Another chapter in the battles of Grizzly and Nahanni was written yesterday at the finale of the Yukon’s summer mushing series.

The two nine-year-old dogs pulled their respective owners to a tie in the season-ender, completing the one-dog, one-mile bikejor race at the Takhini Hot Springs with identical times of 5:10. The tie kept Grizzly and Darryl Sheepway’s unbeaten streak in the one-mile race intact this season with three wins and two ties.

“I wanted my dog to win every race he ran,” said Sheepway, 36.

“Technically, we didn’t do it, but we had a good season.”

Meanwhile, Nahanni and owner Cynthia Corriveau were happy to join Sheepway in the winner’s circle.

Their dogs’ rivalry has spanned many years, said Corriveau, 29.

“Always he wins,” Corriveau laughed. “But it’s always very close.”

In the two-mile bikejor race, Corriveau beat Sheepway handily, with her two dogs – Foxy and Karma (a future Nahinni, she says) – pulling her to victory in 9:37.

Sheepway was second across the line in 10:25, four seconds ahead of his wife, Katherine.

While Corriveau said it was nice to win, it is the stories from the trail shared post-race that make her happy.

“It’s nice to see all of our training pay off,” she added. “And I do have a winning attitude hidden inside.”

While the adrenaline-pumping sport of bikejoring makes for a thrill-a-minute adventure, Corriveau said the sport can also be dangerous.

During last season’s race finale at the hot springs, she suffered a concussion in a fall.

Sheepway said success in bikejoring is as much about luck as it is about owning a dog that knows the trail and responds quickly to commands.

“Grizzly likes being competitive,” he said of his reliable husky-hound.

“He’s the reason we win races. I just hang on behind him.”

The race at the hot springs was originally scheduled to happen Sept. 21, but was postponed due to rain.

Weather was not a factor in yesterday’s race, although pre-race rain did leave the trail muddy in some areas.

Following the race festivities, participants received free passes for a warm soak in the spring.

An introductory clinic held prior to the race was well-attended, said Sheepway, president of the Dog Powered Sports Association of the Yukon (DPSAY).

“We’ve held beginner clinics at our last two events, which were well-attended both times,” Sheepway said. “Today, nine people had a try at it so we’re really pleased with the response.”

Florian Lill was one of the rookie participants, running to a third-place finish with his dog Hayley in the one-mile canicross event.

The 20-year-old German spent the last three months volunteering at Muktuk Adventures getting his “dog fix.”

Lill said he enjoyed the run, especially the powerful pull from the husky harnessed to his waist.

“I was going as fast as I could go,” he said of the experience. “I couldn’t keep up.”

Simi Morrison won the canicross event with the help of her puppy, Naya.

The duo crossed the finish line in 8:50.

“I’m not coming for the competition,” said Morrison, 43. “I’m here for the social aspect.”

She said she prefers canicross over bikejoring because “you have more control running.”

Damarais Riedwyl and Lill finished second and third in 9:28 and 9:35, respectively.

In total, 13 mushers participated in the day’s events. Mushers will now take a break from competition until there is enough snow on the ground to start the winter Twister series.

Sheepway expects the first race to take place in December, adding that the DPSAY board is hoping to add a few more middle-distance events to the schedule this season.