By Sterling McGinn
One of the highlights to the start of the new year in the Tahquamenon area is the annual Tahquamenon County Sled Dog Race (TCSDR). The annual event is set to take place this weekend, January 10 and 11.
The north county has plenty of snow for a good race and TCSDR board member Geri Minard said 45 adult teams and eight youth teams have registered. The race includes professional and sportsman’s classes along with a youth class.
Races start on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Headquarters Lake State Forest Campground on County Road 407 near Deer Park. The junior classes will kick off the event at 9 a.m., with other classes beginning at 10 a.m. Races will conclude back at Headquarters Lake.
“There will be limited parking for those from the public wanting to attend,” said TCSDR board President Rick Minard. “We are also not offering a shuttle service.”
Saturday races will include two/three-dog junior class (three miles), 10-dog professional class (32 miles), six-dog professional class (24 miles) and the six-dog sportsman’s class (15 miles).
Scheffer’s Street Eats will be on scene to offer food and drinks.
Included in the 45 teams are mushers from Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, New Hampshire, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada. Local mushers competing will include Laura Stielstra, who said that this is only race she is competing in this winter, Geri Minard, Katie Kunze, and Nina Duflo.
The event will feature $11,000 in prize money for the two pro classes for day money and random drawings.
All of the proceeds will go to Newberry High School Athletics, Geri Minard said.
The Mushers’ Banquet takes place at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening at the LMAS District Health Department building in on Hamilton Lake Road in Newberry. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. The cost for the banquet is $15 per person with tickets available at the door.
In addition to the meal, mushers will be presented awards in the sportsman and junior classes and there will also be memorial awards. A silent auction will also be held.
Races will again take place back at Headquarters Lake on Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. Those will be in the professional class only. The 10-dog class will travel 32 miles with the six-dog class at 15 miles.
Awards for Sunday’s races will be given on site following the conclusion of the races.
