Congrats to QT and Five, Chena and Lydia, Sanka and Cayenne, Jefe and McCaw, Perky and Decaf, and Aliy, and not forgetting Mismo, for winning the Yukon Quest 200!
At 5:52pm on Sunday night, just as the light was fading, they crossed the line with a small but hardy group of supporters who braved the Whitehorse wind to welcome them home. This is Aliy’s second win in this event and Five and Chena join her in becoming double YQ and YQ200 champs!
The run from Braeburn was 9.5 hours. Aliy said she’d never mushed on Lake Laberge before so was excited to be on the legendary subject of Robert Service’s famous poem (see this link for our post on that last year). She quipped at the finish that she “got on the lake as the sun came up and left as the sun went down – that’s how big the ding-dang lake is!”
After their traditional steak at the finish line we moved the team to the truck where the vet team was waiting to do the post-race exam plus the team doing the study were on hand to collect urine and blood. We removed their booties, harness and coats and gave them a water, nutritious meal with thawed meat soaked and crunchy kibble. They are now sleeping and we’ll get them down from the truck later this evening.
Congrats Champs!
Congratulations Aliy and dogs! Was watching you the whole way. Was fun to watch the “replay” too on the tracker. Here’s hoping Allen has a good race too. Question to the internet team: will these dogs now go home to continue to train for the Iditarod? Questions for Aliy to hopefully answer in the future: knowing that it was 200 vs 300 miles, how did you run the race differently? Did you run the race like you would for the Iditarod? Thanks. And again, congratulations.
Way to go Aliy and the Red Team! Well done!
Well done Aliy and the red team a special mention and pat for Jefe ❤️🖤👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🐾🐾
Congratulations Aliy and dogs! What an amazing win! I was watching the Red Team using the GPS tracker and they were first for most of the race! Great Job!
Congratulations Aliy, QT, Five, Chena, Lydia, Sanka, Cayenne, Jefe, McCaw, Perky, Decaf, Mismo and the entire support crew. Fantastic job.
I’m so proud of all of you!!!
It appears little QT has some leader genes from her momma.
Congratulations Red Team! So proud of this young team.
Woo Hoo!! Congrats Aliy and Dawgs… Glad you guys made it across that Ding-Dang big lake… Love it!!!
Rest up and Go Allen Go!!!
Cheers
Congrats team! What fun watching Aliy’s tracker zooming around that red line! Great race for all those YQ rookies! Good boy Decaf!
Way to go!!! Next the Iditarod….whewwhoooo
WOOF WOOF WOOF
Here’s to the champions!!!
WOOF WOOF WOOF
Here’s to the champions!!! So lovely!!!
Congratulations to Aliy and the Red Team! How fun for pups from the Golden Harness and Coffee litters to have their first victory. The future looks bright.
Congrats Aliy and Red Team Dogs! The future is bright! You will have so many to chose from for the Iditarod!
Go Girl!!!!
Congrats Aliy and pups! Love the finish line video and all the pix and posts that the support crew provides. Thank you!
Satisfying – very satisfying to watch the video of them coming in.
Congratulations to the red team.
Congratulations Aliy & SPK. Well done. On to the Iditarod! Make it two for two.
Woo wooo!! Way to go, team!! YAY, Five!!
Well done Aliy. We’re proud to be associated with you. Must have been that dose of kiwi air that helped!