Whitefish musher wins 18-mile race

Thirty-three mushers and their dog teams set off from the Olney trailhead over the weekend, racing for a purse that totaled $4,500.

Trail conditions were cool, cloudy and perfect for the two-day Flathead Sled Dog Days races.

Katie St. Onge of Millville, Utah, was the fastest in the 12-dog, 40-mile class, with an overall time of 6 hours, 4 seconds. She was in second place on Saturday but made up for it during Sunday’s run.

She was followed by John Barron of Boulder with a time of 6 hours, 42 minutes, and Dave Turner of Sandy, Ore., 6 hours and 45 minutes.

Whitefish musher Sara Parr was the top finisher in the eight-dog, 18-mile class. She was in second place Saturday but made up the extra time on Sunday, with a combined time of 2 hours, 31 minutes. She was followed by Greg Johnson of Bryant, Wis., at 2 hours, 42 minutes and Brenda Birrell of Kimberly, British Columbia, at 2 hours, 43 minutes.

First place in the four-dog, four-mile competition went to Marina McGourty of Hamilton, with a time of 43 minutes, 48 seconds. She was followed by Rachel Wannamaker of Didsbury, Alberta, at 50 minutes, eight seconds.

Laura Daugereau of Port Gamble, Wash., received the sportsmanship award. Jenny Gregor of Bozeman received the Spirit of the Race award, in honor of Dr. Hugh Rogers, who started the race’s veterinary program. Rogers died in a plane crash last year.

Gregor, who is only 14, received a veterinarian first-aid kit prize because of her excellent dog care, spirit of adventure and attitude on the trail, all attributes that were important to Dr. Rogers.