Snow conditions cooperate for early-season dog sled race

MAT-SU — Ryan Redington used a fast first day and strong finish in the second day of racing to capture first place and the $3,000 top prize in the 2012 Alaska Excursions 120 Sunday.

The veteran Valley musher finished the fourth annual race with an overall time of 5 hours, 49 minutes and 32 seconds, a little more than three minutes faster than second-place winner James Wheeler’s 5:52:13 mark.

While Redington finished the first leg of the race Saturday in 2:49:29, Wheeler crossed the finish line first on Sunday in 2:56:24. But Redington’s 6:20 lead over Wheeler after the first day was enough to hold off Wheeler’s strong push at the finish.

“On the second day, I was thinking that (Wheeler) was going to get me,” Redington said. “He had already passed me on the trail, but I had a faster run on day one. He needed to make up the time on me, and I thought he did.”

After the Sheep Mountain 150 had to cancel its race due to lack of snow, there was concern there would be enough snow for this past weekend’s race, said race organizer Erin Redington. The Alaska Excursions race also moved from its previous Big Lake course to trails on Martin Buser’s property.

A big dump of snow last week sealed the deal on good conditions for the Alaska Excursions race, she said.

“It went great this year,” she said. “It was super, super successful and all the mushers had a great time. I’m glad that we got some snow. The added snow we got in mid-week really set up the trails.”

For Ryan Redington, the race was a chance to see his new, young team perform. A veteran Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race musher, Redington said he’ll forgo the 2013 Iditarod to take his new team to race in the Lower 48 and get some experience.

“We work hard and it’s good to see things come together for us and I’m very proud of my dogs,” he said. “We’re getting ready for a long race season. We’re going to race in the Lower 48. I’m taking the year off from the Iditarod this year, then getting back into it this next year.”

What he saw on the trail this past weekend is encouraging, Redington said.

“Our breeding is on the right track and they’re very fast,” he said of his team. “They’re smaller dogs, but they’re pretty tough.”

Those familiar with dog mushing know the Redington name, and the youngest grandson of patriarch Joe Redington Sr. — Robert Redington — placed sixth with a time of 6:11:42.

The field also included former Iditarod champion Jeff King, who finished eighth in 6:39:54.

Wheeler earned $2,000 for his second-place finish. Ariane Jasmie was third and took home $1,500 in prize money, while Cim Smyth was fourth and earned $1,000. Wade Marrs rounded out the top-5 and took home $500.

Along with praising the quality of Buser’s trails, Ryan Redington said he was grateful to Alaska Excursions owner Robert Murphy, who put up the purse for the prize pool.

“I think it’s great that he helps put on this great race,” he said.

Alaska Excursions 120

Place Racer Time

1. Ryan Redington 5:49:32

2. James Wheeler 5:52:13

3. Ariane Jasmin 6:03:33

4. Cim Smyth 6:04:35

5. Wade Marrs 6:07:02

6. Robert Redington 6:11:42

7. Travis Beals 6:31:22

8. Jeff King 6:39:54

9. Ken Anderson 6:41:26

10. Corinne Zurflueh 6:47:45

11. Ellen Donoghue 7:02:50

12. Matt Hudson 7:31:14

13. Dream a Dream 7:48:43

14. Kristin Bacon 7:49:06

15. Luan Marques 8:00:22

16. Jane Adkins 8:00:43

17. Jason Shelley 8:00:49

18. Christine Roalofs 8:24:17

19. Anja Radano 8:28:27

20. Kailyn 8:29:07

21. Lisbet Norris 8:33:42

22. Susan Whiton 8:47:24

23. Gwen Bogart 9:17:44

24. Vern Halter 9:19:30

25 Joe Meyer 9:54:21

26. Marilyn Storey 10:02:53