Photo by Whitehorse Star
Pictured Above: ALLEN MOORE and KEN ANDERSON
Moore to defend Yukon Quest title
The current Yukon Quest champion will return to defend his 2013 race win, but he will have to battle some new competition to be successful.
The current Yukon Quest champion will return to defend his 2013 race win, but he will have to battle some new competition to be successful.
Allen Moore, the current titleholder of the annual 1,000-mile international sled dog race, was one of 13 mushers to register for the 2014 race on Saturday.
The 31st annual Quest begins Feb. 1 in Fairbanks.
Both Quest offices in Whitehorse and Fairbanks held celebrations Saturday during the official 2014 race sign-up day, which doubled as opening day for next year's race festivities.
All mushers who registered Aug. 3 were entered into a draw to win back $1,300 USD of their $2,000 entry fee. The winner will be announced Friday, as the Quest office will wait to see if anyone registered by mail.
While Moore will be a favourite to repeat, he will be facing some 麻豆社区mushers who did not compete last year.
Ken Anderson and Mike Ellis, each of whom competed in the Iditarod this year, submitted their names for the 2014 Quest on Saturday.
Fan favourite Brent Sass, last year's third-place finisher, also registered.
Anderson, a musher out of Fox, Alaska, finished 12th in the Iditarod this year, and twice before finishing as high as fourth.
He has made three previous Quest appearances, finishing top five each time, including a second-place finish to Lance Mackey in 2008.
Two Rivers musher Ellis meanwhile finished 30th in the 2013 Iditarod, and came in eighth in his last Quest in 2008.
Ellis runs purebred Siberian Huskies.
Local executive director Marie Sylvestre-Belanger said 13 is a "pretty good鈥� number for opening day registration numbers.
"We are happy with that,鈥� she told the Star. "It's exciting. I love sign-up day. I get like a little kid. It's awesome, and it's great to have some of these familiar faces coming back.鈥�
The organization held a volunteer appreciation barbecue in sync with opening day Saturday just outside of the Whitehorse office.
Last week, the Quest board announced that the race purse would be a minimum of $115,000 USD next year, up $15,000 from last year.
Other mushers who registered on opening day include: Normand Casavant (Yukon), Tony Angelo (U.S.), Judith Currier (U.S.), Cody Strathe (U.S.), Mandy Nauman (U.S.), Jerry Joinson (CAN), Brian Wilmshurst (Yukon), Matt Hall (U.S.), and Dave Dalton (U.S.)
The early deadline for registration closes Dec. 6, while Jan. 3 marks the final deadline.
The Quest accepts a maximum number of 50 teams. Last year, 26 mushers competed.
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Comments (3)
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Connie Loveall on Aug 8, 2013 at 7:21 am
Thanks so much Abbie. It would be a pleasure to meet u also. They are several mushers I would love to meet. Alaska has the nicest people I have ever met. Yes, will see you at the races, and introduce myself. I am going to go to the bid number drawing when I get there. I think I should see most of the mushers there. Good luck to u also, will see u in a few months.
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Abbie West on Aug 7, 2013 at 10:39 am
Awesome Connie! The Quest needs fans like you! See you next winter!
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Connie Loveall on Aug 7, 2013 at 7:19 am
Well Mr. Moore, I went to my first finish of a Yukon Quest race last year, and got to see you win it. Marti at the headquarters went above and beyond to let me inside the fence to help out in the race. You were the first to come across the finish line, and yes, I had a tear or 2 because it was my first race to see. I got introduced to your wife, which is a Awesome lady, and she let me meet all your dogs up at the truck, and then you came by and she introduced me to you. Till this day, I still talk about that night on the finish line. I was so blessed first for Marti letting me be a part of this race that night, and 2nd to be able to meet you and your wife. I LOVE these races.
Fortunately, I work for Delta Air Lines so I am able to go to see these races. I will be there 2014 to see the start of the Yukon, and I am coming back to see my first Iditarod 2014. I do plan on retiring there in Alaska. I come up there at least 4 or 5 times a year. I do hope to meet Bret Sass this year. I love all his videos and all his pictures he post on face book. I feel like I know him just from face book. Funny, and so dedicated to all dogs, fans. I did see him come in 3rd last year, and then I had to leave and go back home. Anyway, Good Luck to you both, and maybe I'll see you at the races. Connie Loveall in Florida.
Got to meet Silver some day!!!!