Big winners at Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer race

Will van Randen's luck couldn't have been any better on Sunday for the second annual Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer poker run.

Will van Randen’s luck couldn’t have been any better on Sunday for the second annual Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer poker run.

The 15-year dog mushing veteran was pleasantly surprised to find a full-house with three nines and two sixes when he arrived back from the 35-km run from Icy Waters Ltd up Mount McIntyre and back.

van Raden earned $400 and a $100 Air North certificate for his hand, which beat out two straights including an ace high one by runner-up Kyla Boivin and a 10 high straight by Laura Jane Lucas.

“Vegas here I come,” van Randen joked after he was announced as the poker run’s winner.

Thanks to sponsors Yukon Brewing, Air North and the money raised during the 2008 hot hounds season, the overall prize pot was an impressive $1,100.

The four races held over the summer and fall in the hot hounds season raised $400, while Yukon Brewing donated $300 and Air North contributed $400 in flight certificates.

Participants collected poker cards, which included one at the beginning, four during the race and then one final card at the end. They then made the best poker hand using five out of the six cards.

The top three poker hands were given prizes, which included second place taking home $200 as well as a $100 Air North certificate and the third spot earned $100 and a $200 Air North certificate.

There was no cost to compete in the poker run, which had 19 mushers at the start line. The top time on Sunday was posted by Ed Hopkins, who came in at 1:43, just beating out Hugh Neff’s time of 1:46.

Boivin came in third with a time of 1:47.

Van Randen’s wife, Jo, also competed on Sunday and despite finishing with a better time than her husband, he managed to accumulate some better cards.

This was the first poker run van Randen has entered and he said he enjoyed participating.

“The run is excellent,” he said. “It is a beautiful trail and when you get up to Fish Lake, the scenery just blows your socks off and it was just a really nice steady climb. You just get to appreciate the scenery as you go up and watch the dogs working. It was a great run all around, a great day for it. It might be too cold for some people, but it was great for us.”

van Randen said usually playing cards ends up being a losing affair for him.

“Normally I am a terrible card player, but I knew three nines and two sixes were pretty good,” he said.

Another event that was held on Sunday at Icy Waters is the First Mate Freight Pull, which had a $20 entry fee. 

The freight pull divided dogs up into three weight classes, being light, medium and heavy.

Bags of dog food will be given out as top prizes, which are each valued at around $45.

A participant in the freight pull was required to make their dog remain still while he or she walked the 16 feet to the finish line. After reaching the finish line, an individual called the dog.

To keep all things level, there was no giving out treats to participating dogs until the contest concluded or until they were officially eliminated.

The winner of the freight pull was Asha, who pulled 480 lb., while second place was locked up by Sherpa with 440 lb. and Aklak pulled 400 lb. to finish in third.

Everything on Sunday, including the temperature, which was around -25 C. was perfect for the mushers and race organizer Jonathan Lucas said he was pleased with how it went.

“It went really well,” he said. “We had 19 teams start, which is great. It’s five more than last year.”