Friday, November 30, 2007

Freight Pull ON; Reach for the Sky... ON

Trail flagged, volunteers prepared, everything is a go.

One small change, max dog numbers reduced to 10 on account of thin snow cover in some places. Cover is complete, but thin occasionally. Flagging is green and orange; Standard CHT race rules apply.

Freight Pull - standard rules apply, your dog has 60 seconds to pull the weight. NO treating during the competition.

Dress warm, it was cold on the trail tonight. Bring a log for the firepit, and something for the potluck. 

Good luck (oh, does that bring the element of chance back in? I'd better call the Gambling Police to check)

Reach for the Sky AND TAKE THE BEER

Race is on, trail is being flagged as I type!!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Sat Dec 1st - a Feast of Dogsports

Taplow/First Mate Extreme Dog Food Freight Pull

One Tonne of dog food to be won across 3 classes. Meet at Icy Waters Ltd, km 4.2 Fish lake Rd at 11.30am (very reasonable, even Janet might be able to wake up by then eh Ms. Kerr? Janet was to run in the Sportees Twister, but turned off her alarm clock and rolled back to sleep - shades of Slacker Kennel from 2006 and of course the classic Eilidh Lucas rollover that cost her $100 and a second place in the Pet Dog League - enough embarrassing histories...). Freight Pull (FP) - all you have to do is get your dog to stand/sit/wait whilst it is connected to a sled, then you walk 16 feet to the finish (such a short distance), then you turn, call your dog, and FP Marshall Judith Belair (her word is law) times the dog's pull. You have 60 seconds the complete the pull. If another dog matches the weight, another round ensues. In the event of a tie, the fastest pull wins.

Yep, sounds really easy - try it out on your backyard.

Please do not place bets, this is a gambling free sporting event, I am in enough trouble regarding my alleged illegal dog gambling ring in the "so-called' Poker Run (see below). I am very grateful to the upstanding moral local citizen who reported me to the Gambling Police and has kept dogsports on the straight and narrow. Clearly Yukon dog sports were in grave danger of being sucked into the murky depths of vice in the Yukon.

REACH FOR THE SKY AND TAKE THE BEER

AIR NORTH, YUKON BREWING, AND HOT HOUNDS COMBINE FOR THE FOLLOWING PRIZES:

1st $100 Air North Certificate; $100 Yukon Brewing Certificate; $200 Hot Hounds Cash

2nd $100 Air North Certificate; $100 Yukon Brewing Certificate; $50 Hot Hounds Cash

3rd $100 Air North Certificate, $50 Hot Hounds Cash

Not too shabby for a $ZERO entry fee. A big thank-you to Air North, Yukon Brewing, and all you summer Hot Hounders (and HH sponsors - Yukon Gardens, Phillipe's Bike Repair, Icy Waters, and Yukon Brewing)

Meet at Icy Waters Ltd (IWL) km 4.2 Fish Lake Rd at 8.30am. 

4-6 dog teams leave at 10.00am, 7+ teams at 10.30 am.
Route: IWL - Jackson Lake - Sunshine Valley Ranch (stakeout lines, heated shop, coffee, hot water - a good place to take a break) - Sky High Ranch (Fish Lake area support skidoo) - Fish Lake - shoulder of Mt Mac (4400')(card drop and pick-up of Yukon Brewing refreshing beverage) - Copper Haul Trail - IWL.

Sign the disclaimer, answer the SKILL TESTING math question, collect 6 cards over the trail (be nice to the people with the cards, they don't have to run after you if you miss the pick-up). At the finish line hand over your cards to Race Marshall Bill Stewart. The best 5 card Poker hand wins.

There's no rush, take your time, enjoy the view, and have fun. Bring something for the prize award potluck!

Disclaimer: This sporting event will not be found in on-line gambling




Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Sportees Race Day -

Under thin cloud cover and over even thinner snow, 16 teams launched the first meet of Yukon Brewing’s second Copper Haul Twister season.
A slight trail detour, and a one week delay, to the Sportees league opener compensated for November’s balmy weather. “In places the snow looked all fluffy and thick,” said Eilidh Lucas. But when she face-planted near the top of the course, she discovered, “There were big rocks underneath.”
Conditions didn’t slow rookies or veterans, though. Speeds ranged from 15 to 23 kilometers per hour over the 12-mile course. First place went to Luc Tweddell’s four dogs. His 51:04 finish beat his November 2006 time by over 11 minutes. Eilidh Lucas' four-dog second of 52:12 topped her father Jonathan’s three-dog third of 53:51. Eilidh's runners sprayed Dad with snow as she sped past laughing while he wrestled out a tangle among team and skis.
For handler-in-training Faith Green, Saturday’s Twister was her first time on the runners. “Man, it was great! I’ve never had so much fun in my life.” Now she’s considering the “Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer” 22-mile poker run up and down Mt. MacIntyre (and presently the subject of a Lottery Commission investigation – see newsflash below) or the Taplow/First Mate Extreme Dog Food freight pull at Icy Waters on December 1.
In the pet-dog class, the Lucas’ Rottweiler, Asha, stood alone at the start. Bike-joring with Jonathan, she completed the 5-K course in 16:07.
No competitors registered for the kid’s race, so the 5-K under-14 class stays open. Haines Junction musher Sean Fitzgerald was also missed, but Heather and future dog drivers, Sarah Grace and Adelaide Anne, are doing well.
Next month’s junior and youth Arctic Winter Games dogsled trials, hosted by the Twister, should bring out many young drivers. Meet at Icy Waters at 9 a.m. for H. Coyne and Sons Race Day on Saturday, December 15.
-30-
Jessica Simon yukonwriter@lycos.com writes about adventure sports from Whitehorse, Yukon.

Monday, November 26, 2007

NEWSFLASH: Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer raided by Gambling Police

Complaints regarding illegal gambling of the so-called "poker run" prompted a raid by Yukon's Gaming and Lotteries Commission on the HQ of the CHT today. The HQ, hidden in a dark backroom inside Jon Lucas's head, was informed that an "entry fee" is the same as a "wager" on a "chance" (taking the cards to make up a "poker" hand), in order to "win" a prize, or bet. Threatened with the RCMP over infringement of the Canadian Criminal Code, the CHT took legal advice and the race is STILL ON, with the following changes:

1) There is NO Entry Fee,  - free racing!! - therefore no one places a wager
2) There must be a skill factor - apparently driving a team of dogs over 22 miles, up and down 2000' , over frozen lakes, glaciation, and dodging trees etc is not the right skill for a dog competition...so: the disclaimer will have a mathematical 4 step skill testing question - the math question adds the factor of skill and removes any chance in the outcome.

Yes, it would  be most amusing, if it weren't true. Additionally the legal advice still could not guarantee that this would not be breaking the law - well the competitors won't be - the organisers may be ... for holding a free race. 

Very seriously, it's a free race on Saturday, no donations either thank you; answer the math question on the disclaimer, and enjoy the ride.

See you all 8.30am sharp at Icy Waters Ltd - please don't dribble in over 30mins - like some Twisters did on the 24th.

Race Leagues after Race 1 (Sportees)

Pet Dog League
1 10 points Asha + Jon Lucas Snowpigs

Copper Haul Twister League
1 10 points Luc Tweddell
2 8 points Eilidh Lucas Snowpigs
3 6 points Jonathan Lucas Snowpigs
4 4 points Dominique Ouleray
5 2 points Maren Bradley



Dogs Love the Twister!!

Moose warms up with a few star jumps just before the off

Sunday, November 25, 2007

REACH FOR THE SKY AND TAKE THE BEER

Meet Icy Waters Ltd, 8.30am, Saturday Dec 1st.

FREE; 4-14 dogs; Poker Run - you only have to finish (and answer the skill testing question correctly) to be eligible to win.
2000' up, 2000' back down, breathtaking views (if you have any left :) :) - I'm staying done here with the freight pull)
Card stops at Jackson Lake; Sunshine Valley Ranch; Sky High Ranch; and (hopefully) on the shoulder of Mt Mac.
Minimum Purse $300 cash (Hot Hounds and CHTwister) $300 Air North Certificates
 $200 Yukon Brewing Certificates

SPORTEES RACE RESULTS


Getting Ready 1


All competitors won cash and prizes from Sportees, Aurora Booties, Yukon Brewing and Icy Waters. Volunteers received Arctic Charr from Icy Waters and draw prizes from the sponsors.

-5'C, calm, sunny. Trail: thin but continuous cover, and hard packed.

1 Pet Dog Class 5km

1 Asha the Rottweillor - Jonathan F. Lucas - 16:07 - bikejour

12 Mile Twister

all 4 dog sleds, except Jonathan Lucas: 3 dog skis

1.....Luc Tweddell..................51:04
2.....Eilidh Lucas...................52:12
3.....Jonathan Lucas...............53:51
4.....Dominique Ouleray........56:10
5.....Maren Bradley................56:16
6.....Kyla Boivin....................58:09
7.....Pierre Yves Duc..............1:00:1
8.....R. Keri............................1:01:21
9.....Jocyline L.......................1:02:10
10...Jeff Butcher....................1:06:08
11...Y. Voyer..........................1:06:44
12...Brianna R.......................1:07:36
13...Faith Green....................1:12:28
14...Rene L...........................1:14:18
15...Colin Morrison..............1:15:55
16...Lucie W..........................1:16:49

Many thanks to Greg Kent of Alpine Timing, and Gene Ennis for race timing, and Laura J. Lucas as Race Marshmallow, never mess with the Race Marshmallow

Next Twister, H.Coyne and Sons, Sat Dec 15th, 9am Icy Waters Ltd. 
SLEDS 5 DOGS; SKIS 3 DOGS

Same time, same place on Sat/Sun 15-16th Dec the Youth and Junior Arctic Winter Games trials (www.Sportyukon.ca) running alongside the Twisters

Friday, November 23, 2007

Sportees Race Day - ON

Trail is flagged and marked. Ready to roll. See you all at 9am at Icy Waters Ltd tomorrow!

By the way does anyone know why 2 wombats attached to a piece of string are in the title spot of this site?

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Sportees Race Day, 9am Sat Nov 24th

Trail still good.

Dog Team Numbers + race distances:

Pet Dog - 1 (one) dog, attached to you, skis, sled, wheels, running. 5km

Kids race - 1-2 dogs skijoring, 2-4 dogs sled. 5km

TWISTER - 2-3 dogs skijoring, 2-4 dogs sled. 12 mile

Remember wood for the firepit and goodies for the post-race potluck.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Trail Report, Sunday 18th

8 dogs just hauled an unfit Jon Lucas round the 12 mile complete CHT trail - trail's good, Jon's a little tired, dogs are laughing.
Snow hooks will set in the side trails and at the edge of the wide trail, there's not enough snow to set it and be sure in the wide trail. I hear the skijorers asking "Wot's a snow hook?". Still, these were the same conditions in the 2006 November race, and remember Jon had 8 dogs out there today, the Sportees race allows 3 for Skijorers and 4 for sleds.

So unless there is a major thaw, Race is on! See you there 9am Icy Waters Ltd, Sat 24th, and bring a log for he firepit, and goodies for the potluck

Saturday, November 17, 2007

NOV 24TH, 9am, Icy Waters Ltd, SPORTEES RACES ON

3" snow fell on Thursday night/Friday. It is being nicely packed by the KSA and the public (thank-you) and we have a trail. We may have to by-pass the big wide trail up the hill to the gravel pit, but we do have a 12 mile trail! Phew!

See you all 9am at Icy Waters Ltd, as usual every participant in the Kids and the 12 mile receives a 25lb block of dog-food arctic charr (secondary processing products), and every volunteeer gets 2 fillets or 6 dressed Arctic Charr.

It's time to RACE!!!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

RACE POSTPONED - Sportees Race now NOV 24th

The trail still requires another 2" of snow to be safe. Race is postponed to Saturday 24th November, same time, same place - I think we all need to do our snow dances.

Happy training!

Monday, November 12, 2007

Dec 17th SPORTEES Race Day Update



Trail requires another 1-2" of snow. A Final decision on the race will be posted late on Wednesday evening. If necessary the race will be postponed to Saturday 24th November.

Race info:
Metal edged skis are prohibited

Courses are the same as last year

Meet 9am for 9.15am Mushers Meeting, Icy Waters Ltd, Km 4.2 Fish Lake Rd

Volunteers please arrive for 9.15am, all volunteers receive Arctic Charr as a thank-you.

Races in following order:

1 pet dog, 5km (14 years+) running/skis/kick sleds/anything so long as the dog remains attached to you

Kids race (6-13 years), 5km, 1-2 dogs skijoring, 2-4 dogs sleds

12 mile Twister (16+ years), 2-3 dogs skijoring, 2-4 dogs sled.

Entry fee $10. First five places pay a small amount of cash + random place prizes from Sportees, Aurora Booties, and Yukon Brewing.

Anyone can race out of class in the kids or Twister for experience, however entry fee must still be paid but no prize can be won. "out of class" racers will have their time recorded.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

DECEMBER 17TH TWISTER, 9.15AM ICY WATERS LTD



Now located in the old Griffiths building on 6th Avenue- larger, brighter, and all you need for out-and-indoor sports, call Andrea at 867 668 2691, info@sportees.com, or just check them out in person, or online at www.sportees.com

buy local, everyone wins

Saturday, November 3, 2007





The above have combined to send you where the wind blows...high above Fish Lake, on Dec 1st