A great turnout saw 38 teams in the Yukon Brewing Copper Haul Twister League's second race of the season, Oscar Electric Race Day.

There were four skijor teams of three dogs and 25 five-dog sled teams in the 12-mile Twister, as well as six kids' teams and three pet dog teams.

The day was a bit of a cross-generation family affair, with parents and daughters running. Jim and daughter Megan Hajash ran in the 12-mile Twister while Fran MacKeller competed in the Twister with daughter Katherine in the kid's race. Also, Jonathan Lucas ran in the Twister with daughter Eilidh in the pet dog event.

The weather was a balmy -13 C and the start area fire pit was well attended, with hot dogs supplied by official timekeeper Gene Innis. Thank you to all the volunteers, especially the three from Access Consulting, who also print the race posters. Race Marshall Laura Lucas ran the show with a firm, but fair hand and the start chute ran like clockwork.

Because of the large number of Twister teams, they went out at one-minute intervals, which led to some very early passing and nice 'drafting'. Passing was still generally well behaved in the Twister, although the organizers will be tightening up these rules and being even more explicit at the Alpine Vet Race Day musher's meeting on Jan. 20. But everyone seemed very happy with the progression of the race.

After all, the whole point is to learn and experience passing, and all the other possible difficulties that can happen in mushing and skijoring in a helpful, friendly and not overly competitive atmosphere.

Increasing the sled teams' dogs to five certainly sped up the Twister. Lee Kirkpatrick won in 52 minutes and 58 seconds, nearly 10 minutes faster than her November Twister third-place finish.

Sean Dennis Brittan raced his five-dog sled into second at 53:22 while Jon Lucas skijored into third with three dogs at 57:05, 23 seconds slower than his November Twister first-place finish.

The Alpine Vet Race Day on Jan. 20 should see some further excitement as the sled teams may have six dogs and the skijorers four dogs.

The pet dog event saw a Husky-X duel it out with a Bouvier Terrier and a Rottweiler great to see these breeds racing. The pet dog race is set up to interact with the Twister, as an education for both types of owner.

Interestingly it was a Twister sled team that caused a tangle with a pet team, rather than any pet dog indiscipline, and hence one reason for some rule tightening in January.

The kids' race saw Rachel Kinvig beat brother Ben to first place, with Katherine Mackeller of Haines Junction coming third. Apart from the cash, Rachel took home a gift certificate from Kelly MacGill Tellington Touch. This race went off without a mishap, although Nick Daniels did manage to lose his boot on the course.

The third race in the Yukon Brewing CHT series is the Alpine Vet Race Day on Saturday, Jan. 20. Registration is at Icy Waters Ltd., kilometre 4.2 on the Fish Lake Rd, at 8.45 a.m. Spectators and volunteers are welcome. Anyone wishing to volunteer, please contact organizers through the blogsite, www.copperhaultwister.blogspot.com ... where all the cool dogs go. Icy Waters Ltd. provides two delicious Arctic Charr fillets to every volunteer.

5-km Kids Race

1. Rachel Kinvig, 4-dog sled, 9:34

2. Ben Kinvig, 4-dog sled, 10:19

3. Katherine MacKellar, 4-dog sled, 11:55

4. Nick Daniels, 4-dog sled, 12:12

5. Aileena Ruckenbach, 4-dog sled,

13:28

1. Pelly Vincent Braun, 3-dog sled, 14:53 (Time Penalty)

5-km Pet Dog Race

1. Heather Desmarais, (Keno,

Husky-Hound Cross), skis, 24:40

1. Eilidh Lucas (Asha, Rottweiler),

skis, 25:53

Scratch Dave Desmarais (Aklak,

Bouvier), skis

12-mile Copper Haul Twister

1. Lee Kirkpatrick, 5-dog sled, 52:58

2. Sean Dennis Britten, 5-dog sled, 53:22

3. Jonathan Lucas, 3-dog skis, 57:05

4. Laura Taylor, 5-dog sled, 57:13

5. Fran MacKellar, 5-dog sled, 1:00:16

6. Sean Fitzgerald, 5-dog sled, 1:00:26

7. Kyla Boivin, 5-dog sled, 1:02:38

8. Susie Rogan, 3-dog skis, 1:03:42

9. Leonard McGlynn, 5-dog sled, 1:05:35

10. Dominic Ouleray, 5-dog sled, 1:06:19

11. Maren Bradley, 5-dog sled, 1:06:32

12. Paul Geoffrion, 5-dog sled, 1:06:33

13. Kim Nadeau, 5-dog sled, 1:07:47

14. Genesse Keevil, 5-dog sled, 1:09:27

15. Damien Studer, 5-dog sled, 1:09:48

16. Tamra Reynolds, 5-dog sled, 1:10:30

17. Martin Jahr, 5-dog sled, 1:11:03

18. Megan Hajash, 5-dog sled, 1:11:11

19. Carolynne Fujda, 5-dog sled, 1:11:22

20. Simi Morrison, 5-dog sled, 1:12:17

21. Trevor Braun, 3-dog skis, 1:12:42

22. Jim Hajash, 5-dog sled, 1:13:6

23. Ian Stewart, 5-dog sled, 1:13:24

24. Larry Lang, 5-dog sled, 1:14:37

25. Heather Dodds, 5-dog sled, 1:15:12

26. Harvey Van Patten, 5-dog sled, 1:15:15

27. Colin Morrison, 5-dog sled, 1:16:32

28. Al Doherty, 3-dog skis, 1:17:00

29. Janet Keller, 5-dog sled, 1:31:42