Before I became interested in dog mushing I was training dogs in obediance and agility. I was able to obtain a companion dog title for my Jack Russel Terrior. I started learning to run dogs in 1999 at the age of 11, with the help of my neighbhour, Bill Stewart. After running the first season using his dogs, I was addicted and began to look for my own team. I gathered dogs from such well known bloodlines as Hans Gatt, Erhardt, Kinvig, Streeper and Cowboy Smith, to name just a few. After all was said and done, I rounded out my season with 31 dogs.
Although my parents don't run dogs, I was fortunate enough to have several great mentors like Darren Kinvig, Brian Macdougall and Bill Stewart who taught and showed me everything I know about running dogs and competitive racing.
In the 2001/2002 season I trained and raced both a sprint team and a mid distance team, running in both the Junior Yukon Quest and the Arctic Winter Games in Iqaluit, Nunavut, representing the Yukon Territory. I took 4th, as well as the Sportmanship Award in the Junior Yukon Quest and brought home a beautiful expedition parka donated by Apopaclypse Designs Inc. In the Arctic Winter Games, I brought home two Bronze and one gold medal.
In the 2002/2003 season I placed second in the Carbon Hill, fourth in the Chilly paw and second in the Junior Percey de Wolf. The season was not as good as planned as I had an injury while running dogs that put me on crutches through out the month of Febuary.
The 2003/2004 racing season was great. I had high hopes for the Junior Yukon Quest, but because of some major problems during the race we tied for fourth place. The dogs flew over the trail at the Silver Sled placing third. At the Rendezvous Frieght Race we placed second. Then for the last race of the year we had a big win at the Junior Percey de Wolfe finishing an hour and a half before the second place team; it was awsome!!
In the 2004/2005 season the focus was to qualify for the Yukon Quest 1000 mile race. We achieved this goal but not without some diffucult problems to solve. Just prior to the 300 mile Yukon Quest qualifer race we were out on a late night training run 60 miles. 20 miles from home we crossed a lake in severe winds and the lead dogs had to search for the wind blown trail. In doing so they crunced through a hard crust and scraped the back of their legs. Not serious injuries but enough that I needed to spend a great deal of time caring for them during the race that was soon approaching. I played it smart found some little tricks to get them all on the mend. I started with just 10 dogs instead of 12. Not what I wanted but was the best choice given the circumstances. The other two dogs that were suppoesed to be at the starting line could have started fine. My concern was the care of two more dogs, during the race I spent a great deal of time caring for the dogs and ignoring my needs for sleep and food. Adrenalin got me to the finish line and my dog care and advise from the great vets who work the race got the dogs over the 340 miles. One Vet in particular helped me realize the trouble I had was only going to make me a better dog person and a better musher. Thank you Melanie Donofro D.V.M. Los Robles Animal Hospital, Tallahassee, Florida.. We all hope you can be at the Yukon Quest race in 2006 the dogs and I found a special friend over those three days and nights.
The link below will take you to the Yukon Quest Web site Bio's for the 2006 mushers.
http://www.yukonquest.com/servlet/musherprofile?id=99
