Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Rendezvous - the dogs loved it!

"Yes, I will certainly do my best" said the musher, "that is all I ask" replied the boss dog

The airborne team, Emma and Holly lead the way! (photos Dave Mondor)

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Dog Races - L J Lucas



Stacie (Chaos Kennel) Zaychuk holds off Dave "the Tagish Tornado" Johnson in No-Man's Land

Emma and Holly lead Eilidh Lucas to 6th in the 6 dog

Unofficial Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Results

Weekend of 23/24th February, Whitehorse, Yukon

6 dog, 11km, 12 entrants

  1. Dave Johnson
  2. Ben Kinvig, Kinvig Kanines
  3. Crispin Studer
  4. Lee Kirkpatrick, Drag 'n' Fly
  5. Blaine Walden
  6. Eilidh R. Lucas, Snowpigs
With 5 Twister Veterans in the top 6, it seems the Twister IS a good training race - If Mr Walden raced the Twister, he might have finished higher :)
*
1-3 dog Skijor, 5.5km(apparently), 9 entrants
  1. Darrell Sheepway, Smoking Paws, 3 dogs
  2. Jonathan Lucas, Snowpigs, 2 dogs
  3. Heather Swystun, 1 dog
*
4 dog, 3 mile, 12 entrants
  1. Leanne Kinvig, Kinvig Kanines
  2. Bill "The Running Man" Stewart
  3. Dave "Tagish Tornado" Johnson
  4. Laura Jane Lucas, Drag 'n' Fly
  5. Jonathan F. Lucas, Snowpigs
  6. Eilidh R. Lucas, Snowpigs
*
Freight Pull
Heavyweight
  1. Titan, Rottweillor, Fred Last
Mediumweight
  1. Asha, Rottweillor, Jonathan Lucas
  2. Star, Retreiver,
  3. Sherpa, Husky, Debbie Last






Thursday, February 21, 2008

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Oscar's Electric Results

12 Mile Copper Haul Twister
*
1---Lee Kirkpatrick-----4 dog sled---49:27
2---Cheryl Wishart-----4 dog sled---52:50
3---Darrell Sheepway--3 dog skis---53:44
4---Eilidh Lucas---------4 dog sled---56:02
5---Jonathan Lucas----3 dog skis---57:00
6---Carolyn Campbell--4 dog sled---57:14
7---Jo VanRanden------4 dog sled---59:03
8---Will VanRanden---4 dog sled---1:00:04
9---Carolynne Fujda---4 dog sled---1:04:38
10--Debbie Last---------4 dog sled---1:18:08
11--Colin Morrison-----4 dog sled---1:21:35
12--Gene Ennis----------4 dog sled---1:23:40

5km Kids 
*
1---Nicholas MacDougall---10:35
2---Justin MacDougall-----10:37
3---Jeff Diment----------------12:08
4---Erin Spicer----------------12:43
5---Sarah Diment-------------14:07

1 Pet Dog, 5km
*
1---Asha, Jonathan Lucas, skis---------17:44
2---Tikka, Mark Manolis, skis-----------23:23

Many thanks to the volunteers, and Guest Race Marshmallow Brian McDougall. Next Race:
SEASON FINALE: ICY WATERS LTD RACE DAY
Saturday March 29th
Sleds 2-5 dogs, Skis 2-3 dogs

Yukon Brewing League Situation
12 Mile Twister
  1. Luc Tweddell, 3 races, 24 points, NOT volunteered
  2. Eilidh Lucas, 3 races, 22 points, volunteered
  3. Lee Kirkpatrick, 2 races, 20 points, volunteered
  4. Jonathan Lucas, 4 races, 18 points, volunteered
  5. Darrel Sheepway, 3 races, 6 points, NOT volunteered
Interesting, to get a League position and Yukon Brewing's cash, Luc and Darrel have to volunteer on March 29th,

Kids League
  1. Jeff Diment, 3 races, 22 points, volunteered
  2. Justin MacDougall, 2 races, 20 points, volunteered
  3. Erin Spicer, 2 races, 12 points, volunteered
Justin and Erin have to race on 29th March to secure their League position, and Yukon Brewing's cash

Pet Dog League

It's all over, Asha the Rottie, Queen of the 2007 Hot Hounds Season, has sewn it up with 36 points from 4 races, and Jon has volunteered, so congratulations to Asha - Rotties can Run!!
Asha will collect $125 from Yukon Brewing on March 29th




Thursday, February 14, 2008

Oscar's Electric Race ON

Trail is good and firming nicely; being groomed by Harris Cox and Jon Lucas almost daily.
*
12 mile Twister: sleds 2-4 dogs; skis 2-3 dogs
*
5km Kids Race: Sleds 2-4 dogs; skis 1-2 dogs
*
5km 1 Pet Dog race - anything, with the dog connected to you
*
Sat 16th Feb, 8.45am , Icy Waters Ltd km 4.2 Fish Lake Rd

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The Mystery of the Missing Post

During a run Tuesday, Jon jumped off the drag and started running round the post at the exit onto the Mt Mac Rd to find it had disappeared, gone, disparu - Jon was so shocked he fell over anyway (why change the habit of a season). It was still gone when he came back up on the return, but the dogs made up for it by dragging him into the nearest tree.

Whilst grooming the trail today, close inspection revealed some sawdust, but no sign of even a stump. This is appalling vandalism. I am shocked. It's almost as bad as trucks that get stuck way down the trail spontaneously combusting - like that big yellow one last year. Simply terrible.

Still, watch out for your team cutting across the low brush, I suppose the trail will simply work its way back to the tree Jon's team so cleverly and rapidly found.

The trail is in reasonable shape as it packs down in these warm temperatures; it would help if people didn't drive on it, but then someone is going to get stuck and then we'll have a wreck to navigate around which will be great experience for the dogs, especially to get them used to that acrid smell....

See you all at the Oscar's Electric race, Sat Feb 16th, 8.45am Icy Waters Ltd. The Twister goes out first, then the Kids', and lastly the Pet Dog. Guest Race Marshmallow: Brian McDougall, whilst Laura Lucas is off volunteering doing something important with the Quest Organisation. 

Sunday, February 10, 2008

What a Kerfuffle!

Today's Duffy's Pets CHT had more than enough drama for the teams involved. With temperatures over the last two weeks near the bottom of the freezer (and reminding us that we do live in the Yukon, where historically it does get cold, so...you can guess the rest, or see Gene Ennis at Fas Gas Kopper King for a fuller explanation), a number of nasty lingering flu bugs around, and the Quest and Quest 300 (which could also be classified as "diseases") starting yesterday in Fairbanks, the CHT turnout comprised the two Snowpigs teams, Smoking Paws skijorer Darrel Sheepway, and Cheryl Wishart and Carolynn Campbell running two McDougall teams. The kids race saw Jeff Diment take on Justin McDougall, with Asha the Rottie, stalwart of the Pet Dog Class out again.

With the sun blazing, and temps rising to -21 (Jon thought about putting his shorts on) Eilidh Lucas (Snowpigs) led out of the chute with Emma and Holly in lead. "Never again" said Eilidh, after psycho lead Holly decided every command was really the opposite of what Eilidh wanted and tried to pull poor Emma off her feet "because the monkey really wants us to go this way, no, this way!". However the team tore round the course (although this is relative to the glide value of snow chips still all spiky and covered in friction and staying stubbornly at about -30), so let's say "ground" round the course wondering where the following teams were. Jon Lucas with 3 dogs and Assman in lead  followed on skis, knowing the 4 dog skijoring Smoking Paws team would be starting just two minutes later. Assman lived up to his name and took the team into the kids's loop turnoff, where, with help from volunteer Dave Desmarais, the team got untangled and carried on in the right direction. 

Darrell Sheepway, skate ski-ing hard and fast, took a tumble just past the kids loop, and fell on that all important skijoring snap, you know, the one that holds the four crazy dudes to you. The snap, snapped, and off went the four crazy dudes, even faster now that the dead-weight on skis was left in snow dust.  As they came into Jon's peripheral vision he first thought "aw, caught me so fast" and gee'd over, and then thought "oh, that's why they caught me so fast" as the 4 dogs went past like a train. Jon met them again in the narrow trail to the Mt Mac Rd - head on - a dive into the shrubbery ensured there were no complications, whilst the "train" headed back to start line, having a great run.

Meanwhile Cheryl Wishart had sportingly picked up the dogless Skijorer (that would be the X-Country skier, then),  and started tracking, whilst Carolyn Campbell was going very fast in the narrow trail to the Mt Mac rd, where she became another victim of "the post". A few more hits on that post and it might actually come down.

Unfortunately Carolyn's team met the trackers where the Mt Mac rd meets the CHT and got turned, Jon skijored past and told Darrell his dogs were beating him back to his truck and everyone made the run for home. 

So, to the finish roster:

1-----Eilidh Lucas-----Snowpigs---5 dog sled------1:05:52
2-----Jon Lucas-------Snowpigs---3 dogs skis-----1:09:06
Darrel Sheepway---DNF
Carolyn Campbell---DNF
Cheryl Wishart---DNF, recipient of Yukon Brewing's "Sportsmanship Prize"

Justin McDougall had a clean run through the kids loop, whilst Jeff lost time with a tangle:

1---Justin McDougall----3 dogs sled----12:33
2---Jeff Diment-----------4 dog sled-----21:14

Jon tried the "bikejoring trick" he tried in November, however the snow was considerably deeper and Asha really wanted to pull today. After a swerving crazy downhill start (much to the amusement of the spectators), Jon almost got the hang of it, and later commented "that was harder work than skijoring". Worth the effort though, as this win puts Asha way ahead in the Pet Dog league table.

1---Jon Lucas---Asha - Bikejour-----27:43

NEXT RACE: OSCAR'S ELECTRIC, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 16TH
*
12 MILE: 2-4 DOGS SLEDS, 2-3 DOGS SKIS

Friday, February 8, 2008

Ready to Rumble!

Remember to say "please" when you call trail behind me...

Trail was run this evening - a bit parky at -31 I must say - hard and smooth in some paces, punchy in others. Jon managed (finally) not to smash into the Mt Mac rd post on the way out, but made up for it on the way back in the "kids/pets" loop with a major impact on "Lee's" tree. Trail will be re-packed and marked tomorrow, all ready for fun on Sunday.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Duffy's Pets and Tanzilla Harness Supply - Update

Trail is being packed by Harris Cox of the KSA as I type. It's -24 up here with the sun beating down on the trail - let's hope we can smooth this sand out and get some glide for Sunday. Remember:

the 12 mile is 2-5 dogs for sleds, 2-4 for skijorers

to qualify for a league place or prize, you have to volunteer out on the 12 mile for one race. Your points total is taken from your best 4 finishes.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

SUNDAY 10TH - RACES ARE ON !!!!

With the various weather agencies unable to decide what the temp is going to be on Sunday, and no-where else to postpone this race to - it's on!. Trail was packed on Sunday, and Monday, nights (good job too as someone very thoughtfully decided to take a big truck and carve back and forth across the trail for most of its length sometime on Monday -all filled in now), and run on Tuesday (that North wind was a bit nippy!). There is a plan to ensure most of the volunteers don't get too cold (although we will need two hardy souls) and we'll just keep packing this drifting, gravel-like snow up until Sunday. See you all Sunday, 9am, Icy Waters Ltd, km 4.2 Fish Lake Rd. Stay warm.

January Race Report - written by Jessica Simon, and all January's photos also courtesy of Jessica Simon

Mushers shivered and dogs bent their heads into the icy gusts that blasted 25 teams on Alpine Veterinary’s six-dog race day. Five inches of fresh snow was frozen into a sticky track and Saturday’s cloud cover whitewashed the trail, but drivers were eager to start and finish before the -20s dropped further in a forecasted deep freeze.
Skijorer Darryl Sheepway led the Twisters out of the starting chute with four dogs. He kept his place, too, until he turned the wrong way off the backtrack and gave league champion Lee Kirkpatrick first place in 51:09. Carbon Hill champ Crispin Studer followed 58 seconds later, ahead of current Twister leader Luc Twiddell in third at 57:47. (Check out the league standings.)
In the mid pack was William Kleedehn who’d hooked up his kennel’s troublemakers. Within the hour he found a slacker. One of his gang had wriggled free of the harness up to the neckline and left the other five with all the work.
Wind and cold didn’t slow pet-dog race winner Kawina Robichaud. After staffing a Twister checkpoint for two hours, for she and Otti burned up the 5 K course in 26:30, ahead of Anissa Guenfoud on skis with Cosmo. Guenfoud’s 27:23 was 13 seconds faster than third place skijorer Jonathan Lucas with Asha. The red lantern went to debut puller Taz, with Sean Fitzgerald pumping behind a kicksled.
Arctic Winter Games contenders Ben and Rachel Kinvig and Jeff Diment dominated the four-dog juniors. Ben squeaked past his sister for a three second lead to win in 9:57 and Jeff Diment took third in 13 minutes flat, ahead of Erin Spicer’s 16:14.
Larissa Rueckenbach, invisible under parka and mitts, scarf and goggles, worked hard to capture the red lantern. First, her team rounded for home early. Then they bolted. “I saw her sled go by, and then I saw her go by moving as fast as her team,” said volunteer Mike Simon who collared the runaways. “She dusted herself off, said she was okay, and off she went” to cross the line in 17:03.
February has two Twisters, with the next on Sunday the 10th sponsored by Duffy’s Pets and Tanzilla Harness. Mushers meet at 9 a.m. Icy Waters Ltd, km 4.2 Fish Lake Rd. Volunteers are generously rewarded with Icy Waters Arctic Charr - full of omega-3 and Vitamin D.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Trail Report Sunday 3rd, 2pm

With temperatures reaching the near-tropical warmth of -24'C on the Copper Haul today, Jon fired up the skidoo and dragged the full trail. It looked like no-one had been out on the trail since the last time it was dragged on 27th Jan. The snow appeared to pack and compact well, and looks good. Jon, and the KSA, will pack through the week. Sun 10th - Duffy's Pets Race Day - is presently a "GO", we are keeping an eye on the weather forecast. There is a race every weekend from now to April 6th, so there really isn't anywhere else to move this race to.