CALEB NICKERSON
BRISTOL Jan. 25-26, 2020
The trees in north Bristol were alive with the sound of barking over the weekend as Timberland Tours hosted the . . .
fourth annual Pontiac International Sled Dog Race. Just under 50 racers and their teams turned out for the event, a dip in attendance that was due to the race being cancelled earlier this month due to weather and then quickly rescheduled.
Large snowflakes fell for most of the weekend, combined with a little bit of rain, to make for conditions that owner and race organizer Denis Rozon called “tough” for the canine competitors.
“It was packed snow, beautiful but because it’s snowing the whole time, [the dogs] were sinking a bit,” he explained. “Every time their feet hit the snow, it sinks maybe one inch. It’s hard. We train them for that, they’re tough those dogs. It was a really good turnout with the conditions and the quality of racers we had there.”
“It was slow going for the dogs,” he added. “Myself I don’t like that, I like a real fast trail. The tough dogs, they won.”
He said that it was difficult for some competitors to reschedule after the earlier date was washed out. Racers came from far afield in both Canada and the United States, and Rozon reimbursed them for their registration fees as well as some money for their travel costs, which came out of the weekend’s prize pool.
Those that did turn up to the new date faced some strong competition across several categories.
Yanick Pépin of Trois Rivières was one of these mushers and ended up taking second place in the eight-dog sled class. A relative newcomer to the sport, having only competed for three years, Pépin said he fell in love with it after exercising with his new pup.
“My first dog was a Labrador, and I started skiing with him and as I enjoyed doing it, I was passionate about going faster, further,” he said. “Then I got a second dog … now I have 17.”
Pépin, along with his wife, kids and pack of pulling dogs travel around.
“During the winter, it’s about every weekend, either for training or for racing,” he said.
Pépin’s young children Alexis and Samuel got their chance to compete as well, in the Kids and Mutts race that closed out the weekend, with Alexis taking first place.
The elder Pépin said that while he was pleased with how the races went, he’s in the sport for the love of the animals more than anything.
“I’m very satisfied, but I try to not only focus on the results, because what I enjoy is living with those dogs on an everyday basis,” he said. “Doing well at races is a good thing, but the racing career of a dog is quite short. They’re at their peak between two and five years of age. But they live up to 10-12 years … It’s fine I finished second this year, but when they’re older and I finish last, I hope I enjoy it this much.”
Bonnie Nessia hails from Utica NY., and like Pépin, spends most of her weekends on the road in the fall and winter. She had a similar introduction to the world of sled dog racing as well.
“You start out, you get a pet Husky, they need exercise, so you find something for them to do,” she explained. “You get a mate, you have a litter, and then you’re hooked. That’s how it happens.”
She said that her dogs get as much out of the races as any of the mushers.
“When you come to a race venue, they’re so thrilled,” she said. “They’re born for this, they love it, and I love seeing that. It’s like your kids, doing something with your kids.”
Rozon said that despite everything, the races were a success and added that he was in the process of applying to once again host the World Championships in Bristol for the 2021 season.
The awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon was a snowy affair, and featured Bristol councillor Phillip Holmes and Mayor Brent Orr.
Winners were as follows:
Two dog: 1st – Karen Koehler, 2nd – Marielle Harvey, 3rd – Valérie Fuchs
Four dog: 1st – Cathy Rivest, 2nd – Jay Olmstead, 3rd – Karen Koehler
Six dog; 1st – Cathy Rivest, 2nd – Valérie Fuchs, 3rd – Luke Siertsema
Eight dog – 1st -Jean-Rene Saucier, 2nd – Yanick Pépin, 3rd – Jocelyn Bradbury
