Photo by Vince Fedoroff
ROARING TO VICTORY – Armin Johnson and his team of eight sled dogs hit the trail for Sunday’s Twister race at the Takhini Hot Springs. Johnson finished the 13-mile sled dog race in first place with a time of 45:55. His wife, Mandy Johnson, crossed the finish line a short time later.
Photo by Vince Fedoroff
FROSTY FINISH – Adam Robinson, front, and Maren Bradley approach the finish of the 13-mile skijor race Sunday.
Photo by Ainslie Cruickshank
DOES IT AGAIN – Virginia Sarrazin and her three dogs topped the 13-mile skijor race with a time of 50:19.
Photo by Ainslie Cruickshank
BEEP, BEEP! – Race runner-up Mandy Johnson, left, creeps up behind eighth-place finisher Sabrina Fisher during the 13-mile sled dog race.
A husband and wife duo claimed the top two positions at the second mushing race of the Yukon season.
A husband and wife duo claimed the top two positions at the second mushing race of the Yukon season.
Armin Johnson finished first in the 13-mile Twister sled dog race at the Takhini Hot Springs Sunday, while wife Mandy Johnson was about four minutes behind.
In the 13-mile skijor class, Virginia Sarrazin defended her win at last month’s Carbon Hill in convincing style, completing the route in 50:19 – nine minutes ahead of runner-up Cynthia Corriveau.
Twenty teams ran the long distance race, despite very chilly temperatures below -30 C in the morning hours.
Eight teams ran a recreational five-mile race, including Richard Malvasio and his two dogs finishing fourth on a fat bike.
The next race in the local mushing series will take place Feb. 22 at the Johnson residence on Fox Lake. The mushing couple will host the traditional sprint race of Rendezvous weekend – the Babe Southwick.
Further race dates in the Twister series are March 22 at Muktuk Kennels and the grand finale April 5 at the Mount Lorne Community Centre.
Anticipation is also building for the Cinnamon Bun Run March 7 – the annual mid-distance sled dog and skijor race hosted by the Dog Powered Sports Association of the Yukon.
The race is slated to begin at the hot springs and will see teams return after a mandatory layover at Braeburn Lodge. Mushers and skijorers will be able to choose between 130-mile and 70-mile divisions.
Top results from Sunday’s race at the hot springs are as follows:
13-mile sled dog
1. Armin Johnson (8 dogs) 45:55;
2. Mandy Johnson (8 dogs) 49:48;
3. Jonathan Lucas (8 dogs) 53:27.
13-mile skijor
1. Virginia Sarrazin (3 dogs) 50:19;
2. Cynthia Corriveau (3 dogs) 59:18;
3. Claudia Wickert (2 dogs) 1:05:47.
Five-mile recreational
1. Germund Roesholt (2 dogs) ski, 20:23;
2. Jonathan French (4 dogs) sled, 20:33;
3. Sophie Firmenich (2 dogs) ski, 21:53.
Full results are available at www.dpsay.wordpress.com.
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