SPK Dog Log

At this time of the season our focus shifts from racing to training puppies! It is such a fun time of year and we are always so excited to see the new generation of SP Kennel athletes take the first step to becoming “real” sled dogs.

Earlier this week we took the Golf Litter pups out in two groups with some adults to show the way. Rose and Honda led the team with Boris in Swing and Lester and Schmoe following. Behind them we ran three pups, starting with Sandy, Iron and Driver then Wedgy, Chipper and Woody. We ran them for about a mile and a half with frequent stops to “congratulate” them and tell them all, adults included, that they were doing a great job.

You will notice a more traditional harness and line set-up for the puppies, the traditional full-body harness and necklines set them up to succeed until they get the hang of it. Then they will graduate into the half harness and no-neckline system the rest of the team run in.

They all did so well! It always amazes us how they never have to be “taught” how to do this; it is inherent in their breeding and these guys were great!

Sorry for the delay folks but now you can follow Meghan and the R&Bs’ journey through the Sheep Mountain 300 race in video.

Two hours after setting off from the Sheep Mountain Lodge the R&Bs pass through Eureka Lodge on their way to Lake Louise Lodge checkpoint.

The team come in to Lake Louise Lodge checkpoint for the first time.

After five hours of rest Meghan feeds and booties the team then they head towards Tolsona Resort Checkpoint…

…and blow through Tolsona Resort a few hours later, at sunset, on their way out to Crosswind Lake and back.

The team go through Eureka Lodge and arrive at the finish line for a total time of two days, four hours and 31 minutes! Great job team!

The Two Rivers Dog Mushing Association was great at incorporating the community youngsters into this weekend’s Valley Funale.

Meghan was able to capture this rather quick video clip of Sam and ChaCha racing in the One Dog Class.

Who is having more fun? Sam or ChaCha?

Much fun was had by all at the Two Rivers Funale.

I set off with bib number 3 in the ten-dog 20-mile class around local trails. I’d seen all of the trails before in training so there was nothing new for me to negotiate and the dogs did so well in the warm conditions. We got plenty of practice being passed from behind; we ended with a time of 1:49 and won the red lantern! I had a great time and learned so much.

L-R: Scout, Scruggs, Waylon, Spicy, Chica, Bonita, Pud and Willie; Moira with leaders Scruggs and Scout; Red Lantern

Bridgett took some youngsters in the six-dog ten-mile class. Her team of Quito, Clyde, Pepe, Izzy, Outlaw and Mismo had some fun out there! Two more SP dogs were involved in the six-dog class with Ryne – she took four of her own dogs plus Nacho and Biscuit to round out her team.

L-R: Bridgett gets ready for her race; Quito, Mismo, Clyde and Pepe

The junior classes followed and ChaCha featured twice. Sam, who finished in second place in the one-dog class, had a great run with an excellent early recovery from a bit of a speed-wobble and Jacob was awesome and got up to some big speeds. Well done Sammy and Jacob!!

And, as you can see, some others made themselves comfortable in the sun to watch the junior races!

Meghan and Allen have a great vantage point to watch the junior races

I’ve very excited to run Scout, Scruggs, Spicy, Waylon, Bonita, Chica, Pud and Willie in the 20 mile Two Rivers “Valley Fun-ale” tomorrow! It’s my first race EVER! Woohoo! Click here for the full team roster.

Meghan and Moira will “flip-flop” duties for this next event.

Moira will be mushing the R&B race team and Meghan will handle.

The Team Roster will be posted Saturday morning.

Race Day should be a fun event for the entire SP Kennel Crew and Family!
Stay tuned… you never know who will show up to race.

Woohoo! Well done Meghan, Ranger, Beemer, Boondocks, Viper, Lester, Chemo, Mac, I.V., Felix, Sissy, Nelson, and Tatfish on finishing in 4th position in the Sheep Mountain 300!

After leaving Lake Louise Lodge right on time and running a scorching final leg the R&Bs made up 36 minutes and finished just three minutes behind Alex Beutow of Apex Kennel. Congrats Alex! It was such an exciting final leg for me as a spectator as I caught up with them through Eureka Lodge and saw she was just six minutes behind. Beemer and Ranger lead the entire way and everyone did well on the final push.

All the dogs looked great coming in and ate loads of fish and meat snacks. They are all taking a nice long sleep in the truck now. Meghan is eating eggs on toast and will get some much needed and well deserved rest herself.

So proud of Meghan and the team, what an awesome job!

Congratulations to Markus Ingebretsen, also from Apex Kennel, and Heidi Sutter in first and second position.

At 27 past midnight the Red and Blacks arrived back to Lake Louise Lodge checkpoint from their camp-out on Tyone River. They left there at 6.57pm and their run time for the 50 miles was five hours, 30 minutes. Meghan said the camp was good fun and at a beautiful spot and once she had completed her checkpoint/camp routine she was able to snuggle for a while with the dogs in the sun. Meghan made particular mention of I.V. and Mac whom she is running side by side. She said they look physically so different but have similar attitude and work ethic and it makes her smile to see them run so well together.

The team will take their last mandatory rest on the lake here before setting off for the final 60 mile run through Eureka Lodge to Sheep Mountain Lodge on the same section of trail they started out on Tuesday morning. The earliest they can leave is 4.27am. The temperature at the moment is about -5F with a clear, starry sky – all the dogs are happily curled up, sleeping under warm jackets and blankets and Meghan is resting on the floor in the Lodge by the wood fire (incidentally, also under warm jackets!)

Meghan gets hot dog-water from the Lodge; Sissy enjoys a snack

Nelson chows down a salmon fillet; I.V. gets her “super-girl” costume on while Mac eats some more snacks

We’re expecting the team to finish mid-to-late morning and we’ll update you as soon as possible. I’m excited to greet them at Sheep Mountain Lodge and I will be armed with plenty of good food and snacks for dogs and musher!

Congratulations to Alyssa Komac, a fellow Two Rivers musher, and her team who won the Sheep Mountain 200 earlier today. The 200 mile race was run at the same time over the same trails as the 300 mile race (minus the remote camp) and she burned up the trail with some really fast run times. Great job Alyssa!