CALEB NICKERSON
BRISTOL Oct. 27-28, 2018
Trucks and trailers filled with dogs, bikes and racing trikes arrived in the Pontiac over the weekend for the ninth annual Bristol Dryland Dog Races at Timberland Tours.
Owner and race organizer Denis Rozon explained that this year’s race was the biggest he’s ever organized, with 300 teams from all over the globe. Racers compete in a variety of canine-involved events, from foot races (canicross) to bikejoring and scooters, right up to eight-dog cart races.
“You multiply, for the team members, by four, so that’s about 1,200 people just for the racing staff,” he said. “It’s a really good turnout.”
Competitors came from as far as Alaska and the west coast to pursue the $10,000 in winnings up for grabs.
Rozon said that the parking lot was full on Saturday, with tons of spectators coming out for a spectacle you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere.
The weekend wasn’t without its hiccups, as the change in weather on the second day of competition made for potentially treacherous track conditions.
“It was fantastic on Saturday but [Sunday] was terrible with the snow, we had a few accidents because of that,” he said, noting that one resulted in a concussion. “It’s part of it. Some people call it an extreme sport, we all know it is dangerous.”
Rozon said that preparing for the race is a year-round endeavour and thanked his many sponsors and the dozen or so volunteers who helped out, wrangling dogs, managing race bibs and monitoring the course.
Peter Haughton was one such volunteer, and said he’s helped out with the event for around seven years alongside his wife Barbara. He said that he enjoys meeting the wide variety of people that pass through the course over the weekend.
Rozon said that he has high hopes for the sled dog race he’s putting on this year, and invited all those that came out to return.