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Send news of interest to mushers to info A reminder about email to/from Sled Dog Central... 2011 Rondy purse set at
$80,000 + Day Money Anchorage, AK - August 30, 2010 -
Rondy World Championship
Sled Dog Races purse announced: $80,000 plus $1,000 minimum for “Day Money
Purses” - the highest ever for sprint racing!
Arctic Alps Cup: a world premiere in
sleddog racing The two greatest European sleddog races, the Finnmarkslopet
in Norway and La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc in France have together
decided to create a new championship in this growing sport: the Arctic Alps
Cup. 2011 Beargrease will
host Jeff King, Iditarod Champion, at the Annual
Beargrease Gala Dinner (Duluth, MN) The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is
honored to host Jeff King, Iditarod Champion as the guest speaker at the
Annual Beargrease Gala Dinner on January 28, 2011.
8/24/10 First Annual National Championship Skijoring Races to be held this winter in Minneapolis, Minnesota On February 5th and 6th, 2011 the nation's top skijorers will compete in Minneapolis, MN for national titles in one and two dog skijoring. A third title - combined skijoring - will be awarded to the skijorer who posts the fastest combined time over the two days of racing. Women and men will compete separately and the purse will be divided equally between the classes. Skijorers outside the USA are encouraged to race and will be eligible for all cash prizes (national titles awarded to top American finishers only). The two dog race will consist of two laps around Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis with a finish on the snow covered streets of the trendy Uptown neighborhood. Race distance will be 7.5k and one or two dogs are permitted. The one dog race will be held on the hilly Junior Olympic course in Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. Race distance will be 14k and only one dog is permitted. To be eligible for the combined title, a skijorer must use one of the same dogs raced in the two dog event the previous day. Racers must agree to possible drug testing. Both races are being held in conjunction with the City of Lakes Loppet (cityoflakesloppet.com). Last year the City of Lakes Loppet and race director Kevin Murphy organized the world's largest skijoring event with over 120 participants. Final details including purse size, online race application and contact information will be available in November. 8/12/10 New transport rules for pet animals in the European Union may jeopardize European Sleddog Sports I want to inform you about new transport rules for pet animals in the European union. It is maybe the death of the European sleddog sport. We have a new rule start May 6th 2010, we can travel only with 5 dogs per person. When you want to go with more than 5 dogs, you need a special health certification from your district vet 24 hours before you are starting and you have to tell them, where you go. When you arrive the race or training place, you have to go the district vet and he control the chip numbers and the health of the dogs. It is not possible to go from one country to another country. For example: I go from Austria to Italy and after this, I want to go from Italy to Germany - it's not possible. For more details see the attached letter sent by ESDRA President, Lars Svanfeld to the headquarters of the European Union. View letter as PDF: ESDRA Comments to EU Commission.pdf Please inform everybody - WE NEED HELP! Helmut 8/5/10 Frustrated by a lack of places in Minnesota open to skijoring? Wright County, Minnesota is in the process of developing a plan for the new Bertram Chain of Lakes park. The park is still in its infancy, and will eventually grow to 1200 acres. Located just southwest of the city of Monticello, Minnesota, it is easily accessible via I-94. This is a great opportunity to be heard. If you feel there is a need for skijoring in the area, please contact as many of the following people as you can. Even if you are not a Wright County resident, let them know you are interested and would contribute to the local economy by visiting gas stations, restaurants, and retail stores. Decisions will be made very soon, so we need to act quickly please contact them by August 6, 2010. Wright County Park Administrator, Marc Mattice Commissioner Patrick Sawatzke Commissioner Rose Thelen Board Member, Bertram Chain of Lakes Advisory
Council: Janice Bergstrom City of Monticello 7/27/10 IPSSSDR Fills Roster with 25 Teams Including Distance Mushing Champs | Wyoming sled dog race closes registration and begins wait list Jackson, Wyoming – July 27, 2010 – The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) has filled its roster with 25 teams registered for the upcoming January 28 – February 5, 2011, event, announced Race Director Frank Teasley. Registration for the event is now closed and interested teams will be placed on a waiting list. “The interest in this year’s race has been phenomenal,” says Teasley, who increased the field from 20 to 25 teams to accommodate the registration demand. “The Wyoming race has developed a reputation in the mushing world because of our purse, the unique race route through Wyoming, and the dog friendly format.” The IPSSSDR is a stage race, similar to the Tour de France, allowing teams to rest each night and earning the race the nickname “the dog-friendly race.” In addition, the stages are run through Wyoming communities before the Park City, Utah finish, providing easy access to spectators, media, and the teams’ handlers who wait for them at the end of each stage.
The 2011 race is attracting additional interest because of the roundup of mushing superstars signed up for this year’s event. The reigning champions of distance mushing, Lance Mackey and Hans Gatt, are slated to compete. Mackey, who twice won the Yukon Quest and Iditarod in the same year, told the Alaska Daily News that he is done competing back-to-back in mushing's premiere distance events. In 2011, instead of racing the Yukon Quest, Mackey will head to Wyoming with his Jamaican mushing student/partner, Newton Marshall, to participate in the 500-mile stage stop race before returning to Alaska for Iditarod. Gatt, who has previously won the IPSSSDR four times – in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001 – also has registered for the 2011 IPSSSDR. Gatt won the Yukon Quest four times and was 2010 Iditarod runner-up. The 2011 IPSSSDR will be his first time competing in the race since 2001. Other champion mushers expected to compete in the 2011 IPSSSDR are Iditarod veteran Ryan Redington and Fur Rondy Sprint Champion Blayne “Bud” Streeper. Streeper won the IPSSSDR in 2004 and 2010. Pedigree® Food for Dogs is the title sponsor of the IPSSSDR. The Pedigree® brand actively supports a wide range of programs that promote responsible pet ownership and highlight the contributions dogs make to society. The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. For more information, visit the race website at www.wyomingstagestop.org/; contact the race via e-mail at bark@wyomingstagestop.org ; or telephone at 307.734.1163. Media Contact: Darla Worden, WordenGroup Strategic Public Relations, darla@wordenpr.com , 307.734.5335 2011 Roster, International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race
7/21/10 Travel between Dawson City and Alaska Resumes Monday, July 19,2010 : Top of the World/Taylor Highway reopens today Dawson City, Yukon - From 1897 to 1898, the Klondike Gold Rush brought thousands of intrepid souls to Alaska and the Yukon. For decades modern travelers have been following in their footsteps; visiting parks, monuments and historic sites themed around this last Great Adventure. Many travelers visit Dawson City during the summer months, leaving the Alaska Highway just West of Whitehorse and travel the North Klondike Highway to Dawson City. Travelers can then re-connect to the Alaska Highway and Alaska via the Top of the World /Taylor Highway. During the week of July 11th, the 40 mile region of the Taylor Highway experienced a significant amount of rainfall and road damage resulted, closing the highway for several days. Due to the tremendous efforts of Alaska's Dept. of Transportation (D.O.T.) the Taylor Highway system has reopened with a 10 mile section that is pilot car assisted. For further information about Dawson City and its attractions, please call 867-993-5575 or email kva@dawson.net 6/16/10 Information for 2011 Iditarod Mushers: Please go to http://iditarodnews.wordpress.com/2011-rules-and-forms-for-mushers/ The Iditarod website is under construction at this time and the link to the 2011 race information is not working. Thus, we are providing this link for the rules and paperwork for this year’s race. Sign ups will begin at ITC HQ on Saturday, June 26, at 9:30 a.m. and continue until 3:30 p.m., after which there will be a drawing for all mushers still present for two free entry fees for this year’s race. For more information, contact Joanne Potts 6/15/10 Luce County Pet Pals, Newberry, MI in competition for funds to build an animal shelter--vote now! Luce County Pet Pals located in Newberry, MI is a 501 ( c ) 3 non profit which is raising money to build an animal shelter for our Community (Luce County does not currently have an animal shelter). Our organization also helps individuals spay/neuter their dogs if they could not otherwise afford to do so. We have helped some local mushers in the area with this. Luce County Pet Pals is currently in the All Star Animal Rescue $100,000 Shelter Challenge. The grand prize is a $10,000 grant to help homeless animals. The winners are determined by the most votes they receive. Only a couple of weeks left to vote! To vote go to http://www.lucecountypetpals.com/, click on the voting link to help Pet Pals win a $10,000 grant, enter Luce County Pet Pals and Michigan as the state. Follow the directions from there. Voting can be done once per day per computer until August 22nd. 6/13/10 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race Expands Roster Jackson, Wyoming – June 7, 2010 – The 2011 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) roster has been expanded from 20 to 25 teams announced Race Director Frank Teasley. Currently there are 20 teams registered for the race. “Due to the tremendous interest in the race, I felt we needed to expand the number of teams for 2011,” Teasley says. “Based on the teams that have signed up, 2011 promises to be a race year unlike any other.” Teams registered in the 2011 event include the reigning champions of distance mushing, Lance Mackey and Hans Gatt; Iditarod veteran Ryan Redington, and Fur Rondy Sprint Champion Blayne “Bud” Streeper. Streeper won the IPSSSDR in 2004 and 2010. The largest sled dog race in the lower 48 states is slated for January 28 – February 5, 2011, starting in Jackson, Wyoming and traveling through small Wyoming communities before finishing in Park City, Utah. With its unique stage stop format, the IPSSSDR has become a popular mushing event attracting the world’s top competitors. Pedigree® Food for Dogs is the title sponsor of the IPSSSDR. The Pedigree® brand actively supports a wide range of programs that promote responsible pet ownership and highlight the contributions dogs make to society. For more information, visit the race website at www.wyomingstagestop.org/ Contact the race via e-mail at bark@wyomingstagestop.org or telephone at 307.734.1163. Teams registered for the 2011 IPSSSDR
Services set for Don May Don May died in a motorcycle accident May 28, 2010.http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/95345714.html Visitation is Monday June 7, 2010, 12:00 Noon. Funeral is Monday, June 7, 2010 1 pm. First Lutheran Church ELCA 5/20/10 Ely, Minnesota Trail Corridor Project We really need peoples help on this issue now. The Forest Service has released the plan for comment period and it would help a lot if people would do so in favor of the trail. If you ever think you might come to the area and train please let them know. This needs to be done before June 7th. You can see the plan and who to contact at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/superior/projects/nepa_project.php?project=31556 More info at http://www.sleddogcentral.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10587 5/19/10 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race Considers Expansion; Nineteen teams currently registered for race Jackson, Wyoming – May 19, 2010 – Nineteen teams have registered for the 2011 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) announced Race Director Frank Teasley. As a result, Teasley is considering expanding the roster to 25 teams; he will make the decision June 1. “The interest in the 2011 IPSSSDR has been phenomenal; Teasley says. “Part of the draw is the stage stop format plus the $180,000 purse. We are considering expansion to accommodate more teams.” The reigning champions of distance mushing, Lance Mackey and Hans Gatt have announced that they will compete in the 2011 event. Other racers expected to compete are Iditarod veteran Ryan Redington and Fur Rondy Sprint Champion Blayne “Bud” Streeper. Streeper won the IPSSSDR in 2004 and 2010. The largest sled dog race in the lower 48 states is slated for January 28 – February 5, 2011, starting in Jackson, Wyoming, and traveling through small Wyoming communities before finishing in Park City, Utah. With its unique stage stop format, the IPSSSDR has become a popular mushing event attracting the world’s top competitors. Pedigree® Food for Dogs is the title sponsor of the IPSSSDR. The Pedigree® brand actively supports a wide range of programs that promote responsible pet ownership and highlight the contributions dogs make to society. The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. For more information, visit the race website at http://www.wyomingstagestop.org/; contact the race via e-mail at bark@wyomingstagestop.org; or telephone at (307) 734-1163. 5/11/10 Charlie Berger, DVM now offering “Of
Wolves and Dogs...from the Big Bang to Chihuahuas” seminars to the public. Charlie Berger may no longer be running a full time veterinary clinic, but he’s retired from little else. When he’s not working odd-hour emergency shifts at a clinic near his East Thetford, Vermont home, New England’s version of the Energizer Bunny is almost always on the go. No moss gathers under his feet. In addition to serving for many years as a volunteer vet for the Iditarod, Yukon Quest and other major sled dog races, Berger, in a former life, has owned and bred Alaskan Malamutes (Brigadoon Kennels). For years he also traveled the countryside with his two North American gray wolves, Frannie and Farley, offering presentations to kennel clubs, schools, colleges, and ecological centers on the biology, ecology and politics of wolves. This “old dog” has recently begun teaching “new tricks”. Broadly experienced in comparative pathology and disease processes in wild animals and humans, as well as being a life-long observer of natural history and evolutionary theory, appreciating the constant changes during the Earth's long geological time, Berger, in 2008, was asked by the prestigious Dartmouth College in New Hampshire to design and teach a course. “Of Wolves and Dogs...from the Big Bang to Chihuahuas” was a huge success. Not content to rest on his laurels or sit by the woodstove or on the covered porch of his rustic Vermont log home, Berger decided to take his program on the road, offering two-hour, one and two-day seminars to dog clubs, schools, and civic, conservation and other organizations. Although he’s only been presenting these seminars to the public for about six months, and the ink on his new website is barely dry, Berger’s already a hot commodity. It looks like he’s going to have to paddle down those untamed Canadian rivers a lot faster from now on in order to get back to civilization and his busy date book! For more info, visit Charlie's web site at www.ofwolvesanddogs.com/
2/20/19 Richard Beck of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories has won the 63rd Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival World Championship 10 Dog Sled Dog race. He first won the race 25 years ago, and his last victory came in 1997. Chris Turner of The Pas, Manitoba won the Jack Mcphail race, which is named after his Grandfather. The Junior Race was won by Wyatt Cook and the 4 Dog race was won by Daniel Crow. Complete results at http://mamowwetak.homestead.com/thepas2010.html 2/17/10 Cannington, Ontario Sleddog Race Update Due to lack of snow at the Cannington site, the regular sprint races have been revised. The festival committee is working to put in a smaller race track that 3 and 4 dog sled teams and 1 and 2 dog skijoring teams can compete on. We are currently working on a 5/8 mile track around the perimeter of McLeod Park. We are also looking at possible extension of the 5/8 to 1.5 miles if the current falling snow co-operates. The purse is reduced to $6000 and split between the four categories. Driver participation is required for both days of competition and the race is based on two day accumulated time. Driver’s meeting both days will be held at 8:30 with registration prior to the meeting. The committee is waving all registration fees for this year. The Novice Race and the Kid and Mutt Race are still on. These adjustments are being made to help keep the interest of the spectators that visit the festival and to encourage musher support so we can continue to have this exciting race each year. The Town of Cannington would like to take this opportunity to thank all the mushers that attend this event for your support. Jim Cunningham, Race Marshal 2/12/10 The Alaska Dog Mushers Association is excited to announce that the 2010 Annamaet Gold Run Championship Sled Dog Race will be held at the Chena Lakes Recreation Area on Saturday February 20 – 21 starting at 11am. This is the first ADMA race of the season! Chena Lakes Recreation Area offers great viewing of the race events. Watch as dog teams seemingly fly across the trail at over 20 mph! Come and be part of the action of the 2010 Annamaet Gold Run Championship Sled Dog Race! Bring the entire family, meet the mushers and see the sled dogs up close as they prepare to race. Events include skijoring, 4-dog, 6-dog, and 10-dog events. Sign-up and Draw will be held at 6.30pm on Friday February 19th at Mushers Hall on Farmers Loop. For more information on the 2010 Gold Run or other upcoming Alaska Dog Mushers Association events please visit http://www.sleddog.org/ For information on how you can sponsor this or any other ADMA event, email adma@sleddog.org
1/29/10 VAL CENIS VANOISE January 20th, 2011 – 15.18pm After a 10 days race, Emil Inauen from Switzerland wins the 6th edition of La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc in 40h17mn, that is 23 minutes ahead of the competitor in 2nd place, Radek Havrda from Czech Republic. The mushers, sled drivers and their huskies have travelled almost 1000 kilometers in 10 stages and climbed more than 25 000 meters of height difference through the most beautiful areas of Savoie Mont Blanc (Haute-Savoie and Savoie). At the end of the 10 stages with an average of 100 kilometers per stage, Emil Inauen from Switzerland, has been the most impressive musher. He bravely passed the steep hillsides, the frigid temperatures, the heights and snow storms and managed to bring his dogs to the finishing line. This incredible feat was achieved after years of efforts and training but also through the unique bond he has forged with its canine athletes, real snow marathon runners. In adversity and when fatigue occurs, only the love of dogs to their master can push them to excel. This 6th edition has been the most intense of all. Never has the competition been so tight and never have the dogs and mushers been that well prepared for this incredible challenge. The podium is completed by two Czech mushers, Radek Havrda, winner in 2009 and Jiri Vondrak, who fought hard in this race to reach the podium. During the final stage, he steals the third place from Petter Karlsson, the Swedish winner in 2008. The first French is Jean-Philippe Pontier, who ran the race fantastically. He moved to Norway this summer to give himself the means to improve his performance. It seems to have paid off. The leading woman of the race, Barbara Inauen, spouse of the race winner, finished in 10th position. La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc is only 6 years old and already into the elite club of the greatest sled dogs races in the world with the Iditarod (Alaska), the Yukon Quest (Canada-Alaska) and the Finnmarksløpet (Norway). La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc started January 10th with 4 days in the heart of Les Portes du Soleil, then went through Megève, Notre Dame de Bellecombe, and finally through Haute Maurienne Vanoise. In total over the 110 stations of Savoie Mont Blanc, more than 24 were involved in the race. "This year was a watershed in the history of this race by the popular craze (over 60 000 spectators) and its very strong media coverage. The future of La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc is guaranteed by the signing of the 2001/2013 agreements with Espace Diamant, Haute Maurienne Vanoise and Les Portes du Soleil (only for 2011)" said Henry Kam creator with Nicolas Vanier and event organizer. Next year, the 7th edition of La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc, will take place from January the 8th to the 18th of 2011. For more information, photos Jeanne Buisson - jeanne@grandeodyssee.com 1/14/20 2010 Don Bowers Race is a “go” A meeting yesterday affirmed that conditions currently exist for a decent trail and the race is a "go". To reiterate: the focus is to afford entry level mushers a learning experience under real time conditions. The race was originally established to that end and remains so. Professional mushers are invited to enter and use the race as a training tool with opportunities for pass training and a bowl of good stew at the rest stop, but no payday at the finish line...as DB would have it. Space limits the race to 25 teams. The rules explain particulars of vet requirements, logistics, and directions. http://www.donbowersmemorialrace.org/ 1/13/10 2010 Gold Rush Trail Dog Sled Mail Run….January 22-24, 2010 The Mail Run weekend is almost here. Organizers are busy with last minute details, fingers are crossed that Mother Nature will co-operate and ensure great trails with reasonable temperatures, participants are filled with anticipation and perhaps a little anxiety. There will be participants from as far away as Manitoba, the NWT as well as from throughout British Columbia and elsewhere. There are an encouraging number of participants aged 16 and under and not only does this speak well for the future of the sport of dog mushing but it also represents a fulfillment of the vision of Holger Bauer, a much missed Mail Run participant and organizer who was killed in a 2007 logging accident. Participants are encouraged to download the Participation/Registration Form from the website and to get it in to organizers by January 18th. We are requesting early registration this year, to assist with pre-event planning and to ensure that all participants receive a warm welcome at the Thursday night Mushers’ Meeting. If there are those participants who only want to take part in the Barkerville Dash from Barkerville to Wells, they must also register and pay the registration fee however they may register at the Barkerville parking lot in the hour before the Dash, which is slated to commence at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday January 24th. The trail, which actually does follow the original Cariboo Waggon Road route, is now ready and this will allow not only the Mail Run participants to use the trail but also those participating in the Cariboo Jack Ski Trek on Saturday January 23rd. On Saturday night, January 23rd, the annual Mail Run banquet and auction will take place at Troll Resort. The meal begins at 6:00 p.m., there will be socializing in the Troll lodge beginning at 5:15 p.m. This will all follow the famous Mushers’ Sports that will take place at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at Troll. It is an excellent opportunity for spectators to come and see the dog teams and to meet the mushers and other participants, then to take in the Mushers’ Sports. Anyone wishing to attend the banquet must purchase a ticket, the cost is $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for children aged 12 and under and seniors aged 65 and over. You can reserve or purchase a ticket by calling Margaret at 250 992-9143 or emailing her at Margaret@dogsledmailrun.ca Other Mail Run organizers will also have tickets for sale. The auction, which follows the banquet promises to be a fun time as well, there will be some very special, one-of-a-kind items up for bid. Mail Run organizers are very excited about a special connection between the Mail Run, the Gold Rush Trail, the City of Quesnel, the students of School District 28 and the upcoming 2010 Olympic Games. The City of Quesnel will be sending a unique and special greeting to every member of the Canadian Olympic team. Mayor Mary Sjostrom is preparing this written greeting on behalf of the City of Quesnel, but she has some very special help and support. Part of the Grade IV Social Studies curriculum is the study of the Cariboo Gold Rush and the Gold Rush Trail….the route followed by the Mail Run. As part of their studies, Grade IV students will also be writing personal greetings to Canada’s Olympic athletes and a student’s letter will be placed in each envelope along with Mayor Sjostrom’s letter before being carried over the Gold Rush Trail by dog team and then forwarded to each individual Canadian Olympic athlete. There is universal enthusiasm for this great project. There are two weeks to go before the start of the Mail Run. Participants are encouraged to register. Everyone is encouraged to purchase their Mail Run envelopes, which must then be placed in the special Mail Run post boxes or returned to organizers by January 19th. Everyone is encouraged to make plans to come out and see at least part of the Mail Run, the schedule of events is available on the Mail Run website at www.dogsledmailrun.ca/ 1/9/2010 26th Annual Seguin Sled Dog Mail Run Every year since 1985, envelopes with letters prepared especially for this event, are gathered, loaded onto sleds and several dog teams haul it to Rosseau, Ontario, 17 km through the bush on groomed trails. Teams gather and leave from the Village of Humphrey, Ontario, on Highway 141, to the cheers and good wishes from the many spectators and friends as the teams disappear in the bush on their way to the Rosseau Post Office to be received by the Post Mistress. The sledvelopes are hand stamped, a very old method of cancelling mail. These "sledvelopes" have become collector items all over the world. What a wonderful surprise for a child, or even adult, to receive mail which has travelled by dogsled, pulled by eager Siberian Huskies! If you would like to experience the excitement of this event, come to meet the drivers and the dogs on Saturday, February 20th, 2010 in the Village of Humphrey. Enjoy a pancake breakfast with the group at the Humphrey Community Centre. There will be activities for the children and many opportunities to have pictures taken with the beautiful, friendly huskies. To receive sledvelopes which travel by sled on Feb.20th,
2010 : 1/5/10 Major race coverage of La Grande Odyssée 2010! During the race, January 9th to 13th, go to www.grandeodyssee.com, everyday you'll find there:
Visit now www.grandeodyssee.com/en/ 12/23/09 Arctic Winter Games is looking for participants The Northern Alberta Sled Dog Team is looking for sled dog racers with their teams to compete in the Arctic Winter Games. If you are resident in northern Alberta and are between 11 and 19 years of age, please register your team with Terry Quesnel at tquesnel@telus.net or phone 780-882-3504. There are monies to get your team, yourself and your handlers to Grande Prairie in March and the games will feed, uniform and house you while you are there. This is an opportunity of a lifetime to meet and have great fun with people from the arctic, world wide. Sincerely, Terry Quesnel, coach, ARCTIC WINTER GAMES, Northern Alberta Sled Dog Team Also see: Alaska’s Arctic Winter Games team is seeking athletes » 12/9/09 Canadian Musher's Farm burns to the ground Ed Obrecht is a regular musher on the Hudson Bay Quest and also races several other long distance races. He is known as Ed the Sled. His farm burned to the ground and they do not have any insurance. He lost all of his mushing gear. Below are links to the news article and his blog. Here is the link to the story: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Grateful+alive/2135028/story.html And the musher’s blog: http://www.edthesled.com/node/4 There is a place for donations on the blog. 9/10/09 Don Bowers Memorial Sleddog Race - 200 Miles through the MatSu Valley The Bowers race will take place on the customary last weekend of January if snow and weather allow for a decent trail and musher interest warrants the effort. It will likely be a single event of 200 miles in lieu of the previous 200/300 format; Willow to May's cabin and return to Willow via Morgans camp and Schulin Lake. Food drop, mandatory rest and hospitality will be at the Trapper Creek turnaround as in the past. It will essentially remain a low key training and learning race and will pay a purse based on entry fees minus trail expenses. It will not be an Iditarod qualifier as the new Iditarod rookie report card requirement is incompatible with the Bowers trail topography and the relatively short time frame of the race. There will be veterinary and communications support. Interested mushers are asked to pay a $50 deposit to place their name on the list. If the race is cancelled for lack of snow or interest the deposit will be refunded. The remainder of the entry fee ($150) is payable within a week of the start date. The old rule set and web page will be modified to reflect the new format and will be posted by Nov. 1. Anyone seriously interested please contact Mike Bishop ASAP so we have a preliminary assessment of interest. (907) 495-5737. http://www.donbowersmemorialrace.org/ 8/5/09 Yukon Quest Announces Minimum Purse of $150,000 August 5, 2009 (Fairbanks, Alaska) - The Board of Directors in both Alaska and the Yukon of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race are pleased to announce a minimum $150,000 USD purse for the 2010 race. “We are thrilled to be able to announce a guaranteed minimum purse at this early stage of the year,” said Al Doherty, Yukon Board President. “We are incredibly excited about our new sponsorship programs for 2010 and we have already seen enough positive reaction to our efforts that we are able to make this commitment.” Sponsor solicitation is well underway for 2010 and the current response has enabled the Boards to guarantee a purse at this level so early in the season. The Boards and staff continue their work to meet and exceed sponsorship and fundraising targets for 2010. The total purse for 2009 was $154,000 and despite the current economic downturn, sponsor confidence in the Yukon Quest has allowed the Boards to set a guaranteed purse comparable to last year’s final purse. The announcement comes just days before Opening Day of signups. Mushers can sign up in person on August 8th either at the log cabin in Fairbanks from 9 am – 1pm or at the White Pass Depot in Whitehorse from 10am – 2pm. There will be an incentive draw held on August 14th for all mushers officially entered on or before Opening Day with the winner receiving a prize of $1,000 USD. The Yukon Quest is pleased to offer the same low entry fee of $1500, which includes food drop, vet check, straw and methanol. The non-refundable portion of this entry fee has been set at $500 for 2010 in order to reduce the effect of late withdrawals on race revenues. “We’re looking forward to an excellent field of mushers in 2010,” said Tania Simpson, Executive Director in Alaska. “We believe we will prove yet again why the Yukon Quest is one of the world’s premier sled dog races.” 8/1/09 Rondy 75th Anniversary For Immediate Release - Anchorage, AK,
July 31, 2009: Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races purse set Greater Anchorage Inc (GAI) and Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association, (ASDRA) announce a guaranteed minimum purse of $80,000 for the 2010 World Championship Sled Dog Races. The purse payout structure has been
changed significantly to pay more to lower finishing mushers to encourage
participation. The entry fees will remain at similar levels as in recent
years. (Details of the purse payout and By announcing a guaranteed minimum purse, entry fees and new payout, GAI and ASDRA confirm their commitment to the growth of the race and sprint racing. This announcement will encourage and give ample planning time to national and international mushers interested in attending. GAI and ASDRA partner to produce this historic and world renowned event that was again voted “Event of the Year” by members of the International Sled Dog Racing Association. The major sponsors for the Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races are Tudor Road Bingo Center and Hotwire Electric with support from the Municipality of Anchorage. The World Championship Sled Dog Races are February 26, 27 & 28th, 2010 at Noon, 4th & D Street, Downtown Anchorage. 2010 ENTRY FEE for the Rondy World
Championship Sled Dog Races - $ 698.00* 2010 PURSE PAYOUT – Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races
*In addition, any mushers finishing in
places 21- (tbd upon sign up) will receive a $500.00 finishing credit Christine Tozier, President- ASDRA -
907-230-3970 5/27/09 "From Puppies to Pullers - Yukon Quest Experience" a hit! May 26, 2009; (Fairbanks, Alaska) - The Yukon Quest Experience launched Wednesday, May 20 and has been an immediate hit. The show is presented by Brent Sass and is being held outside the Yukon Quest log cabin in downtown Fairbanks. Sass is a veteran Yukon Quest musher and was awarded the Sportsmanship Award in the 2009 Yukon Quest. He created this attraction to get people excited about the Yukon Quest while they are visiting Fairbanks and to give people a reason to follow the race throughout the year. The show educates and informs visitors of the rich history and exciting future of the Yukon Quest and incorporates displays, puppies, race history and Sass' personal experience with the race. Shows are taking place from 11 AM to 3 PM, Sunday to Thursday. Tickets for the show are $10 per person. Opening day of sign-ups for the 2010 Yukon Quest is August 8th. Opening day events will take place in both Fairbanks and Whitehorse. Check out the event calendar at www.yukonquest.com for more details. 12/1/07 Canine rabies challenge studies begin! One of the most important vaccine research studies in veterinary medicine is underway at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison. Dr. Ronald Schultz, a leading authority on veterinary vaccines and Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, has begun concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies to determine the long-term duration of immunity of the canine rabies vaccine, with the goal of extending the state-mandated interval for boosters. These will be the first long-term challenge studies on the canine rabies vaccine to be published in the United States. Dr. Schultz comments that: "We are all very excited to start this study that will hopefully demonstrate that rabies vaccines can provide a minimum of 7 years of immunity." This research is being financed by The Rabies Challenge Fund, a charitable trust founded by pet vaccine disclosure advocate Kris L. Christine of Maine, who serves as Co-Trustee with world-renowned veterinary research scientist and practicing clinician, Dr. W. Jean Dodds of Hemopet in California. The Rabies Challenge Fund recently met its goal of $177,000 to fund the studies’ first year budget with contributions from dog owners, canine groups, trainers, veterinarians, and small businesses. Annual budget goals of $150,000 for the studies must be met in the future. Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM states: "This is the first time in my 43 years of involvement in veterinary issues that what started as a grass-roots effort to change an outmoded regulation affecting animals will be addressed scientifically by an acknowledged expert to benefit all canines in the future." Scientific data published in 1992 by Michel Aubert and his research team demonstrated that dogs were immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after vaccination, while Dr. Schultz’s serological studies documented antibody titer counts at levels known to confer immunity to rabies 7 years post-vaccination. This data strongly suggests that state laws requiring annual or triennial rabies boosters for dogs are redundant. Because the rabies vaccine is the most potent of the veterinary vaccines and associated with significant adverse reactions, it should not be given more often than is necessary to maintain immunity. Adverse reactions such autoimmune diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; aggression; seizures; epilepsy; and fibrosarcomas at injection sites are linked to rabies vaccinations. Study co-trustee Kris Christine adds: “Because the USDA does not require vaccine manufacturers to provide long-term duration of immunity studies documenting maximum effectiveness when licensing their products, concerned dog owners have contributed the money to fund this research themselves. We want to ensure that rabies immunization laws are based upon independent, long-term scientific data.” More information and regular updates on The Rabies Challenge Fund and the concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies it is financing can be found at the fund’s website designed by volunteer Andrea Brin at: www.RabiesChallengeFund.org 9/12/07 Mush Mon! - Jamaica Dogsled Team Documentary SUN DOGS Released on DVD OCHO RIOS, Jamaica (September 8, 2007) - The feature documentary "Sun Dogs" chronicling the struggle and adventure of the founding of the Jamaica Dogsled Team will be released on DVD by Palm Pictures, October 2, 2007. SUN DOGS is a story of second chances. Rescued from the streets and animal shelters of Kingston, Jamaica, twelve stray dogs are trained to be the stars of Jamaica's first dog sled racing team. The crew, spearheaded by pop superstar Jimmy Buffett, brings the unlikely meeting of a traditionally snow-bound sport to the sand and surf. But it is not just the dogs that are given a second chance. The team's dog mushers are given the opportunity of a lifetime as they cultivate their love of animals while receiving an education and traveling the world. Special Features on the DVD include four mini-documentaries: "Jimmy Buffett and the Jamaica Dog Sled Team" - exclusive footage of Jimmy Buffett; "How to Teach Your Dog to Pull in Harness;" "The Jamaica Dogsled Team Taking on the World;" "The Work of the JSPCA;" plus a "Dog-ography: Meet the Mutts." To purchase the documentary or for more information about SUN DOGS and the Jamaica Dogsled Team visit www.jamaicadogsled.com - Chukka Caribbean Adventures: www.chukkacaribbean.com ; Palm Pictures: www.palmpictures.com ; SUN DOGS www.sundogsmovie.com If you plan to carry dog food/meat across Canada/US borders check ahead... The situation in carrying dog meat and/or dog food with certain ingredients across the border in 2005/2006 seems to have changed very little from last year. Note that there is now a problem with chicken passing through British Columbia. Thanks to Karen Ramstead for providing the following information on November 22, 2005:
Please be sure to include an appropriate Subject line in your messages to SDC. Any mail that appears the least bit suspicious--that is, without a subject line or with a subject that doesn't specifically refer to SDC or a dog topic, without a return address, unusually large size--is deleted without opening. You can prevent accidental deletion of your message by including a relevant subject and making sure the email includes your return address. If you have not received a response to email within two or three days, consider re-sending with a more complete subject line.
Most of the current viruses "spoof" the senders address. All that is necessary for the mail to look like it came from Sled Dog Central is for the infected computer to have our address in their email address book. Nothing is impossible, but we run Trend Micro AntiVirus 24/7 and our protection files are updated immediately upon release from Trend Micro. As an additional precaution all of our outgoing email is scanned by our AntiVirus program before it is sent. Thanks, Judy Bergemann
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