CALEB NICKERSON
BRISTOL Aug. 1, 2018
A local dog-racing entrepreneur is pleased to announce that the longstanding Bristol Dryland Dog race has been recognized by two international governing bodies.
Denis Rozon, owner of Timberland Tours and the driving force behind the race, explained that the International Sled Dog Racing Association Inc. (ISDRA) had awarded his race the event of the year.
“The dryland, when I started in 2010, was the first in Canada,” he said. “Now there’s many races.”
“You have to be accredited, you have to be sanctioned, follow their rules,” he continued, explaining how the races are evaluated. “Also, the racers have to make a report, that’s really important too.”

According to a letter from ISDRA’s Acting Executive Director, Margaret Harvey, the Bristol Dryland placed first in every single category of dryland racing, the first time any race has done so in the organization’s history.
In addition, this year’s race, coming up on Oct. 27 and 28 will be a sanctioned World Cup event for the 2018/19 season with the International Federation of Sledding Sports (IFSS).
Rozon said he was excited for the return of the prestigious race, as the 2015 Dryland was also a World Cup event.
“It’s like the site of the Olympics, they pick a location every two years,” he said, adding that the accreditation will bring in more top notch racers and spectators.
When asked why his race has attracted such a following over the years, Rozon was humble. He thanked the multitude of government and private business sponsors who keep the event running and the purses competitive. He added that he constantly strives to keep improving on the existing trail system.
“This is the best place in North America,” he said. “We do more things every year. This year we’re going to have a new trail for the bike-joring going up on the mountain. We spend money every year. I’m pretty lucky we have a lot of support.”