The Yukon Dog Mushers Association (YDMA) hosted its first preliminary race Saturday on their Ibex Valley trails. The races are a tune-up for the YDMA’s main event of the season, the Firstmate Babe Southwick Memorial Race.

It was the first of two preliminary races, the second is planned for January 9. They give the mushers a chance to run the same trails as will be used during the Babe Southwick.

“Back in the days,” says the YDMA website, the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous dog races were quite the event. In 1965, they were held in the Kluane Lake area.

Babe Southwick drew number eight as her starting position. Her team finished in the top five of the 15-mile race, then that night, she died of a heart attack. The next day, 10 mushers lined the starting gate, each wearing a black armband.

The number eight was withdrawn.

After that race, the number eight remains retired from Sourdough Rendevous dog sled races. The 2021 Babe Southwick race is slated to run on February 12 and 13.

The preliminary race featured four events; the 15 mile, 10 dogs race; the eight-mile, six dogs, sled, skijor; the five-mile, four dogs skijor; and a kids race.

Race results:

Armin Johnson took the 15-mile, 10 dog race in 50:26. He finished one minute ahead of Mandy Johnson. Ed Hopkins, 58:38 placed third.

Mandy got the better of Armin in the eight-mile race. She finished in 26:25, Armin’s end time was 27:16. Maria Metzen, 34:14, rounded out the top three. This race had nine entrants.

Mathieu Devred, 14:05, cruised to victory in the five-mile distance. Alex Rochat, 16 minutes even, placed second. Rochat was only four seconds quicker than third-place finished Laura Vinnedge.

The kids raced with only one dog. Heidi Johnson was the quickest future Babe Southwick champion, finishing in 15:41. Landon Nielson came second, finishing in 18:13 and Elan Johnson rounded out the top three.