entry is exciting from top to bottom.  This year's rookie class includes 4 time Iditarod (and past Quest champ) winner, Jeff King.  I love it when mushers cross disciplines like this.  It is quite exciting from a fan perspective.

I am a huge fan of all the drivers mentioned, but I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shout to my sentimental favorite, JP Norris and his Alaskan Anadyr Siberians.  I love all sleddogs, but Siberians still own my heart. 

I have no idea who will win.  I know that Egil Ellis has had a pretty good start this season and that Bud Streeper is fresh off a huge win at the International Stage Stop.  I know that Kornmuller and Doc Reynolds can never be overlooked and that there are a few mushers just behind who will take advantage of any misstep made by the favorites.

You can follow the race via Sleddog Central.

Congratulations, Hans Gatt, 2010 Yukon Quest Winner!

What a fun race.  What a great finish, with two of the Quest's legendary competitors dueling it out to the very last day.  From the Dawson City halfway point, Hans Gatt and Lance Mackey, along with Hugh Neff, had taken and given the best each other could throw.  But on the home stretch, Hans pulled away and arrived in Whitehorse 57 minutes ahead of Lance and roughly 2.5 hours ahead of third place Hugh. Thanks, gentlemen, for a week and a half of great fun and exciting racing.

Here's the kicker, sports fans, all three top finishers as scheduled to line up in Anchorage the first Saturday in March for the other 1000 miler, the famed Iditarod.  Several other Quest participants will also enter the Iditarod. The are truly the iron men (and dogs!) of the mushing circuit.

Next up for this race fan is the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, Feb 26-28.  The "Rondy" is a three day Speed and Stamina event that will highlight some of the fastest and fittest canine athletes in the world.  I would love to be there in person, but at least I will get to listen to some of it on the radio, thanks to the World Wide Web.

Yukon Quest Update - We've Got a Race on Our Hands

At the Carmacks checkpoint, with only the Braeburn checkpoint left before Whitehorse and the finish line, a mere 5 minutes separates the first three places held by, Lance Mackey, Hugh Neff and Hans Gatt.  These are three gutsy, savvy mushers and anything is still possible.  This race is a fan's dream come true.  I'm pulling for all three of them. 

Yukon Quest Reaches Halfway Point

The mighty Quest is half over now and the real racing begins.  At the Dawson City checkpoint, Hans Gatt holds a slightly less than three hour lead over second place Lance Mackey and a three hour lead over Hugh Neff.  Folks, these are three mushers who can just plain get it done.  I'm really getting excited now.  Follow the race at www.yukonquest.com

Yukon Quest Begins Today.......Yahoo!

Mushing is a part of me.  I don't/can't participate these days, but training and running sleddogs is never far from my thoughts.  I suppose some people get over hobbies and interests, but this is one I will never shake.  But then again, I don't try.  I love the sport.  And we are in the heart of racing season.  There are a few dryland fun events in the late fall.  The early season races get going in December in those regions with enough snow.  Things heat up in January.  But February and March is where the real muscle is.  Apologies to the very good races that run in January and April, but my favorites, The Yukon Quest, Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, Laconia World Championships, CanAm Crown, Iditarod and Open North American all fall in the Feb/March Window.

Don't get me wrong, there's no such thing as a 'bad' race in my book.  I remember some pretty sloshy, muddy messes back in Scotland and England, but I loved every single one.  Those listed are simply my favorites.

And today, the Yukon Quest begins.  24 teams are slated to leave Fairbanks, AK today with Whitehorse, Yukon Territory as their ultimate destination.  1000 miles of mountains to climb, frozen rivers to navigate and innumerable adventures along the way.  The Quest is a true test of fitness, strategy, stamina, speed and pure pig headedness.  It is not a race I was ever even slightly tempted to consider.  Those people are nuts!  And I love every one of them.

Several good books have been written about the Yukon Quest.  Two of my favorites are "Honest Dogs", by Brian Patrick O'donahue, and "Running North", by Ann Mariah Cook.

You can follow the Quest on the race's official website.  Let the games begin!