Yukon Quest - Day 14 Update |
February 19, 2010; 9:00 PST (Whitehorse, YT) - There is one final team left to cross the finish line in this year's Yukon Quest. Two teams came across the Whitehorse finish line this morning. Katie Davis arrived at 00:07 AM with 12 dogs on the line. Pierre-Antoine Heritier also completed the race at 8:20 AM, arriving at the finish with 11 dogs. Jocelyne LeBlanc is the next, and final, musher expected to arrive in Whitehorse later tonight. By the time of this release, 21 competitors have completed this 27th running of the Yukon Quest .
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Yukon Quest - Day 13 Update |
February 18, 2010; 17:00 PST (Whitehorse, YT) - A total of 19 teams have crossed the finish line in Whitehorse in the 2010 Yukon Quest. There are still three competitors remaining in this 27th running of the 1,000 mile race. By the time of this release, three mushers had arrived in Whitehorse today. Belgian musher Bart De Marie was the first to make it in to the finish at 13:14 PM local time. De Marie had nine dogs on the line. Peter Fleck finished at 15:22 PM with a team of 10 dogs. At 19-years-old, Fleck is the youngest musher competing in this year's race. Jennifer Raffaeli was the third to reach the finish at 16:17 PM with 11 dogs on the line and one in the basket. Katie Davis is the next musher expected to arrive in Whitehorse later tonight. At the time of this release, Pierre-Antoine Heritier and Jocelyne LeBlanc are the other two teams remaining. Heritier is scheduled to leave the Braeburn checkpoint at 18:26 PM this evening. LeBlanc is currently en route to Braeburn where she will begin an 8-hour mandatory layover.
February 18, 2010; 7:00 PST (Whitehorse, YT) - Jennifer Raffaeli has received a 30-minute penalty, which was assessed at the Braeburn checkpoint. Raffaeli had assistance with repairs to her equipment during the race due to safety concerns. Under these circumstances, race judges made the decision to apply the penalty. The 30-minute penalty was tagged on to her mandatory 8-hour layover at the Braeburn checkpoint. Raffaeli and her team were back on the trail at 3:06 AM local time this morning. Two teams came across the Whitehorse finish line Wednesday evening. Kelley Griffin arrived at 18:02 PM with nine dogs on the line. Cindy Barrand also completed the race at 23:21 PM, arriving at the finish with 13 dogs. Barrand's team is the largest to finish this year. Bart De Marie is the next musher expected to arrive in Whitehorse later today. By the time of this release, all remaining teams have left the Carmacks checkpoint. There are still 6 competitors remaining in this 27th running of the Yukon Quest.Visit the Yukon Quest official web site for more information - click here |
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Yukon Quest - Day 12 Update |
| February 17, 2010; Evening Update 17:00 PST (Whitehorse, YT) - A total of 14 teams have crossed the finish line in Whitehorse in the 2010 Yukon Quest. There are still nine competitors remaining in this 27th running of the 1,000 mile race. At the time of this release, four mushers have arrived in Whitehorse today. Belgian mushers Sam Deltour and Dries Jacobs made it to the finish early this morning. Deltour was in at 2:03 AM and Jacobs at 4:53 AM, both arriving with 10 dogs. Mike Ellis finished at 9:38 AM with a team of 11 purebred Siberian huskies. David Dalton reached the finish at 12:46 PM with 12 dogs on the line, which is the largest team to finish this year. Kelley Griffin is the next musher expected to arrive in Whitehorse this evening. By the time of this release, all remaining teams have left the McCabe Creek dog drop. |
February 17, 2010; Morning update: 10:00 PST (Whitehorse, YT) - Cindy Barrand has received the first penalty in the 2010 Yukon Quest. Barrand was dealt a 30-minute penalty, which was assessed at the Braeburn checkpoint. Repairs were made to her equipment during the race due to safety concerns. Race judges made the decision to apply the penalty. The 30-minute penalty was tagged on to her mandatory 8-hour layover at the Braeburn checkpoint. Barrand and her team were back on the trail at 7:05 AM local time this morning. Another five teams came across the Whitehorse finish line from Tuesday evening through to this morning. Abbie West arrived at 21:45 PM local time with eight dogs on the line. Normand Casavant followed at 22:20 PM with a team of 10 dogs. Belgian mushers Sam Deltour and Dries Jacobs made it to the finish early this morning. Deltour was in at 2:03 AM and Jacobs at 4:53 AM, both arriving with 10 dogs. Mike Ellis also arrived at 9:38 AM with a team of 11 Siberians. David Dalton is the next musher expected to arrive in Whitehorse this morning. By the time of this release, all remaining teams have left the Pelly Crossing checkpoint. There are still 10 competitors remaining in this 27th running of the Yukon Quest. Visit the Yukon Quest official web site for more information - click here
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Yukon Quest Day 11 - Update |
February 16, 2010; 08:00 PST (Whitehorse, YT) - Zack Steer and Ken Anderson crossed the finish line in Whitehorse this morning within minutes of each other to come in fourth and fifth place in the 2010 Yukon Quest. Steer arrived at the Whitehorse finish checkpoint at 3:58 AM local time with nine dogs on the line. Anderson was right behind him at 4:01 AM with 10 dogs on the line. Steer's total run time is 9 days 15 hours 58 minutes. Anderson's total run time is 9 days 16 hours 1 minute. Anderson was first to depart from the Braeburn checkpoint with Steer minutes apart at about 15:30 PM Monday afternoon. Steer took the lead around the Takhini River Bridge, which eventually netted him the fourth place finish. Sonny Lindner departed from Braeburn at 21:13 PM last night, while rookie Joshua Cadzow and Brent Sass left just after 12 midnight. Cadzow is in the running to capture the Rookie of the Year Award for 2010. By the time of this release, Lindner had not yet reached the Whitehorse finish line, but is expected this morning. Twenty-three competitors are still participating in this 27th running of the Yukon Quest. All remaining teams have reached the Scroggie Creek dog drop at this point in the race. As the first place finisher, Hans Gatt receives $28,395. Lance Mackey takes away $20,280 for second place and Hugh Neff wins $16,215 for a third place finish in this year's race. Visit the Yukon Quest official web site for more information - click here
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HANS GATT takes his 4th Quest |
February 15, 2010; 14:00 PST (Whitehorse, YT) - Hans Gatt is the winner of the 2010 Yukon Quest, arriving at the Whitehorse finish line at 13:35 PM local time. He broke a new record for fastest finish at 9 days 0 hours and 26 minutes, which is approximately 23 hours faster than the previous record made in 2009 by Sebastian Schnuelle. This is Gatt's fourth win of the Yukon Quest. His previous wins were in 2002, 2003 and 2004. His fastest previous time was 10 days 8 hours and 59 minutes. Gatt took the lead in the race early this morning when he was the first musher out of the Braeburn checkpoint after a mandatory 8-hour layover. His total travel time to Whitehorse was 11 hours and 16 minutes. He arrived with 9 dogs on the line and was thrilled to win in his home territory. "I can't even explain how this feels. I'm actually really emotional right now," he told reporters. "These 9 dogs are incredible. I'm so proud of them." Lance Mackey is expected to finish second, followed by Hugh Neff in third. Both teams are expected to arrive in Whitehorse this afternoon. These top three teams were in tight competition throughout the end of the race. Mackey and Neff are also expected to surpass the previous finishing record. Zack Steer and Ken Anderson are scheduled to leave the Braeburn checkpoint at about 14:30 PM on each others heels. They are currently racing for fourth place. Twenty-three competitors are still participating in this 27th running of the Yukon Quest Visit the Yukon Quest official web site for more information - click here
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YQ Day 8 - First Musher to Scratch |
February 13, 2010; 08:30 PST (Dawson City, YT) - Gerry Willomitzer is the first musher to scratch in the 2010 Yukon Quest. Willomitzer left Dawson City after his 36 hour mandatory layover at 22:52 PM local time. As he approached King Solomon's Dome he ran into some trouble with the runner plastic on his sled falling off. Race Marshal Hans Oettli says Willomitzer realized the amount of work this would place on his dogs, as the journey was becoming more and more difficult. The musher decided it was best to return to Dawson City and call it an end to his race. Willomitzer was back to the Dawson City checkpoint at 2:15 AM local time. All three front runners have left the Scroggie Creek dog drop. Hans Gatt was the first, dropping three dogs and departing at 12:10 AM local time. Lance Mackey dropped two dogs and followed at 12:49 AM, with Hugh Neff and his 11 dogs leaving only two minutes later. By the time of this release, all teams had checked in to the Dawson City halfway checkpoint for their layover. Twenty-three competitors are still participating in this 27th running of the Yukon Quest. Visit the Yukon Quest web site for more information- click here
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YQ Day 8 - Pelly Crossing |
February 13, 2010; 20:30 PST (Dawson City, YT) - Lance Mackey and Hugh Neff arrived at the Pelly Crossing checkpoint this afternoon within a minute of each other. Mackey checked in at 14:02 PM local time and Neff at 14:03 PM. Hans Gatt was third to arrive at 16:10 PM. Gatt lost his lead to Mackey and Neff earlier in the day after taking a longer rest at the Stepping Stone hospitality stop prior to Pelly Crossing. Mackey and Neff were back on the trail after a rest at the Pelly checkpoint. Both left at 19:30 PM with little space between them. Gatt rested at the checkpoint as well and was back on the trail by 20:12 PM. In Dawson, Cindy Barrand was the first musher in the race to leave with all 14 dogs on the line. She departed from the checkpoint at 19:14 PM. By the time of this release, 7 teams were still completing their 36 hour mandatory layover at the Dawson City checkpoint. Terry Williams will be the last to depart on Sunday February 14 at 17:52 PM local time. Twenty-three competitors are still participating in this 27th running of the Yukon Quest.
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YQ Day 7 Updates- Leaving Dawson |
photo courtesy of Yukon Quest |
February 12, 2010; 08:00 PST (Dawson City, YT) - Hans Gatt was the first musher to leave the Dawson City checkpoint this morning after a mandatory 36 hour layover. Gatt wasted no time getting back on the trail. He departed with 13 dogs on the line at 6:35 AM local time. Front runners Hugh Neff and Lance Mackey are the next mushers able to leave Dawson City starting at 9:07 AM local time. Dawson is the half-way point of the 1,000 mile race, with the next stop at the Scroggie Creek dog drop. Mushers were told yesterday that the trail beyond Dawson City was set when temperatures were warmer than average, creating optimal conditions for packing a flat, compressed trail. The colder weather that followed has firmed up the path ahead, making for a hard, fast trail. Snow coverage will also provide a bit of a cushion for teams as they travel through the next portion of the race. By the time of this release, 17 teams had checked in to the Dawson City half-way checkpoint for their layover. All 24 competitors have moved on from the Eagle checkpoint and are still participating in this 27th running of the Yukon Quest.
Visit the Yukon Quest web site for more information- click here
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YQ Day 6 - Dawson City |
February 11, 2010; 08:00 PST (Dawson City, YT) - Teams continued to arrive at the Dawson City checkpoint throughout the early morning hours on Thursday. At this point, 8 teams have cross through the chute on Front Street and begun their mandatory 36 hour layover in Dawson as part of the 2010 Yukon Quest.
Zack Steer, Ken Anderson, Brent Sass, Sonny Lindner and Abbie West all arrived during the early hours of the morning. Front runners Hans Gatt, Lance Mackey and Hugh Neff will be the first mushers able to leave Dawson City starting at 6:35 AM local time on Friday morning.
By the time of this release, all 24 competitors had made it to the Eagle checkpoint..
Visit the Yukon Quest web site for more information- click here
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YQ Day 5 Evening Update - Gatt hits Dawson 1st |
February 10, 2010; 22:00 PST (Dawson City, YT) - Hans Gatt arrived first to the Dawson City checkpoint tonight, taking the lead in the 2010 Yukon Quest. Gatt and a team of 13 dogs pulled into the checkpoint on Front Street at 6:02 PM local time. Lance Mackey followed, arriving at 8:49 PM local time, also with 13 dogs on the line. Next in was Hugh Neff at 9:04 PM with 11 dogs on the line and one in the basket. Gatt took the lead after resting near the Canadian border and then passing Mackey and Neff as they rested at the Fortymile hospitality stop.
By the time of this release, all 24 competitors are still participating in this 27th running of the Yukon Quest. According to past race results since 2001, this is the longest the race has gone without a scratch. Previously at least one scratch had been recorded no later than two days into the competition.
Visit the Yukon Quest web site for more information- click here
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YQ Update - Day 4 - To Eagle and beyond |
February 9, 2010; 08:00 AKST (Circle City, AK) - The front runners of the 2010 Yukon Quest were heading to Eagle last night and continue to this morning. Zack Steer led the pack. He dropped one dog at the Slaven's Roadhouse dog drop and began his trek to Eagle at 5:55 p.m. followed by Hugh Neff, Ken Anderson and Lance Mackey. Rookie Abbie West has been closely following the front runners. She was the eighth musher to arrive at Slaven's Roadhouse and left before midnight. Brent Sass is currently running the smallest team with 9 dogs on the line after dropping one at Slaven's. Mushers were still arriving and departing from the Circle City checkpoint into the early hours of the morning. By the time of this release, all 24 competitors had arrived at the Circle City checkpoint, with the last getting in at 4:15 AM local time. Three were resting there, while 10 were heading to Slaven's. At the Slaven's Roadhouse dog drop, two mushers were resting, while 9 teams were on the move toward Eagle.Visit the Yukon Quest web site for more information- click here
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YQ - Day 3 Evening Update - New record between Circle & Slaven |
February 8, 2010; 20:30 (Circle City, AK) - After an early start in the morning, teams were arriving at the Slaven's Roadhouse dog drop by midday on Monday and some back out by the evening. Zack Steer was the first to reach the dog drop at 12:52 PM local time. Hugh Neff was the next musher to make it in, with only 18 minutes separating him from Steer. By the time another hour had passed, both Lance Mackey and Hans Gatt had also made it to Slaven's Roadhouse. Gerry Willomitzer followed, arriving at 3:10 PM local time. Steer and Mackey set a new record for fastest time between Circle City and Slaven's Roadhouse. Both made the trek in 6 hours, 37 minutes. The previous record was William Kleedehn in 2006 with the time of 6 hours and 53 minutes. By the time of this release, a total of ten teams had arrived at the Slaven's Roadhouse dog drop. Steer dropped a dog and was the first to depart at 5:55 PM local time. Neff also dropped a dog and followed with his team at 7:05 PM. Ken Anderson swept through the dog drop at 7:12 PM. Mackey left at 7:46 PM, with Gatt to follow 10 minutes later. Twenty-one competitors and their dog teams had checked in at the previous checkpoint, Circle City, with three teams still en route from Central. Visit the Yukon Quest web site for more information- click here
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YQ300 Winner in Central
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February 8, 2010 - (Central, AK) - Sven Haltmann was the first musher to cross the finish line in Central to win the 2010 Yukon Quest 300 Sled Dog Race. Haltmann, who currently resides in Fairbanks, came in with 11 dogs on the line at 7:42 PM local time. "The last 150 miles were way better than the first 150," Haltmann said. "I always seem to have a hard time getting started. Eagle Summit was really warm and that messed us up a little bit, but then it got colder and the routine started to take place and we could finish." Haltmann held a fairly steady lead throughout the competition, arriving first at every checkpoint after Two Rivers. The 32-year-old American/Swiss has been running dogs for about a decade. He says he entered the YQ300 to gain some more experience before he competes in the Iditarod this March."I got some more answers out of this race for the Iditarod, that's for sure," he said. "Not only with the dogs can I tell who's ready and who has what it takes, but I think it got me further a little bit too."Magnus Kaltenborn arrived second into Central over an hour after Haltmann. At the time of this release a third place finisher had not yet arrived at the finish. The Yukon Quest 300 Sled Dog Race is for mushers interested in experiencing some of the Yukon Quest Trail. The Yukon Quest 300 is a recognized 300-mile qualifying race for both the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. This year nine mushers competed starting in Fairbanks on Saturday February 6. For more about the Yukon Quest 300 visit http://www.yukonquest.com/site/yq300main
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YUKON QUEST UPDATE - Circle City |
February 8, 2010; 0900 AKST (Circle City, AK) - Lance Mackey led the way into Circle City in the early hours of the morning, checking in just before 12 midnight. He was followed closely by Zack Steer and Hugh Neff, who both were only 10 minutes behind. Hans Gatt wasn't too far behind the pack, arriving to the checkpoint just after 1:00 AM. The leading teams all took a rest, staying for about 6 hours before heading off toward the Slaven's Cabin dog drop. Zach Steer was the first to depart at 6:15 AM. His team was closely followed by Hugh Neff at 6:25 AM. Gatt and Mackey also set back out on the trail just after 7:00 AM. By the time of this release, a total of 13 teams had arrived at the Circle City checkpoint. All 24 competitors and their dog teams had checked in at Central, the previous checkpoint. Gerry Willomitzer, Ken Anderson and Brent Sass have also moved on from Circle City toward the Slaven's Cabin dog drop.
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photo by Dona Quante - Husky Productions
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Egil Ellis Grabs the 2010 Exxon Mobil Sled Dog Race |
ASDRA held the Exxon Mobil Open sled dog race this weekend with a $22,000 purse located in the center of Anchorage, Alaska. Egil Ellis takes 1st place - For complete race results click here . To view photos by Britt Coon - Day 1 Exxon Mobil - Day 2 Exxon Mobil
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Streeper Wins 2010 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race
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Photo courtesy of the IPSSSRDR
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Jackson, Wyoming-February 6, 2010- Blayne "Bud" Streeper from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, won the 8-day International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) with an overall time of 22:35:35. Streeper, a familiar name in mushing, won 10 races in 2009, including the Canadian Open, Exxon Open, Willow Open, Anchorage, and the Fur Rondy World Championship. He also won first place in his first IPSSSDR in 2004.
Lina Gladh, also from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, was second overall with a time of 22:59:03. Joe Gans from Chaska, Minn., was third with 23:47:49. Winning mushers will be honored and prizes awarded in a private event in Park City, Utah, site of the final 8-mile stage, this evening; the public can view photos on the IPSSSDR website photo gallery at www.wyomingstagestop.org.
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Strong Yukon Quest field hits the trail to Whitehorse |
FAIRBANKS — News Miner - Whoever wins this year’s Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race will have some major bragging rights. Three former champions, five former second-place finishers and nine top-five finishers will start the 27th running of the sled dog race between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon.“You can tell who will be in the top 10, but how the top 10 is going to shape up, I don’t think you can say that,” said Hans Gatt, who won the race three consecutive times from 2002-2004.There will be a new champion after the 2010 race, which begins when Abbie West’s team heads up the Chena River at 11 this morning under the Cushman Street bridge. Last year’s winner, Sebastian Schnuelle, did not enter.Gatt is among the first-place hopefuls, though he perplexed many in 2009 by scratching in Dawson City, Yukon, because his dogs were peaking and ready for the Iditarod.Whoever wins this year’s Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race will have some major bragging rights.Three former champions, five former second-place finishers and nine top-five finishers will start the 27th running of the sled dog race between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon.“You can tell who will be in the top 10, but how the top 10 is going to shape up, I don’t think you can say that,” said Hans Gatt, who won the race three consecutive times from 2002-2004.There will be a new champion after the 2010 race, which begins when Abbie West’s team heads up the Chena River at 11 this morning under the Cushman Street bridge. Last year’s winner, Sebastian Schnuelle, did not enter.Gatt is among the first-place hopefuls, though he perplexed many in 2009 by scratching in Dawson City, Yukon, because his dogs were peaking and ready for the Iditarod.Read more....
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