CARMACKS – By the 11 p.m. cut-off time for teams arriving into Carmacks, the number of withdrawals had increased from one yesterday morning, to 10 overall.

Two other teams did not start the race.

Team “Yukiwi” and “NASCA” withdrew before Little Salmon, after clearing Lake Laberge. Graham Sutherland of solo kayak team “Yukiwi” had a wrist injury that was getting too sore.

Tandem kayak “Vellamo” and solo canoeist Robert J. Lafontaine of team “North of 55” scratched before reaching Carmacks.

Others reached Carmacks, but decided not to continue in the race due to injury, exhaustion and other ailments.

Dr. Wolfram Schleicher (Charlie) in German tandem kayak team “Yukon Gold Rush” developed a kidney stone as he and teammate Brigit Fischer reached Carmacks – forcing him to stop the race and get medical help.

The duo was the 12th team to arrive in Carmacks yesterday morning.

A well-known kayak sprinter, the 53-year-old Fischer owns eight gold medals from six different Olympic Games and was named Germany’s sportswoman of the year in 2004.

Four other teams – Swiss team “Freiämter Paddlers,” British Columbia team “Passing Wind,” Quebec team “White aigle” and Nova Scotia kayaker “The Rog Paddler” – stopped their race at Carmacks as well.

Lastly, the “Celtic Warriors” – Dara Lundon and Brian Kelly – were forced to withdraw after reaching the Carmacks checkpoint after the 11 p.m. cut-off time last night, resulting in automatic disqualification.

U.K. duo Sarah Wallis and Dan Abel left Carmacks this morning at 5:40 a.m., just 20 minutes before the absolute cut-off time.

A total of 46 teams remain in the 715-kilometre river race.