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DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
A sled dog race in Fort Providence has grown in popularity and complexity in its second year.

Dave Turner from Oregon runs his 10-dog team on the 31-kilometre trail during the second day of the Dehcho Sled Dog Championship in Fort Providence. - photo courtesy of Susan Fleck

The Dehcho Sled Dog Championships took place between March 8 and 9. The event drew 22 mushers from as far away as Alaska, Oregon and Saskatchewan.

In the championships' first year, there were 12 teams in the 10-dog race and 12 in the six-dog race. This year, the number in the 10-dog race stayed the same while the six-dog race grew to 19 teams.

"That's amazing," said Susan Fleck, a member of the Deh Gah Dog Mushers Club and one of the race organizers.

The second year of the race was certainly successful, said Fleck.

"It's become bigger and better," she said.

Mushers, ranging in age from 15 to 64, had good racing conditions including sunshine and temperatures around -11 C. Teams in each class ran one race on both days and the times were added together to determine the standings.

The 10-dog teams ran 19 kilometres on the first day and 31 kilometres on the second.

"The teams are really competitive," said Fleck.

James Wheller from Clam Gluch, Alaska, took first place in the 10-dog class with a combined time of 1:42:12:08. In that class, there were only three seconds separating fourth and seventh place. Danny Beaulieu of Fort Providence finished in seventh with a combined time of 1:48:08:81.

The second day of the 10-dog class took the mushers on a new route that ran beside the Fort Providence access road and crossed Highway 3 before heading east towards the old ice crossing. Volunteers put snow on the highway at the crossing point and the Department of Transportation lowered the speed limit on that portion of the highway.

Volunteers used stop signs to halt traffic as the teams approached. Some transport truck drivers honked their horns to cheer on the teams, said Fleck.

"They loved it," she said of the drivers.

The six-dog class, which ran 11 kilometres on both days, had to be broken into two heats because of the number of teams. Again, it was anyone's race with less than a minute separating second to seventh place, Fleck said.

Dave Johnson of Tagish, Yukon, defended his title in the six-dog class, winning again with a combined time of 42:54:56.

"We were so impressed," said Sue Johnson, Dave's wife.

"The trail was awesome and the hospitality also."

Sue said it was the trails and the people that brought them back for a second year.

"The work that Danny (Beaulieu) puts on the trails is impressive," she said.

Dave Johnson runs yearlings for Streeper Kennels of Fort Nelson, B.C. The couple brought 16 dogs with them. It was the first time the 10-dog team had run 31 kilometres.

"They were fantastic," Sue Johnson said.

Fleck placed seventh in the class at 45:55:47.

"I'm really happy with my dogs. They did everything they could," she said.

Mel Rasmussen, also of Fort Providence, placed 18th at 53:32:16. The championship was a learning experience for Rasmussen that saw her using her snow hook to stop her team for the first time.

"It was a good experience all around," she said.

"I think the dogs were happy, too."

In addition to the races, the Deh Gah Dog Mushers Club held a dinner, talent show and dance on Saturday night, new additions to the championship. The races wouldn't have been possible without all of the volunteers and sponsors, said Fleck.

Fleck and Beaulieu are already making plans for next year's race.

"We're hoping people are spreading the word and that more people will come next year," she said.

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