by Cam Stewart
Northern News Services

 1. Raymond Beck.............11:20:32
 2. Richard Beck.............11:23:57
 3. Sam Perrino..............11:31:19
 4. Ken Anderson.............11:34:02
 5. Adolphus Capot-Blanc.....11:48:09
 6. Brian Poulin.............11:48:46
 7. Dominique Boudreault.....12:28:07
 8. Heather Beck.............12:30:05
 9. Arthur Beck..............12:30:50
10. Mark Pierson.............12:34:15
11. Harry Towtongie..........12:54:06
12. Trevor Lizotte...........13:05:29
13. Henry Landry.............14:10:01

NNSL (Mar 26/97) - Yellowknife mushers finished strong, recording second- and third-place honors, at this year's Canadian Championship Dog Derby.

Leading Team Yellowknife was Richard Beck, who crossed the finish line first on Sunday and was just 3:25 behind champion Raymond Beck Jr. for the overall title.

One of the big surprises of this year's derby was the performance of relative newcomer Sam Perrino.

Though only racing since 1992, Perrino was a pillar of consistency all weekend. He was third after the first day of the competition and he finished the event in that same position, posting a three-day race total of 11:31:19, less than 11 minutes out of the first place spot.

A definite shocker to race lovers was the early exit of four-time Canadian and one-time world champion Grant Beck. After posting a disappointing 4:30:48,

Grant dropped out of the race. Danny Beck and Tommy Bird also failed to finish the gruelling three-day race.

And the race was definitely not in the bag for Ray Beck Jr. on Sunday. Tension mounted as home-town musher Richard Beck crossed the finish line first. Would his early arrival be enough to overtake Ray Beck and claim the title?

Ken Anderson, from Fairbanks, Alaska, was the second musher home on Sunday and onlookers grew more concerned, and wondered how far back Ray Beck was.

Everyone's questions were answered when just over a minute later the orange No. 8 bib of Ray Beck Jr. appeared in the near distance.

Sunday would be Ray Beck's day. Despite finishing third, his combined time would be good enough to claim the Championship.

Yellowknife racer Heather Beck placed strong in eighth, Arthur Beck was ninth, and Trevor Lizotte came in 12th.

Mild temperatures made race conditions tough for the dogs, but all competitors did well despite temperature that were ten degrees above normal racing conditions.