The second edition of the Jimmy Custer Memorial Dog Race is in the works, with organizers hoping to grow it beyond last year’s first event.
The races will take place on Amisk Lake Feb. 10-11, with four-dog, six-dog and 10-dog races throughout the weekend. Racers will set off from the Beaver Lake Day grounds and head up the lake on a prepared trail, circling around and heading back to the start line. Organizers have sought sponsorships from local businesses and are holding a 50/50 draw to help raise money - tickets for the draw are available until Dec. 18, when a winner will be drawn.
“Everything is going as planned and we’re looking forward to our second annual race. As of now, there are no big changes, but we’re expecting more teams this year so that’s exciting,” said organizer Wally Olson. Olson and partner Vanessa Campbell organized last year’s event as a tribute to Custer, Olson’s father, and a tribute to the north’s long and illustrious tradition of dog team and sled dog racing.
Custer was a known dog musher and trainer who took part in races across Canada. His team of 14 dogs would run dozens of kilometres up and down Amisk Lake every winter in preparation for major races. In the past few decades, dog races, which were held in both Denare Beach and Flin Flon in the past, have not been held in the region - last year’s race was the first of its kind in years.
That event included a pair of races, a decent showing of spectators, support from local businesses and organizations and a special mushers’ supper for participants and organizers.
Using trails maintained by the Border Explorers Snowmobile Club, last year’s event was seen as a success - even if the weather wasn’t cooperative and trail conditions along the 12-mile route were affected as a result.
“I think we did great. The weather was not on our side at all, which made for terrible trail conditions. The Border Explorers had the trail perfect, but Mother Nature had other plans,” said Olson.
“The mushers that came mentioned how well organized our race was, but there will be a few tweaks for sure - starting at 11 a.m. instead of 10 a.m., in hopes of seeing more spectators out following the race. There might also maybe some entertainment at the mushers’ supper, but there’s nothing set in stone as of yet.”
Prospective teams for the event will come from across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, including potential teams from further away. Adding in the four-dog race is new for this year. Originally, the plan was to include a junior dog team race, but that was replaced by a four-dog open event - open to any driver with a four-dog team, regardless of age, though smaller teams are often used by younger drivers in competition.
More details can be found on the Jimmy Custer Memorial Dog Race social media pages.
