Dogs, mushers and mayors race in 108 Mile
By Alison Shepherd - Williams Lake Tribune - January 24, 2008

Cariboo Challenge 2008 sees the highest turnout in years in both racers and spectators

Cariboo residents got a taste of sled dog racing over the weekend, and they liked it.

The Cariboo Challenge 2008 Sled Dog Race was held at the Hills Health Ranch. Fifty-eight teams from all over Canada and the U.S. took part in more than 70 different racing categories.

Local racer and one of the event’s organizers, Bruce Young, says the event was packed with both competitors and spectators.

“Parking was a bit of an issue,” he says, though he was very happy to see what he believes to be the largest turnout in more than five years.

Young says he heard lots of positive feedback from people and he is pleased with the turnout.

Young says the Mayors Race was a success too. CRD chair Jon Wolbers joined Mayor Scott Nelson along with mayors from Clinton, Quesnel, 100 Mile House.

Wolbers won the race and Nelson came in fourth place after his dogs took a wrong turn and went down a different track. The dogs did return with Nelson and Nelson was allowed a rerun.

Both Wolbers and Nelson told Young they enjoyed the experience and would do it again.

The Mayors Race was a friendly challenge that served a dual purpose.

One was to help promote the sport by getting local dignitaries to participate and the second was to raise money for the SPCA. The participants of the Mayors Race were challenged to raise as much money as they could for the SPCA.

The SPCA was also on-hand to talk to spectators about the dogs and show how well the dogs are treated.

Children had the opportunity to pet the dogs and see how friendly the dogs are. Young says there were no bites, a testament to the dogs’ friendliness, and no injuries to dogs or mushers during the weekend’s events.

Young says while the weather for humans was a balmy zero on Saturday, the temperature was too warm for the dogs who like much colder weather.

The temperature on Sunday was -15 C, which is ideal for the dogs and was apparent as all of the racers improved their times by several minutes because the dogs were not too hot.

Young says he is happy with his dogs and how he finished. Young came in first place in the skijoring event, second in the four dog open event and seventh in the eight dog open event.

Young says he was in third place during the four dog event but not only did he manage to make up 35 seconds to overtake the second place racer, he also managed to finish in second place 28 seconds ahead of Cory Hommy, who came in third.

Young says one of his yearlings is training to be a leader and the dog performed well in the four dog event.

“Beating other teams by a few seconds, that’s the dogs and their training. Our training is paying off,” Young says.

Young’s wife, Marla also competed in the Cariboo Challenge. She placed fifth in both the four dog purebred event and the six dog open event. Marla lost her team in the six dog challenge and one of the other racers managed to “hook down” the team, slowing them down so Marla had the opportunity to run and catch up with her team.

While losing her team prevented Marla from placing in the top, the other racer’s ability to help when racing shows how friendly sled dog racing is. Young says there is competition, but there is also camaraderie and social aspect to the event.

“That’s what makes the Cariboo Challenge special. There’s a real social feel and community support for it,” Young says.

Young says a B.C. Ambulance paramedic spent the entire day at the track, ready in case of injury.

Young laughs and says he is not sure he would spend the entire day standing at the track without going to take a break and warm up by the fire.

However, he says that action shows the level of commitment and support from the community for the event.

Young says he and Marla are looking forward to next year’s event and they are looking at ways to make next year even better.

The Youngs are looking to compete in events in Idaho and Meadow Lake, Sask.

Young says these competitions will be more difficult but he would like to see how his dogs, and their training, stand up to other teams in these events.

http://www.bclocalnews.com:80/sports/14260372.html