We’re resting for the night in Ohio on our way to the Kalkaska Winterfest Race. We were in Merrill, WI last weekend for a Trailblazers’ race. Johnn took 1st place in the 4 dog class and 4th in the 3 dog skijor. A short week at home, one kick sled refurbished & refinished, and one sled finished for delivery.

As long as we can get wi-fi, I’ll try & get results up each day. 98 teams are entered - should be an exciting race !

A belated “Happy Holidays”  to everyone !

The Christmas season got real hectic here with a health scare from my father, medical problems with Johnn’s Mom, thousands of cookies being baked, one large gingerbread house made, presents purchased & shipped, a few last minute sled orders ( including a GREEN Rising Star) , and a long-planned trip to Florida to spend Christmas with our daughter, son-in-laws and grand-kids. Somehow we got it all done.

Even though we’ve had minimal snow cover in PA since the middle of December, we’re just finishing Johnn’s 2010 racing sled. RED AND BLACK !!!   I’ve been trying to talk him into that color combination for two years and it’s finally made.

We were thrilled with the dogs’ performances and Johnn’s placing at the East Meets West race. Since the gig race course was challenging, he put 8 year old Carl on lead in that class, paired with 2 year old Billie. The yearling Sam took the weekend off. Johnn was concerned all the up/down hills, corners at high speed might be just a bit much for him at this point in time.

Jan Bootz-Dittmar phoned us as we drove toward Chicago Sunday night to tell us Johnn recieved one of the race’s Special Award - Best Dressed Musher !  Apparently all his safety gear ( full face helmet, chest protector, BMX padded gloves ) made him a stand out. Rest assured, this will be the only time Johnn will win the Best Dressed Musher Award !!

A heavy frost and cooler AM temps greeted us as everyone returned to the East Meets West race site Sunday . AS the sun came up, it warms up and became a beautiful autumn day with the highs around 50. No breeze. Complete times are now posted on ISDRA’s website.

All 6 entries went out again in the adult womaen’s cani-cross in the dual start chutes. Many competitors shaved a little off their 2nd day times, but the winner Jamie Dittmar remained consistent with a day time of 7:12.89, and a total time of 14:23.62.  Second place went to Stephanie Dwyer at 17:31.76 and third to Jenny Beall at 18:50.71.

Four men competed in the men;’s canicross. There were no changes in rankings after 2 days. Results were : Josh Tesch first at 14:57.46, second Fritz Howard with a time of 16:10.05 and third Tone Coughlin at 17:28.74.

Five juniors competed ran a .4 mile trail. Winning was Ashlyn Kimball with a time of 3:59.07. Monica Ahlert claimed second with a time of 4:14.77 and finishing third was Stacy Hurrie with a two day total time of 4:17.76.

Only one junior each was entered in the junior bikejor and junior scooter divisions. Winning the bike class was Ashlyn Kimball at 13:39.81; while Alika Rutter’s combined time in the junior scooter class was 17:10.58.

There were 8 entries in both the 1 dog and 2 dog bikejor classes.Fritz Howard from CO won both classes.

One Dog Bike

1. Friz Howard       4:32.72                                     4:17. 70                     8:50.42

2. Stephanie Dwyer      4:31.63                               4:32.05                  9:03.69

3. Kelley McGrath     4:36.35                                  4:44.81                      9:21.16

Two Dog Bike

1. Ftitz Howard        4:02.62                                      4:04.26                        08:09.88

2. Tone Coughlin                4:07.15                            4:03.16                          08:10.33

3. Jamie Dittmar              4:07.87                               4:07.94                          08:15.81

 

One Dog Scooter

1,. Amy Cooper                   5:02.20                             5:05.44                       10:07.64

2. Randy Caris                     5:23.37                             5:25.94                         10:49.31

2 Dog Scooter

1. Joshua Tesch                  4:27.91                           4:25.70                              8:53.61

2. Amy Cooper                    4:26.00                          4:28.90                               8:54.49

3. Johnn Molburg              4:43.44                             4:46.46                               9:29.90

4 Dog Rig

1. Hannah Marsch              8:47.92                             8:43.32                              17:31.24

2. Jenna Dittmar                 8:48.64                            8:46.85                              17:35.49

3. Johnn Molburg               8:55. 14                              8:56.12                             17:51.26

6 Dog Rig

1. Caleb Tysver                   8″02.92                             8:10.06                            16:12.99

2. Jan Bootz-Dittmar           8:26.10                           8:13.31                                16:39.41

3. Bob Bzdok                          8:37.99                            8:31.04                              17:09.03

 

 

 

An exciting day of races - real nationwide representation this year. Teams came from the midwest - New Hampshire, Oklahoma, New Hampshire and, of course, Pennsylvania. The day started overcast and became sunnt in the afternoon. Temps remained in the 40’s with a breeze most of the day.

There was only 1 entry in each of the junior classes - Alike Rutter did the 1.6 couse on a scooter in 8:58, while Ashlyn Jendro rode her bike with her dog in a time of 6:33.05 .

Amy Cooper is leading the 1 dog adult scooter with a time of 5:02:20, Randy Corris was  right behind her with a time of 5:23:00. They also ran the flat 1.6 mile trail.They were the only competitors in that class.

There were 15 competitors in the adult canicross that used the 1.6 mile trail. Leading the pack is Jamie Dittmar at 7:10.13. Second went to Josh Tesch at 7:31.76. third was Fritz Howard at 7:50.38. Clocking in at 8:37. 69 Tony Coughlin placed 4th.

The adult 2 dog scooter class had 9 entries and also traveled the 1.6 mile course.Winning after 1 day is Amy Cooper at 4:26.00. Coming in secons Josh Tesch at 4:27.91; third went to Johnn Molburg at 4:34.44 and 4th place went to Jenna Dittmar at 4:45.66.

The last class using the 1.6 mile trail was the adult 1 dog bike. Stephanie Dwyer took first with a time of 4:31.64. In order, the rest of the class was : 2. Fritz Howard 4:32.72; 3. Kelley McGrath 4:36.35 and 4. Johnn Molburg at 4:49.48. There were 8 entries in this class.

The two rig classes had a much more difficult, hilly 2.9 mile course. Leading the 6 dog rig is Caleb Taylor at 8:02.93 followed by 2. Jan BootzDittmar 8:26.01; 3, Richard Korb at 8:32.01 and 4th Bob Bzdok at 8:37.99. There were 14 teams out in that course.

Of the 15 four dog rig teams, the current leader is Hannah Marsch at 8:47,92. Second is Jenna Dittmar at 8:48,64. Third is currently held by Johnn Molburg at 8:55.14 and fourth is Ken Davis at 9:12.17.