By Sterling McGinn
In conjunction with the Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club’s Winter Carnival, the inaugural Hiawatha Heritage Dog Sled Race will take place on Saturday, February 1 and Sunday, February 2.
This will be the first time the club has held a dog sled race since its inception in 1927.
The event will consist of two races. The HH30, a 30-mile musher’s derby, starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday and ends around noon that day.
The second race, the HH100, is a 100-mile overnight endurance race that starts at 5 p.m. Saturday and will end around 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Newberry area mushers Geri Minard and Laura Neese plan to participate, as well as Brian Kandler and Ashlee Rose-Kandler from McMillan, and Katie Kunze from Curtis.
“Unlike other races, our race will be totally contained to the club’s 50-square-mile property, with mushers never having to cross a road or railway,” said Bruce Fondren, chair of the event and club board member.
Those competing in the 100-mile race can qualify for the UP200 event in Marquette.
A team of veterinary technician assistants and interns from the University of Wisconsin will check each dog prior to the race. They’ll also monitor the dogs’ condition(s) while in the overnight race.
Each race consists of 12 sled teams competing on a timed interval course. The HH30 features six dogs per team and will depart in two-minute intervals. The HH100 will feature 12 dogs per team covering 100 miles. The teams will depart in five-minute intervals covering 50 miles. There will be an overnight stop at Pullup Lake; teams will finish the final 50 miles of the race the next morning.
Spectators can watch the race at the starting and finishing gate at the Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club Activities Building and at other locations within the property.
“A shuttle service will accommodate spectator movement between parking, the winter carnival, and race observation sites,” Fondren said.
The winter carnival will be held on Saturday, February 1, and will feature food vendors and family-friendly activities. The carnival will be held between the two races. The winter carnival is a fundraiser for the Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club Foundation which uses the funds to support the local community.
All events are open to the public and there is no cost to attend.
