The Cariboo Challenge Sled Dog Race 2014 started with some wet weather Saturday morning, but culminated with a very interesting finish Sunday afternoon – and all-in-all, organizers are calling the Jan. 10-12 event a success.
It was very much an entertaining couple of days, says Len Doucette.
“As soon as the rain quit, there were people everywhere. It was a great turnout for us.”
A total of 44 mushers and their dog teams ran the course at the 108 Mile Heritage Site.
Local competitors included Craig Conklin with a six-dog, purebred team, and Pam Barker and Mike Huntley in the skijoring category.
Because of the weather, the trails were slow and more challenging for the dogs and mushers throughout the first day of racing.
“The dogs were punching through the trails on Saturday,” Doucette explains.
“But, on Sunday, with the cooler temperatures we had overnight, the trails were quite a bit faster.”
The main event, 10-dog race was a tight one. Only about 10 seconds separated the top 3 teams after two days of racing. Robert Peebles had the best total time with 1:04.03.46, while Dave Johnson and Ken Bernard were right behind with 1:04:04.05 and 1:04:13.32 respectively.
It’s pretty rare to see timing within seconds on a two-day event, Doucette says, adding “You just don’t see that.”
He adds other events and festivities surrounding the races went well, too.
“Saturday night, the dinner and auction [at The Hills Health Ranch] was amazing. There was a big turnout for that. We did very well and the mushers had a good time.”
Results Jan. 11-12
(Total time elapsed)
10-dog
1. Robert Peebles (1:04:03.46)
2. Dave Johnson (1:04:04.05)
3. Ken Bernard (1:04:13.32)
4. Danny Beck (1:08:56)
5. Craig Houghton (1:12:02.81)
6. Sandy Burke (1:17:34.96)
Six-dog open
1. K. Bernard (38:08.38)
2. Johnson (39:42)
3. Cory Hommy (42:01.49)
4. Ron Bernard (42:07.29)
5. Beck (42:34.57)
6. Ann Douglas (43:12.70)
7. Richard Wannamaker (44:44.84)
8. Houghton (44:56.71)
9. Burke (48:48.16)
10. Cheryl Sheppard (1:00:40.40)
Six-dog pure breed
1. Dena Wannamaker (48:32.66)
2. Hans Appelman (50:23.92)
3. Rachel Wannamaker (54:49.58)
4. Joe Torok (58:29. 66)
5. Craig Conklin (1:04:28.99)
Four-dog open
1. K. Bernard (32:50.10)
2. Raija Easterbrook (34:45.87)
3. D. Wannamaker (36:09.22)
4. Johnson (36:37.67)
5. Hommy (37:17.76)
6. A. Douglas (37:27.89)
7. Houghton (40:33.60)
8. Sheppard (41:08.89)
Four-dog pure breed
1. Rachel Wannamaker (46:24.74)
2. Shellie O’Brien (47:12.38)
3. Nicole Swan (50:06.34)
4. Cindy Foggitt (50:43.27)
5. Nancy Harland (53:22.44)
6. Nathalie Appelman (55:57.21)
7. Courtney Persson (58:43.32)
8. Rhonda Williamson-Fradette
Two-dog skijoring
1. Easterbrook (33:31.48)
2. Dana Luck (34:21.65)
3. H. Appelman (35:47.22)
4. Mike Huntley (50:07.63)
5. Jen Clark (58:53.08)
6. Pam Barker (1:05:20.20)
