SPK Dog Log

We’ve just had word that Spencer and the Red & Black team has pulled into the half-way checkpoint at the shooting range at 4.56pm. Their run time for the (approx) 50 miles is 5 hours 50 minutes.

They’re making great time, especially if you keep in mind he is racing a number of yearlings in their first ever race! Their schedule will include a few rest/snack stops and their pace will be limited.

Spencer drew bib #4 and left the Pleasant Valley Store at 11.06am (right). Teams will make up their time differential at the checkpoint so the R&Bs will have to stay at least the mandatory 4 hours plus an extra 18 minutes. Their expected departure time is therefore 9.14pm at the earliest.

I grabbed these pics from the TRDMA Facebook page so all credit goes to their photographer Sandy Steffenson for capturing these fantastic images in the half-light of winter sunrise.

Tinder, Sandy and Commando ready and waiting

Ray and Allen send Spencer and the Red & Black Team on their way in the Solstice 100

It turns out that Aliy and her Red Team were the only entrants into the Solstice 50 (which started after the 100 mile race) so although they won’t get too much exposure to passing and being passed it will still be a valuable exercise for the youngsters.

Setting off amongst all the hub-bub, following a trail that 12 other teams have just been on, seeing trail markers and spectators, and pulling into a checkpoint will all be new experiences for these guys.

And I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to hear how Chipper and Woody got on in lead in their rookie race!!

Woody and Chipper get some last minute advice from Beemer before setting off in the Solstice 50

You can follow all the action on the Two Rivers Dog Mushers Facebook Page.

The Two Rivers Solstice 100/50 starts at 11am this morning!

Spencer will race the SP Kennel Red & Black Team in the 100 Mile Race. His team will be lead by Lester and Viper with Driver, Sandy, Champ, Chena, Commando, Daisy, Nomex, Tinder, Torch and Violet.

Champ and Driver will race in the Solstice 100 with Spencer

Aliy will race the SP Kennel Red Team in the 50 Mile Race. Her small team of mostly youngsters includes leaders: Chipper and Woody, swing dogs: Beemer and Puppet, as well as: Wedgy, Iron, Amber, Cayenne, Coal and Hotshot.

Coal and Wedgy race 50 miles with Aliy

Click on the Rosters Page for more information about each dog.

Two Rivers Dog Mushing Association postponed the 100/50 Mile Solstice Race and re-scheduled it for this weekend, Saturday January 3rd. Here is the race INFO.

As many of you know, our goal at SP Kennel is to race as many dogs as possible throughout the season: giving the younger dogs and older dogs alike a chance to enjoy the competition and to prove themselves in a race atmosphere. The 100/50 Mile Solstice Race will be a smaller, neighborhood event on our local trails.

However, our training is much more specific than most people think. Throughout the season, we specifically schedule mileage build ups, hill training and we ‘peak’ our dogs for target “race dates”. As well, different strategies are needed for different races: the 100/50 Mile Solstice Race is a fast, flat and mentally challenging (to pass the kennel numerous times). The Copper Basin 300 (in one week) is a slower, extremely mountainous, tough race course.

The reschedule of the 100/50 Mile Solstice Race fits perfectly into the schedule for many of the yearlings, a few dogs who need a fun short race and several dedicated older leaders. This new race date does not fit for either Allen or Aliy’s potential Copper Basin Teams. This is a shame since we (and the dogs) enjoy our local races.

Aliy will race the SP Kennel Red Team in the 50 Mile Solstice Race and Spencer will race the SP Kennel Red & Black Team in the 100 Mile Solstice Race.

May your future be full of wagging tails, luxurious snow baths and happy team mates!

Magali Philip, the USA Agent for Algyval, has been a sponsor of the SP Kennel dogs and mushers for years. She generously provides us with a season’s supply of the massage balm.

Algyval is a magical balm we use to warm up and massage canine muscles and joints. It is like using “Icy Hot” on humans – only better! In fact, it is not unheard of for a musher to use it on their own sore muscles! It smells amazing too!

We pack small bottles of it into all our drop bags on every race and also carry it with us in an inside pocket of our parka (to keep it from freezing! Such as it’s importance!

And, it’s not just for sled dogs – all dogs could benefit from Algyval so give it a try on your busy farm dog, agility dog, hunting companion, frisbee champion, active pet dog or even your achey elderly family member or for post-injury rehab!

Thank you Magali and Algyval for helping keep the dogs of SP Kennel in tip-top shape. Check out her Facebook page and website for more information.

Aliy and Allen met the entire team at the Comfort Inn Downtown – Ship Creek in Anchorage for a lunch social earlier this month. The mushers shared stories about the SP Kennel dogs and the Iditarod trail. They talked about how luxurious the last night’s sleep can feel before spending many challenging days on the Iditarod Trail. It is very exciting that this ‘last night’ will be at the Comfort Inn Downtown Anchorage.

Allen, General Manager, Michelle Alletson, The Hotel Group, Sales Manager Jody Reisher and Aliy talked about how the dogs will react to their new digs in Anchorage. So far, only Beemer has seen the hotel. (Photo at right)

We are delighted to be part of the Comfort Inn team and are excited to have the entire SP Kennel Team staying there during the Iditarod week. The dogs will have plenty of space and the mushers will get a much needed rest and hearty breakfast before heading out onto the trail. The whole layout of the hotel is perfect for our team. Especially those who want to make their own waffles for breakfast… yummy!

Are you coming to Anchorage for the Iditarod and not made your booking yet? Rooms are filling up fast for the Iditarod week so click the logo below to see the special “Friends and Family of SP Kennel” deals going!

Congratulations to Mary from Nome, Alaska who has won this week’s Dog Fan Club draw. Mary is a fan of QUITO and wins a package of Holiday themed goodies.

Quito is our two-time Yukon Quest Golden Harness winning dog. She is phenomenal and while in single lead, Quito was directly responsible for the team reaching the Safety Checkpoint and ultimately the finish line during the white-out blizzard in the 2014 Iditarod.

She’s the Mama of the “Latinos” and the “Golf Litter” and if they turn out to be even half as good as their Mama the future of SP Kennel is exciting.

Thank you Mary and all our Dog Fan Club members for your support; we know we say it a lot but we really mean it – WE APPRECIATE YOU!

The next Dog Fan Club winner will be announced on January 9th and the winner will get a Copper Basin 300 themed package. Everyone who hasn’t already won and all new members will be in the draw to win.

Click the button below for instructions on how to join:

Click this button below to take you directly to the Dog Fan Page.

This morning we walked out into the dog yard and found some very peculiar evidence that someone had taken a small team of our sled dogs out for a long run last night. No one ever comes to SP Kennel without permission so… after hours of looking at clues, we think we have it figured out:

Santa had an emergency crash landing at SP Kennel last night. SP Kennel isn’t too far from North Pole so if he had technical difficulties, the kennel would be a logical spot to land. His reindeer obviously needed to recuperate. So, he borrowed nine SP Kennel sled dogs to continue his delivery route. He must have brought them home just before we woke up this morning.

I know, I know… I can’t believe it either but the evidence is undeniable!

The Two Rivers C.S.I. Unit (see Security Access Photos above) were immediately called to the kennel to investigate. After hours of looking at details and quizzing all of the dogs a few significant clues were discovered:

• There were strange and chaotic sled tracks in the hook up area. These unfamiliar runners tracks were set wider than a normal dog sled and the marks in the snow suggested that the sled was carrying a very heavy load. It was determined that whatever sled made the tracks, came into the yard very hard and very fast – creating somewhat of a crash landing! There were bits of Christmas wrapping paper high up in the spruce trees above the dog yard and the tops of the tallest trees were even clipped.
• Then, from the looks of it, Santa’s reindeer were not able to continue any more miles in harness. We found frozen carrots thrown around the yard in haste and several empty bottles of Algaval muscle liniment tossed about. TRose Veterinary Service said they got a late night frantic phone message from an old man asking about the best way to treat reindeer hoof soreness. So, whether Santa’s team was sore, hungry or just plain old tired, we don’t know! But this morning, it was confirmed that they were in fact nearby because our neighbor said that she chased nine reindeer out of her Peonie field at daybreak! She only noticed them because one had a very bright red nose.
• We found nine of our Howling Dog Alaska sled dog harnesses hung on our harness rack but they were extremely caked with snow and had jingle bells sewn into the top D rings.

• But, the biggest ‘tell-tale’ sign was that Rambler’s nose had a bit of a red glow this morning. He seemed extremely tired, a little bit sore and started the morning dog howl in the melody of ‘Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ but… it seemed to have a different twist.