Iditarod champ leads Sheep Mountain field

SHEEP MOUNTAIN — 50 mushers have signed up to race in this year’s Sheep Mountain 150 sled dog race.

Sheep Mountain Lodge owner Zack Steer said Monday that the field has been set for the fourth-annual race, one of the first of the Alaska mushing season. Steer said the field includes a good mix of veterans and rookies alike.

“There’s a bunch of rookies, some middle-of the packers and some veterans trying to get some miles,” Steer said. “It’s a real good crew of dog mushers.”

Headlining this year’s field will be defending champion Lance Mackey, who used last year’s Sheep Mountain as a way to kick-start an historic season that also included wins in the Yukon Quest and Iditarod.

A large contingent of Mat-Su mushers are signed up, including Steer’s wife, Anjanette; Willow’s Gary Paulson, Leo Lashock, Scott Smith, Abe Rose and Matt Hayashida; Kelly Griffin, Gene Smith and the Redington boys — Ryan, Raymie and Ray Jr. — of Wasilla; Talkeetna’s Melanie Gould and Anja Fein; and an unnamed musher from Palmer’s Four Winds Kennel.

Steer said mushers like the Sheep Mountain race because the course typically gets snow earlier than many locations around the state.

“It’s just kind of a nice kick-off to the season,” Steer said.

The race is scheduled to begin Dec. 15 and finish up the next day. Mushers must take two five-hour layovers at the Eureka Lodge, approximately 50 miles from Sheep Mountain, before finishing. This year’s prize pool is estimated at approximately $5,000, with roughly $1,700 going to the winner.

For more information on the race, visit the Sheep Mountain Lodge Web site at www.sheepmountain.com.

2007 Sheep Mountain 150 Field:

Gerry Willomitzer, Whitehorse; Judy Currier, Fairbanks; Jason Mackey, Kasilof; Michele Phillips, Tagish, Yukon; Didier Moggia, Whitehorse; Mike Barnett, Fairbanks; Allen Moore, Two Rivers; Anjanette Steer, Sheep Mountain; Ed Hopkins, Tagish, Yukon; Martine Le Levier, Whitehorse; Gary Paulson, Willow; Aliy Zirkle, Two Rivers; Ryan Redington, Wasilla; Raymie Redington, Wasilla; Ray Redington, Jr., Wasilla; Leo Lashock, Willow; Scott Smith, Willow; Colleen Robertia, Kasilof; Tamara Rose, Fairbanks; Clint Warnke, Fairbanks; Karin Hendrickson, Chugiak; Cliff Roberson, Corvallis, Ore.; Brooks Cobb, Kasilof; Melanie Gould, Talkeetna; Bill Steyer, Fritz Creek; Debbie Moderow, Anchorage; Jessica Hendricks, Two Rivers; Simi Morrison, Marsh Lake, Yukon; Dave Treasure, Whitehorse; Ben Steyer, Fritz Creek; Brennan Norden, Kasilof; Peter Ledwidge, Dawson City, Yukon; Four Winds Kennel, Palmer; Rudi Niggemeyer, Salzkotten, Germany; Kathleen Frederick, Juneau; Eric Rogers, Eagle River; Anne Ledwidge, Dawson City, Yukon; Jeremie Matrishon, Whitehorse; Sebastian Schnulle, Whitehorse; Abe Rose, Willow; Jacques Phillip, Nenana; Mike Ellis, Rumney, New Hampshire; Gene Smith, Wasilla; Robert Bundtzen, Anchorage; Matt Hayashida, Willow; Blackjack Kennel, Whitehorse; Kelly Griffin, Wasilla; Anja Fein, Talkeetna; Jim Lanier, Chugiak; Lance Mackey, Fairbanks.