Darryl Sheepway and his nine-year-old husky-hound, Grizzly, sped to another victory on the summer recreational mushing circuit yesterday.

The duo teamed up to win their third straight one-mile bikejor race, this time at Mount Lorne in a time of two minutes, 39 seconds.

“It’s the third win this season,” the 36-year-old Sheepway said post-race. “I’d really like to go undefeated.”

Sheepway, who is also the new president of the Dog Powered Sports Association of the Yukon (DPSAY), has won all three Hot Hounds one-mile races this summer.

Behind Sheepway, Jean-Marc Champeval and Virginia Sarrazin finished in a tie in 2:50.

Yesterday, his team was also the quickest team to navigate a tricky a two-mile trail, giving Sheepway victories in both bikejor races.

Sheepway and his two huskies – the seven-year veteran Fry and two-year-old pup Salmo – finished in 9:37, a minute and a half ahead of runner-up Champeval.

Martin Haefele finished third with a time of 12:08.

The canicross event also saw a three-peat winner, with Sarrazin and her two-year-old pup, Spike, crossing the line in 3:35, ahead of rivals Simi Morrison and Alexandra Rochat.

The 37-year-old runner said being pulled through a run is a unique experience. With a dog attached to her waist via harness, the speed of the team is essentially determined by how quickly Sarrazin can move her legs.

“You have to keep up,” Sarrazin said. “And you couldn’t do long distance this way.”

Sarrazin typically competes in both bikejor and canicross events, but said she feels more connected to her dog during the canicross competitions.

Yesterday’s evening event saw 11 different mushers compete, many in multiple races.

Sheepway said the community of racers continues to grow slightly.

“This time we got a few new people out,” he said, pointing to race rookies Matt Sider and Heather Robb, both of whom competed in bikejor events. “That’s what we’re shooting for.”

Sheepway and the DPSAY board has made it their mission to expand its membership at the grassroots level.

“We’re trying to appeal these summer events to beginners and draw people to races,” he said. “We want people to know we’re not exclusively a mushers’ club. We hold a lot of recreational events in summer and winter and we want to draw more people with pet dogs.

“You don’t have to have a big investment to be a part of this. It’s just something we do.”