Mush-needed run for longer race

Kerikeri-raised Andrew Carruthers has recently competed in a dog sled event in Canada – the only Kiwi thought to have done the run.

Andrew, who is presently living in Whistler, Canada, finished a gruelling three-day, more than 100km dog sled run.

The Quesnel Gold Rush Mail Run began 18 years ago and participants and their team of dogs race over the his-toric Cariboo Waggon Road from Quesnel to Wells in British Columbia.

Andrew works as a musher for Whistler Dog Sledding and his dogs began intensive training several weeks ago.

Most of his team had never run more than 15km in a day, so the 30km plus per day was a big ask. Out of his 10 dog pack, he had to drop off because they overheated.

All participants in the run carry mail which is turned over to Canada Post at the end of the event.

Andrew said it was an amazing experience:

"The trail is beautiful, but tough with temperatures hovering around -4 deg The competition was well run, the scenery along the way unbelievable, other competitors great to be with."

He said his dogs were just brilliant, considering some of them were from his touring pack working the runs around Whistler.

Participants had to carry a basic survival pack with them, including emergency personal food and water and food and protective wear for the dogs.

Back in Whistler, Andrew and dogs are
having a rest before the next six weeks of hard work.

Whistler is hosting some of the Winter
Olympic events, so they are fully booked for a very busy time, running tours and possibly doing a demonstration to see if the idea of dogsledding could become an Olympic sport.

Andrew is also training for a longer event – further north in British Columbia – the Fort St James, a two-day 150km race held at the end of this month.

- © Fairfax NZ News