Frequent competitor Lorette Dykun made history at the Prince Albert Winter Festival Outdoor Site on Sunday.
Dykun, who is from Wabowden, Manitoba won the 10-dog Saskatchewan Challenge race at the Prince Albert Winter Festival with an aggregate time of one hour, 24 minutes, and 29.74 seconds.
After the results were tabulated on Sunday, Dykun became the first female winner in the modern history of the 10 Dog Race. Dykun had many emotions after her victory.
“I’m surprised. I’m thankful. I’m happy. I don’t know. Just… I feel good,” Dykun said. “I feel good that our dogs did good. We had a good race, and it was cold out, but the trail was great, and I love coming here. Well, just a bonus that I guess that happened.”
This year’s race had a smaller field because racers were racing at The Pas, Manitoba but the competition was tight on the final day.
On Sunday, Dykun finished with a time of 42 minutes, 36.75 seconds, just ahead of Todd Sinclair of MacDowell who had a time of 42 minutes, 35.84 seconds
“With Todd, … I thought it was going to be a tie, or he would have had it, but it was close,” Dykun said. “It was good.”
Dykun tries to compete every year. This year she did double-duty, competing in The Pas on Friday before coming to Prince Albert. She said the dogs in her team performed well after consecutive days of racing.
“Our dogs were four days in a row so they’re tired now,” she said. “We weren’t sure how they were going to do racing for four days, but they did good.”
She said that after the significant snowfall last Wednesday, the trails were still in great shape because of the work of the trail makers.
“The trails were good. The wind chill was a little cold, but the trails to me, I always hear people complaining about the trails, but I have no complaints about them,” Dykun said.
Dykun added that she will definitely come back to defend her title.
“As long as we’re still alive and well and our vehicle can make it and we got dogs, we’re going to come back,” she said.
In third place in the 10 Dog Race was Demi McGunigal of MacDowall followed by Danielle McGunigal, also of MacDowall. In fifth place was Liam Ayres of England, in sixth place was Clifford Smith of MacDowall and in seventh place was Jean-Phillipe LaCassa of Gaspe, Quebec.
Tammy McGunigal of the Winter Festival organizing committee for the races and Honourary Co-Chair for the Winter Festival noted the familial aspect of the sled dogs.
Loretta Dykun raised the trophy above her head after winning the 10 Dog race on Sunday at the Prince Albert Winter Festival Outdoor Site.
“It’s a circuit,” she said. “We’re like a family. We all help each other and cheer each other on and different people win at different times.”
Dykun also finished first in the Four Dog Race. In second place was Rory Connor of Loon Lake, the son of 2023 winner Charlie Connor. Third place was Brody Sinclair of MacDowall, fourth place was Sasha Savor of Germany, and Ayers was in fifth place.
Also competing on the weekend was Amanda Holowochuk of Blaine Lake, who was a first time racer and received the sportsmanship award. She thanked all of the racers and crew for all of their help.
Dykun made it a clean sweep by also winning the Six Dog, in second place was Brody Sinclair, in third place was Demi McGunigal, in fourth place was Kode Sinclair and in fifth place was Holowachuk.
Results for the one-dog race for children was not available. Matilda Sinclair assisted race announcer and Winter Festival Honourary Co-Chair Chrissy Halliday on Sunday with announcing while also learning about timing races.
Dykun thanked everyone involved in the Sled Dog Races for their hospitality.
“Just thank you to everybody: organizers, trail makers, hosts. We always have a place to stay and stuff. The snowmobilers were amazing too,” Dykun said.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
