Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

Whitehorse (Mar 20/00) - Having a strong showing in dog-mushing competition depends on many factors: the condition of the dogs, the track, and the driver at race time are just a few of them.

The NWT dog-mushing team came home with two gold ulus and one silver after a week of competition in Whitehorse at the Arctic Winter Games, which shows just how ready they were.

"Overall as a team, we've done really well. It's been a really emotional time; the team worked hard and performed well," said coach Steve Budgell.

"The racing has been very competitive. The trail is challenging and it's rough in spots so it got a little tricky for the athletes to get through some areas. Overall, I'm proud of everyone on the team."

It was Inuvik's Jason Baxter who took the gold in the co-ed juvenile 7.5 km and 10 km events. In the co-ed juvenile 7.5 km team event, Jason Baxter and Jordee James-McQueen won silver.

Dexter Lafferty of Fort Resolution, showing just how exhausting a long race can be, collapsed at the finish line after his 10 km race.

"I was just working the dogs and running as hard as I could to make up time. I got too tired, I pushed too hard," said Lafferty.

He said it was the level of competition that made him push himself and his dog team to the edge.

"The Alaskans were pretty fast and I couldn't catch them but I caught the Yukon team and passed them. That's what it's all about, passing someone and setting your sights on the next team."

President of the NWT Dog Mushing Association Carol Beck, was at the games. She said the NWT has only been sending a dog-mushing team to compete in the Arctic Winter Games since 1990. The success of the squad this year, she said, shows that dog mushing is growing in popularity here.

She said Jason Baxter, 11, has been training for years with his coach/dad Mike Baxter. The Baxter team was driving back to Inuvik from Whitehorse so they weren't available for comment at press time, but Beck called them "true ambassadors" of the sport.

"The NWT has never won a gold in the games so that was a real blessing," said Beck.

"It's Alaska's national sport, so for us to go there and do so well was incredible. It's great to see so much enthusiasm for our sport among our youth."

Also running a strong race for the NWT team was Shawna Nerysoo and her coach/dad James Nerysoo, of Fort Macpherson.