By Derek Cornet

Champion named in 12-dog Canadian Challenge

Feb 23, 2018 | 11:08 AM

It was just before sunrise this morning when Gerry Walker arrived in La Ronge and was declared the winner of the Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race.

The 12-dog, 500-kilometre competition began Feb. 20 in Elk Ridge and Walker managed to complete the race in 67 hours and 35 minutes. It was early when he pulled ahead of the other mushers, he said, noting he took the lead at the Fafard’s Cabin checkpoint just before reaching La Ronge for the first time.

“I signed in and out, and blew right through,” Walker said. “I didn’t know it, but the girl who was leading at the time was camped there. I don’t think she knew I went through. By the time she found out, I was [in La Ronge] and it turned the tables completely.”

This year’s race marks the 15th time Walker has competed in the Canadian Challenge, which he has now won four times. 

In 2017, he was forced to leave the race due to the well-being of his dogs. This time around, however, Walker said his dogs performed well even with the fluctuating temperatures. He said feeding them high-calorie foods was the trick to keeping them in good condition.

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Before leaving Stanley Mission for the final trek to La Ronge, Walker had to exchange his most reliable leader as she had a sore wrist. Because of that, Walker had to use two younger leaders who were unsure of where he wanted them to go.

“About six miles out, the trail kind of fell apart for about a mile,” he said. “A snowmobile went down the one edge of it in the fresh snow and the dogs thought that was where they should be. They kept jumping into the soft snow. I was worried I’d still be there when the competition comes along.”

As of 11 p.m., only Jennifer Campeau had reached the finish line, about two hours after Walker. Anna Bolvin and Josh Lichti dropped out of the race overnight, ending their run in Stanley Mission. 

The remaining mushers are expected to arrive in La Ronge throughout the day. 

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno