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March 8, 2013 WOW!! What a weekend! The decision was made to hold the entire race in the Christopher Lake area and to make it a fun filled event with lots of community involvement. From all the comments we received during and since the race, it was a successful move. There was a good crowd on hand to see the 10 teams leave the start line, although it was an 8 dog event Linda Caswell ran her 6 dog team and Nancy Dragan started with seven, all the rest ran 8 dogs. Elliot Clarke withdrew from the race after the first day due to minor injuries that hadn’t healed up from the Canadian Challenge. Everybody else finished the race with all the dogs that they started with and every one of them looked to be in excellent shape. Nicholas Mears came in first, Gerry Markel won the Red Lantern award, and Gerry Walker won the Best Managed Team Award. Saturday morning started with a pancake and sausage breakfast hosted by Aandie’s Tavern. The evening stew supper and next morning pancake sausage and egg breakfast hosted by the Beaton Community Club. The awards Chilli and brownie supper was held in the Legion Hall in Christopher Lake hosted by the Guiding Group. All meals were excellent and well received by all those who attended. The silent auction was a success as a result of the generous biding. All those in attendance were happy with the way the weekend turned out. The 2013 race is over and plans are already started for 2014. I would like to thank all those who helped with the race, without all your support there would be no race Until next time Happy Trails from The Old Grey Fox Stewart Elliott March 2, 2013 There has been one scratch, Diane Shupe, she had an accident is not able to race. So, we have a field of 10 teams to start. Beautiful sunny day for all, even the dogs. Dogs leave from behind the Heritage Hotel at 2 minute intervals from noon on. They finish out the day at the Beaton Community Hall on Beaton Road. Feb 24th, 2013 If any of the mushers/handlers want to stay overnight at Beaton hall, it is available. The directors have been working hard and the Christopher Lake and area community are very co-operative. It is now up to the mushers to now make a determined effort to enter the race. Until next time from the Old Grey Fox Feb.17th 2013
Only 12 more days to go. The committee has been working hard and everything is well organized, but we all know things could change in a hurry. I was out on the trail yesterday and groomed all the trails that have not been groomed by the snowmobile club. All except a mile and a half has been used all winter by the local mushers. and the snowmobilers are once again using that short stretch. The condition of the trail will depend entirely on the weather on race day, but it looks good and we will do our best. To date we have 8 entries and we could certainly like more. Will keep you updated on any changes.
Until next time Happy Trails from the old Grey Fox
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TORCH RIVER RUN BLOG
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Feb 9th,2013
NEWS RELEASE
As of today the purse has been set at $2500.00, and a possible increase before race time; plus a generous donation of dog food to be shared amongst the mushers
The weather has finally changed and I haven’t had to blow out my driveway for three days. The purse is now posted and we’re still working on more sponsorships. I checked out the trails today, and unlike other races our trails are good as we are mostly on groomed snowmobile trails and no water or slush to cross. We may possibly have to make slight changes at the Beaton Hall end, BUT will not change the final mileage to any extent. We currently have 8 mushers plus others who said their coming but as yet not received their entry. It is shaping up to be a fun filled weekend. Although it is approximately 40 miles each day; it is easily achievable, even for those who don’t have a lot of miles on their dogs. Remember if you need a Hotel or Motel room for the weekend the numbers are on the front page. See you at the race
Until next time Happy Trails from the old Grey Fox
Feb 1st 2013
As we turn the page on our calendar, let’s hope that it also changes the weather. January has been cold, a good month to be retired with no chores to do. So far in this area it has been hard to get training done, with flooded trails and all the willow that the snow pushed down. With all the cold weather we had in January the mushers I have talked to say that they are behind in training miles. With better forecast and longer daylight hours, a lot of that can be made up before our race. Everyone will do just fine.
The race committee has been working hard and has created a great deal of excitement in the Christopher Lake Area with several community clubs getting involved , sponsorships are coming in steady. With all the snow there should be good trail perfect for the race
Until next time Happy Trails from
Stewart, The Old Gray Fox
Torch River Run holds sled dog race
By Rebecca Friesen/Nipawin Journal
The Torch River Run held their third annual sled dog race that began at Lower Fishing Lake and ending at Tobin Lake the next day.
The event started at 12:30 pm on Friday, when the 10 teams all departed from Lower Fishing Lake and joined back up again at River Trail Country vacation, just North of Love.
Saturday morning the racers headed back out to try to be the first to finish at Tobin Lake. The entire race was about 75 miles long with the sleds averaging about 10 miles an hour.
The event id put on by a group of volunteers who are mostly ex-musher and just enjoy being apart of the event. They want to keep sled dog racing alive and would like to see new people joining in the fun.
The race is made more for fun than competition. There are prizes and awards handed out at the end of the race but it is the fellowship and the fun that make the race the success that it is.
This year there were 11 teams and the names listed are in order of first place to last place winners.
Dee Roy, Gerry Walker, Debi Naber, Luke Naber, Isabella Knudsen and Anna Bolvin-Knudsen, Amanda Grant, Linda Caswell, Robert Ungerer, Randy Sander, and Dianne Shupe.
For a detailed view of times and average of miles per hour and much more you can check out torchriverrun.com. You can also find out much more information about sled dog races, events, sponsors, maps, schedules, and contacts.
The race will take place again next year and there are hopes to have a bigger crowd out and more entries into the race.
Debbie Neighbor won Best Managed Team and this was her first official race.
The sled dogs start training in September by pulling ATV and Quads and start off running 2-5 miles a day and then work their way up to a stopping point. The owners will train the dogs differently depending on what style and distance of race they will be entering in.
Races can be anywhere from two to ten mile sprints to a 320 mile Canadian race that travels from LaRonge, up North and make a big loop back to LaRonge.
The Torch River Run need volunteers in order to make the event possible and thank everyone for all their help and support during the race.
March 6th, 2012
The highlight of the awards presentations was the award for The Best Managed Team, although there were several mushers who could of won it, The award went to a very surprised and deserving young lady, Debi Naber. Although Debi has been driving dog teams and handed for Luke for a few years, this was her first competitive race. Keep up the good work!
Februry 19, 2012 MORNING RAMBLINGS
Ever since I was asked to write something for the blog I have been at a loss for words, a thousand ideas have gone thru my head but nothing seemed just right. I thought about Johnnie Reeds song titled “I’m going to change the world today”. I might try, but not today! Then I thought about Shania Twain’s, “I’m no quitter”. Now that is something that I can relate too!
Any dog driver that is worth their salt must have determination and not be a quitter. To be successful at this or any time of the year---that means go out and have fun with your team—you must have started many months ago with the best nutrition that you can afford to buy. You must provide clean fresh water every day, and then the dogs need to be exercised and conditioned continually until they reach their peak. It does not matter how sick or tired that you feel, the dogs need your full attention.
Now it is race time and we need to be honest with ourselves and our dogs. This reminds me of a time I was talking to a truck stop waitress and she said all truckers talk about is how much their truck cost and how fast that damn old truck will go. Well mushers are no different. Just ask how much that lead dog is worth or how fast or far they are running; you will hear the stories start to flow and just like truck drivers they often embellish.
I guess I was as guilty as anyone as I never let my competitors know exactly how fast I was training or even how far I was training. It is OK with me, if you lie a little or a lot to other mushers, but you must never lie to yourself or your dogs, because the first race that you come to, if you push too fast or try to go farther than your team is prepared for, everything will go to h----l in a hand basket.
That is the time it will show whether you have been a quitter or not and have really spent quality time with your dogs.
What ever you do, go out and make it fun, life is too short not to!
The Silver Fox
January 23,2012
January 7, 2012
It is now January 8th but it looks and feels more like spring time. Some people figure this is great, but for those of us in the sport of dog sledding it is the last thing we want to see
Most people that I have talked to are still bouncing around on their quads behind the dogs. Several races have already changed dates and have already made alternative routes due to the lack of snow and river ice.
The Torch River Run, as of today has 10 entries in the 6 dog race, with several more indicated that they are coming, however the 10 dog event has no entries and no indication of anyone interested.
The board made a decision to cancel the 10 dog race for this year, however we will accommodate extra teams in the 6 dog race. I hope to meet a lot of you over the winter months at different events and at our race on
March 1st –3rd
Happy Trails for now from the Old Gray Fox
December 4, 2011
Sept 30th 2011