nouvelles - 04/03/2007 78th Annual Laconia Dog Sled Race - États-Unis
par Robert HarrisThe 78th annual Laconia World Championship Dog Sled Race was held in Laconia, New Hampshire on March 2, 3, and 4, 2007. with one heat being run each day. There were two classes: open (unlimited) and six-dog. Photographs of all the mushers and teams are available.
The derby is a three-day event with one heat each day. There were two races: six-dog and open (unlimited). The six-dog race was for teams with no more than six dogs and covered six miles. The open race was for teams with an unlimited number of dogs and covered fifteen miles, twelve of which was across Winnisquam Lake. It opened on Friday in the midst of a blizzard. They were able to complete the open race but the six-dog race was cancelled because of whiteout conditions caused by the driving snow and high winds. Claude Bellerive from St-Joseph, Quebec, was the winning driver in the open race on Friday with a time of 49 minutes, 19 seconds. Saturday was near perfect weather-wise for the race: overcast in the morning and sunny at noon, tempera-tures rising through the day from the mid-twenties to the up-per thirties. Melanie Bellerive and her team won the six-dog race in 21 minutes 16 seconds, fifty-four seconds ahead of the second place team. Claude Bellerive and Turmel Real (St-Augustin, Quebec) both completed the open course in 45 minutes 56 seconds. Based on cumulative times, Claude Bel-lerive had a fifty-one second lead going into Sunday’s heat.
The times were even faster in the final heats on Sunday. Melanie Bellerive and her team completed the 6-dog race in 18 minutes, 35 seconds, giving her a total time of 39 minutes, 51 seconds and overall first place in the division. Real Turmel and his team had the best time in the open race at 35 minutes 29 seconds, thirty-one seconds faster than Claude Bellerive but not good enough to overtake his margin. Claude Bellerive completed the three races with the best total time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 25 seconds, ten seconds ahead of the second place team.
The event was sanctioned by the International Dog Sled Race Association and the races were conducted under the rules of the Nome Kennel Club.
The Laconia World Championship Sled Dog Derby is one of the oldest in the United States with the first one being run in 1929 and was the first to be called “World Championship.” The first club to organize the races was the Laconia Dog Sled Club and they held annual races until interrupted by the onset of World War II in 1938. Racing resumed in Laconia in 1956 and the Lakes Region Dog Sled Club was formed the following year to organize and promote the races. The races attract competitors from across the United States and Canada. In past years, there have even been entries from Europe.
This year, the open races were dedicated to the memory of John Lyman, a long time club member and musher. He is remembered for his devotion to the sport and for his team of Irish Setters. Members of his family carry on the racing tradition and are active members of the club. The contracting company that bears his name provides the trail construction.
