Iditarod Start Allen Moore – Willow Restart
Congratulations Boondocks!
In just her first season of racing, little Boondocks has been making a name for herself by racing in the Sheep Mountain, Copper Basin, Yukon Quest, and now Iditarod…and she’s only two years old! However, she’s not only receiving human recognition, but she has canine fans as well. Kotzee from Kansas has decided to sponsor Boondocks’ racing season. Boondocks wishes she could see Kotzee at the Iditarod start but thinks that Kotzee’s person Yo-Lynn will be a good replacement!
Thanks to Kotzee from Kansas for sponsoring Boondocks’ racing season!
SP Kennel dog sponsorship is one of our most popular programs. Our dog sponsors are a big part of the SP K team. If you’d like more information about the program, check out How to be a Dog Sponsor.
Iditarod Day Two
As the second day of the Iditarod 2011 comes to a close, both the Red Team and the Black Team are doing well. Aliy is into Rohn with all 16 dogs. Her dogs are steady and strong. They are not the speed demons that are on some of the other teams, but they will not lose as much speed as they go along either. She is jumping from 8th to 20th depending on her run – rest schedule, but that means little at this point. She is ahead of her plan.
Allen is out of Rainy Pass with 15 dogs. He had to drop Chica and she is already back with our handling crew in Anchorage. Like Aliy, he is running to his schedule and doing very well.
Mickey will be out in Nikolai and McGrath tomorrow and we should get some good updates on the dogs and mushers. These photos are of Aliy going through Yentna yesterday. They are by Phillip Walters.
By Phillip Walters
By Phillip Walters
By Phillip Walters
First Dropped Dog In
Allen dropped Chica in Finger Lake this morning. The excellent weather made for an easy transfer back to Anchorage. Doug and Mickey Zirkle picked her up this afternoon after a short flight in a Cessna 180.
Chica had a wrist injury on the Yukon Quest. It had almost completely healed but it looks like she hit a hole and injured it again. When they picked her up, Chica has a slightly swollen left wrist. All her vital signs are normal and her appetite is good. She will remain on anti inflammatory meds for a few days.
Doug picks up Chica from the Dog Drop volunteers behind the Millenium Hotel in Anchorage. Jennifer, Chica, Kathleen and Doug.
The Anchorage Dog Drop vets and volunteers are a dedicated crew. SP Kennel thanks them all for putting the health of our racing dogs first.
Aliy & Allen Interviews
Aliy is through Finger Lake and on her way to Rainy Pass. Allen is currently in Finger Lake. Aliy’s schedule has her resting outside of check points for this first part.
There have been several articles and interviews that Aliy and Allen did before the start. Here are a few to look over.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner – Interior Alaska sends 16 mushers to the Iditarod
Fairbanks News-Miner
Mushers Looking Forward to Scenery, Time With the Dogs
APRN
Racers Discuss the Challenges of the Trail
APRN
Aliy Zirkle’s Ceremonial Start
Aliy had a camera from Alaska Public Radio Network on her sled for the ceremonial start. Here is the video from it.
Video by Josh Edge, APRN – Anchorage
Final Black Team Roster
The Black Team had a couple of substitutions: Dingle in for Moonpie and Malibu in for Lester. Both Dingle and Malibu ran the Yukon Quest with Allen and are 100%. Moonpie and Lester are healthy as well, but Dingle and Malibu’s extra experience gave them an edge in making the team. Today, Allen left with siblings JJ and Stormy leading the way! Good luck!!!
