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Farmington Hosts a Great Day for Mushing

February 10, 2009 - FARMINGTON -- At 9 a.m. Saturday, snow-covered cornfields beside U.S. Route 2 and Route 27 were blanketed with hundreds of dogs, their owners and spectators.

Teams of dogs tied to owners' vehicles yipped enthusiastically to each other, straining against their leashes and occasionally tipping their heads skyward to howl.

One race official hurried by, saying to no one in particular, "I need a flagger; I really need a flagger."

Youngsters bundled in puffy snowsuits and big boots were wearing racers' bibs and waiting beside the dog teams for their races to start.

Some as young as 3 years old are seasoned mushers, with family members who travel around the Northeast to compete.

Joy and Mark Turner of Wilton train their sled dogs for the event, and their children, Jamison and Jennica, are both enthusiastic mushers who help organize the Farmington event.

Jennica and her father readied their team for the four-dog sport race.

"I think we have 80 teams here today, and the conditions are great," he said.

Announcer Mary Ellen Therriault began the countdown. "We have 10 minutes before the next team starts," she called over the loudspeaker. "Please take your places."

The dogs in harnesses struggled and lunged forward, and drivers tried to keep them from racing onto the field before the signal. In the distance, teams arrived from an earlier race, and a volunteer waved a black-and-white checkered flag as they crossed the finish line.

Nearby, Kevin Quist and Lindy Howe of Stockholm adjusted the harnesses on their team. Howe has been racing for 12 years. Two weeks ago, she completed the Mad Bomber 100-mile race at Eagle Lake in 12 hours and 42 minutes.

"We started at 11 a.m., and we had to take a four-hour layover, so we came across the finish line around 4 a.m. the next day," she said. "The dogs were pretty tired, but it was a great race."

She had come to Farmington to compete in the eight-dog sport races. She said she was unsure of her team's willingness to run a shorter, faster race.

"Our dogs have about 800 miles of training, and they trot in endurance races," Howe said. "They've been conditioned to go slower instead of blasting off like these guys here today."

Participants from Maine, other New England states and Canada stood in groups to talk about dogs and races. Drivers can race any type of dog, but Alaskan and Siberian huskies and Eurohounds, which are a husky and pointer mix, were the most popular at this weekend's event.

The race was sponsored by area businesses and the Down East Sled Dog Club.

"Participation has grown significantly over the past few years, so we have many new mushers who are racing for the first time," Turner said "Everyone who registers has to be a member."

Sunday's races begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. Parking, food, beverages and a warming station provide a comfortable spectator experience, Turner said.

BY VALERIE TUCKER
Correspondent, Kennebec Journal, 02/08/2009


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Regions: Belgrade, Rangeley


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