Both the dogs and mushers were ready to go last Saturday at the second instalment of the Mongrel Hordes Dryland Race.

Participants enjoyed what turned out to be drier than expected conditions on the hilly course, which was located off of Gentian Lane.

The great weather at the competition helped improve the overall finishing times that were posted.

"I am really pleased," said Jonathan Lucas, co-organizer of the race. "Everybody's dogs did really well, they enjoy it. They were out there in front pulling hard and having a great time. It was just really good fun."

Susie Rogan hosted the event, which included a potluck barbecue after the conclusion of the competition.

Each category was $10 to enter and the top three finisher in each event were awarded a prize.

Prizes at the dryland race included a variety of supplies from, the Chocolate Claim, which donated gluten free cookies, coffee, tea, chocolate cake and carrot cake.

Other sponsors included Eagle Pack's, which contributed bags of dog food; the Wharf on 4th's hot smoked Sockeye; Icy Waters Ltd. Arctic Charr; Yukon Brewing T-shirts and the Chiropractic Dazhaw Du Clinic's ointments to relieve race wear for dogs and mushers.

The prize with the highest value was donated from Eagle Pack's and was awarded to the winner of the Formula One category, which involved participants using an ATV and a team of dogs.

The first place finisher in Formula One was given two 40-kg bags of Eagle Pack dog food, which were each valued at around $45.

Participants in the race could use a variety of modes of transportation at the race, including bikes, scooters or just complete the course on foot. The two types of canines that could be used at the competition included both pet and sled dogs. Eighteen teams competed Saturday.

Most of the participants were from Whitehorse, however individuals came from as far away as Haines Junction and Destruction Bay.

The hills in Saturday's course gave bikejours the advantage over the scooter as a way of finishing the course.

The course used also featured a lot existing trails, which began with a large downhill that had a number of puddles, which offered an additional challenge for the competitors.

The previous dryland race was held at the Drag 'n' Fly Kennel at the end of July, which used a course that didn't have as many hills, making it easier on the scooter riders at the event.

There were a total of four racing categories at the event, which began with the One Pet Dog One Mile race. This was one of the closest categories at the dryland race, which featured all three participants being less than one minute between each other.

Wendy Morrison, who used the bikejour mode of transportation won the category.

Morrison's finishing time was 4:16, while Lucas, who used the scooter, was just 10 seconds off her pace, completing the race at 4:26. Lucas used his dog Asha in the second place showing.

Rounding out the top three was Sean Fitzgerald on the bike and with his dog Taz. Taz and Fitzgerald completed the 1.6-km course at the five minute mark.

The next event was the One Mile, One Sled Dog category, which was one for a second time in a row by bikejourer Hans Gatt, along with dog Tundra, finishing with a time of 3:51.

Gatt narrowly edged out the second place finisher by a mere three seconds.

Gaetan Pierranz, who used a bike, came in third with a time of 4:27. There was a total of five participants in the One Sled Dog One Mile category.

The third racing category was the Two Mile Two Sled Dog race, which with nine participants was the most popular category at the dryland race.

Darryl Sheepway on the bikejour took top spot, completing the 3.2-km course with an impressive time of 6:55.

Sheepway's time was nearly one minute faster than second place Susie Rogan, who used her dog Baby Jesus to finish the race at 7:31.

Despite using the scooter, Lucas was able to finish in the top three with a time of 7.39, while Maren Bradly on the bikejour finished fourth at 7.50.

Bradly earned the nickname "Unbreakable" after a spectacular crash just a few yards from the finish line that resulted in her bike flying into the air as she went down.

Bradly soldiered on and was able to compete the race.

The dryland race concluded with the Formula One category. The only entrant for the Formula One was Lucas, who competed with his all-star dog team of Emma, Grizzly, Assman and Gael.

Saturday's competition was supposed to be the final dryland race of 2008, however due to the great turnout and interest, another race has been scheduled for Sunday Oct. 26.

The race will be hosted by Jessica and Mike Simon, a little ways up the Mayo Road.

The size of the teams and overall race distances may vary a little from the two previous dryland races as a result of potentially cooler temperatures and snowy conditions.

October's dryland race will be weather dependent and could be cancelled if there is dangerously icy conditions. Participants might have to also substitute a pair of skis in replace of the bike or scooter if there is a large amount of snowfall.

Lucas said the dryland training is really beneficial for the dogs.

"It keeps them active and they run really well in it and they enjoy it," he said. "It's good for new dogs as well because it is a very informal atmosphere, but it is a race atmosphere, so they get used to what is going on and it just keeps them a little bit in shape and interested throughout the summer."

He said the dryland races are a lot of fun for the mushers as well.

"All the mushers get to see each other again," Lucas said. "When they are training and with the races in the winter, people are always in contact and talking with each other. Then come April, everyone just disappears and no one sees each other again for the rest of the summer, but this sort of brings them back together again."

Other upcoming mushing events include the Yukon Brewing Copper Haul Twister League, which is scheduled to begin in November. There will be one league race held every month during the season.

Registration can be done on the day of the event, which costs $10. However to be an official member of the league and collect points for each race, a musher must be willing to volunteer at one of the six competitions.

Races in the league are held up by Icy Waters Co. on Fish Lake Road.

More information about the Copper Haul Twister League or upcoming mushing events can be found at www.copperhaultwister.blogspot.com.