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Kennel
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Mark & Karen |
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North Wapiti Siberian
Husky Kennels
Iditarod 2008 -
'Sponsor-a-dog' Program
As part of our fundraising we are offering the opportunity to sponsor a specific Iditarod dog. For $300 Cdn. sponsors get their name listed on this website, a 2008 bandana, a certificate and some other cool NorthWapiti 2008 Iditarod memorabilia. (Click this link for information on currency exchange rates.)
Of the dogs listed, 22 of these will accompany us up to Alaska and only 16 will be chosen for our team. We cannot guarantee anyone's sponsored dog will make the final 16 - but certificates, bandanas, and other memorabilia will be issued to all sponsors regardless of whether or not their dog of choice participates in the Iditarod.
| Sponsorship
: Payable To: Karen Ramstead Mailed To: Colleen Hovind Box 163 Craven, Saskatchewan, Canada S0G 0W0 |
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(Click on each dog's picture to visit their individual page)
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The Active Training Pool |
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 Kara Ch. NorthWapiti’s Valkyrie Kara (Striker x Breezy) |
1983 Iditarod Champ Rick Mackey claims Kara is so cute "you can't help
but smile when you look at her." She also proved to us that she is more
then just a pretty face by doing a huge amount of leading in
our Iditarod.
A hard working sled dog, a good little show dog and a dream to live
with in the house - darn near the perfect dog, as far as I'm concerned! |
Main Leader Champion Showdog 8 |
Iditarod 2003 2003 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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Another of the beautiful and talented Norse god and goddess litter. In harness, Odie has always been the star of this bunch. Hardworking to the core!
He has made every Iditarod team since 2003! |
Leader 8 |
John
Beargrease Marathon Iditarod 2003 Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher Iditarod 2007 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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Loki is well named after the Norse god of mischief. He always has a prank up his 'sleeve', but he never lets it get in the way of putting in a solid performance whenever he gets hooked up!
He has made every Iditarod team since 2003! |
Champion Showdog 8 |
Iditarod 2003 Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 Finisher Iditarod 2007 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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Moses is a dog with an 'all knowing presence' about him. His work ethic is simply inspiring to all. A very valued and key dog in our team!
He has made every Iditarod team since 2004. Mo is also one
of Mark's favorite leaders!
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Leader 7½ |
Yukon Quest 250 (with another musher) Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 Finisher Iditarod 2007 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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Definitely the 'Alpha Bitch' in this kennel.
Ollie is tough as nails and knows it well! Although she took
2005 Iditarod off to whelp out an unexpected litter of
puppies, she is a FORCE in harness and contributes big to the
team whenever she is a part of it! |
Leader 7 |
Iditarod 2003 Iditarod 2004 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 Iditarod 2007 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2007 Taiga 300 |
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Nahanni is a
beautiful dog. Fast, focused and tough as nails rounds her
out! Although circumstances always seem to line up against
Nahanni to stop her from running major races, she is still
a real asset to the team! |
Team Dog 7 |
Iditarod 2003 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 |
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'The Hermanator', as Mark often calls him -
Herman is all business. He just wants to get to work!
One of
the most consistent and solid sled dogs we own.
Irreplaceable.
He has made every
Iditarod team since 2004! |
Team Dog 6 |
Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher Iditarod 2007 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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Hector is a character. During Iditarod 2004 he took great delight in starting 'group howls' in checkpoints along the Race. Just outside of White Mountain - on a cold, clear morning - he led the team in a stirring song to start us on the last leg of our journey to Nome. It is a memory I will always cherish.
He has made every Iditarod team since 2004! |
Leader 6 |
Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher Iditarod 2007 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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Although nicknamed "Broom Hilda" after the cartoon witch - there is nothing
'witchy' about Hilda - she is sweet and hardworking. A real delight to have in the team. |
Leader 6 |
Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Knik 200 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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 Batdog NorthWapiti’s Seeley Lake (Odin x Kaylinn) |
Everyone thinks 'Batdog'
was so named because he has big ears, but that's not the
case. When he was young, he loved to be hung upside down and
survey the world from this vantage! He reminded me of a
little bat - hence his call name.
Batdog is maturing beautifully and is showing real promise
in harness. |
Leader 5½
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2006
Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher Iditarod 2007 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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 Holly NorthWapiti’s Holland Lake (Odin x Kaylinn) |
AMAZING is really
the only word to describe this little girl. She is
definitely going to be a special dog.
During the 06/07
season, Holly has stepped up and fast becoming the leader we
have always believed she was! |
Leader 5½
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Iditarod 2007 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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Cute,
athletic, and energetic - Sprite was the only girl left in my
team in Unalakleet in the '05 Iditarod. An amazing girl! |
Leader 6 |
Iditarod 2005 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher |
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Barq is to be one of the fastest dogs
we own. He took awhile to mature and make our main string -
but he is SO worth the wait! He looks and acts a lot like his half brothers - Draco,
Orion, and Surge. |
Team Dog 6 |
2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 Ceremonial Start Iditarod 2007 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 |
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 Dasher Ch. NorthWapiti’s Dasher (Butch x Kara) |
Dasher is very much unlike her
sweet and loveable Mom, Kara. She is bossy, opinionated, and
demanding of getting her own way! She is proving to be an amazing
leader and was a key dog up front for our last 3 Iditarods. |
Leader 6 ½
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Iditarod
2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher Iditarod 2007 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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Although being a Grover son automatically earns you a favoured position in my heart, Crunchie wasn't happy 'inheriting' that and has definitely earned his status all on his own. Crunchie is a very significant dog in my race team. He has never been dropped nor injured in the 4 years he has been on my race team - and he has done every race with me since first making the team as a 2 year in '04. A cool dog - one of my very, very favourites.
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Leader 6 |
Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher Iditarod 2007 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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JR is well named - he is a junior
Grover, but with the vivid blue eyes of his mother, Joey.
I'm beginning to see the same stride and carriage in him in
harness that his Daddy has. That makes me very excited about
his future! |
Leader 5 |
2006
Knik 200 |
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 Q NorthWapiti’s Q (Grover x Kluane) |
Q is a stunningly built boy. Another
exciting Grover son! Q had a great season last year, living
up to many of our hopes for him, but a late season injury
kept him off the Iditarod team in '07. |
Team Dog
4 |
2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 Ceremonial Start 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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 Jinx NorthWapiti’s Jinx (Grover x Kluane) |
A pretty, little black girl, born on Friday
the 13th. James Bond fans will figure out the connection
between that and her name. Jinx is long, lean and built to
move. She was a solid girl in her rookie season, just
falling short of making the Iditarod team. Some of our very
best training runs are with Jinx in lead and we look forward
to this translating to the trail down the road! |
Leader
4 |
2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 |
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 Spider Tumnatki’s Ms Muffet N’Wapiti |
Spider has stepped up and
worked her way to the front of our main string. She was
given the honor of being one of the leaders choosen for the
re-start of the 2007 Iditarod. Quite an privilege for a
rookie Iditarod dog. We are certain she will lead the team
in many important races to come.
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Leader 3½
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Iditarod 2007 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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 Charge NorthWapiti’s Charge (Surge x Olena) |
We weren't entirely
sure of what to think of Charge when he was young. He was
big and lanky, even as a puppy.
Now there is no question - he is a
real favorite!
He
is as driven as any sled dog I've ever hooked up. He is
famous in our yard for being as difficult to put away after
a long hard run as he was to hook up. I don't know if this
boy ever gets tired.
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Team Dog 3
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Iditarod 2007 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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 Tess NorthWapiti’s Tesla (Surge x Olena) |
As a yearling, Tess was not very outstanding. She was just a solid, but plain dog in harness. This year she boldly announced that she was sick of being a 'wallflower'. Tess is shaping up to be one of the most exciting leaders I've worked with in years. I grin ear to ear
every time she is in lead! |
Leader 3
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Iditarod 2007 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Neckbone 120 |
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 Watt NorthWapiti’s MegaWatt (Surge x Olena) |
Anyone who has visited
the kennel knows I think very highly of Watt.
Watt made the trip to
Alaska with us in '07 - not an easy thing for a 2 year old
to accomplish. We have very high hopes for him in the
future!
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Team Dog 3
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2007 Neckbone 120 |
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 Boom NorthWapiti’s Boom (Moses x Kaylinn) |
Boom is the first Moses offspring to contend for the 'A' string. If he maintains the drive and attitude he is already showing, there will definitely be more Moses kids kicking around the kennel in the future. Shish - Boom - Baa! |
Team Dog 3
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2007 Neckbone 120 |
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Experienced Rookies |
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Newt Four Wind’s Newt |
Newt came to live
with us an adult dog, he's done some sprint racing but never
this distance stuff. Last year Newt was showing some real
promise in harness when he managed to break his foot,
putting him out for the season. We hope this year will be
'his year'. |
Advanced |
 Extensive trail training in 2006/2007 |
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 Roary NorthWapiti’s Hear Me Roar (Striker & Kaylinn) |
Roary has a pedigree, build and personality much like Kara - so it goes to say that we have high hopes for this little red bombshell. |
Advanced
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 Extensive trail training in 2006/2007 |
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 Togo NorthWapiti’s Togo At Kelim (Grover & Spot) |
Although Togo is new
to us, he isn't new to working in harness. He put a far
number of mile in last season with his previous owners, Kim
and Kelly Berg.
Togo is the
closest looking dog to Grover I've ever met - so close
it is spooky. We have high hopes that is performance in
harness will be similar to his Dad's too!
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Advanced
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True Rookies |
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 Lingo Chlout’s Lingo |
When Bob Chlupach called to say he had a young dog he thought would suit us, I asked no questions and just said 'Yes'!! Seeing that the previous dogs Bob though would suit us were Hector, Hilda, Herman and Moses - do you blame me??? Although
still young, Lingo already acts like a mature dog in harness! |
Rookie
3 |
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 Runner Kelim’s Running for NorthWapiti (Lincoln x Diamond) |
Runner's registered name is Kelim's Running for NorthWapiti - and running hard and strong he is. We are very pleased with the performance of this enthusiastic young dog.
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Rookie
3 |
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 Fritz NorthWapiti's Fritz (Grover & Spot) |
'Fitzy' breeding was
done to try and get as close a pedigree to NorthWapiti's
Super Grover as possible - and we are already seeing many
traits in common between father and son. The most obvious
being the same quiet, confident and serious personality. I
really look forward to watching Fitzy grow into his
potential!
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Rookie
2½
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 Minto NorthWapiti's Minto (Grover & Spot) |
Honestly, 'Minto the
Pinto' was not - and still is not - my favorite yearling in
terms of structure. However, the very first time I free ran
her next to the 4 wheeler, I knew she was a special dog. She
remains the fastest dog I have ever free run. I'm excited to
see what she can translate that drive to be fast into when
she really starts working in harness!
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Rookie
2½
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 X NorthWapiti's Excelsior (Squeaky & Olena) |
X has been the
favoured 'child' in this litter since they were about 3
months old. There is just something about him and he
continues to be one of the very special ones in the yard. I
guess when your nicknames are 'Xtraordinary' and 'Xcellent
X' and 'Xquisit', how can you help but growing up Xtra
special??
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Rookie
2½
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 Paxson NorthWapiti's Paxson (Squeaky & Olena) |
I think Paxson has
matured into the most beautiful of the 'Copper Basin'
litter. On top of that, he is one of the sweeter
personalities in that litter - seeming to take more after
his sweet Dad, Squeaky then his evil mother, Olena!
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Rookie
2½
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 Bongo NorthWapiti's Bongo (Draco & Nahanni) |
Bongo loves
everything. Life is good, fun and entertaining according to
this lovely young lady. A perpetual motion machine! Can't
wait to get her really working in harness! One of Karen's up
and coming favorite youngsters!
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Rookie
2
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 Bingo NorthWapiti's Bingo (Draco & Nahanni) |
As a pup, Bingo was a
little standoffish, but living with her bubbly over friendly
sister, Bongo seems to have brought Bingo around. Those two
girls never stop moving. Very athletic, very promising.
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Rookie
2
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 Irving NorthWapiti's Irving (Draco & Nahanni) |
A very promising and
handsome young man. Full of energy and has a real zest for
life! One of Karen's up and coming favorite
youngsters!
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Rookie
2
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 Nitro Kelim's Nitro of NorthWapiti (Dodge & Spot) |
Nitro is a dog that I’m not tremendously fond of in the dog
lot, but he continues to challenge me to really dislike him
by putting remarkable performances in in harness.
He maturing
lovely and we look forward to seeing what he brings to the
team in the coming years.
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Rookie
2
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 Flash NorthWapiti's Flash Gordon (Grover & Kara) |
Having Grover and Kara
for your parents makes Flash a prince in the kennel right
from the start. Big, handsome - but for some strange reason
- NOISY!! Flash is one of the most exciting younsters in the
yard.
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Rookie
2
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 Wolvie NorthWapiti's Wolverine (Grover & Kara) |
Wolvie gets more
handsome and more loved as each day goes by. He was the pup
that most displayed that serious, no nonsense, 'Grover'
approach to life - and now, as he is growing, his father
seems to be coming out in his conformation too. A very
promising young man!! Another of Karen's up and coming
favorites!
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Rookie
2
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 Wonder NorthWapiti's Wonder Woman (Grover & Kara) |
Beautiful and fun
loving. One sweet pup. Wonder and Xena share a pen and their
play times and antics in there amuse the whole dog yard.
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Rookie
2
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 Xena NorthWapiti's Xena (Grover & Kara) |
Unless you know them
well, it is hard to tell Xena apart from her kennel mate and
sister, Wonder. Xena is alittle smaller though and has a
better sense of humour then Wonder, but they are both fun
loving, happy chicks! Xena is a clone of her mom, Kara!
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Rookie
2
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 Isis NorthWapiti's Isis (Grover & Kara) |
Isis left the kennel,
but has come back and made it pretty clear that she wants to
be a working girl! She definitely has some of her Momma,
Kara's attitude!
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Rookie
2
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Kara Ch. NorthWapiti’s Valkyrie Kara (Striker x Breezy) |
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Main Leader Champion Showdog 8 |
Iditarod 2003 2003 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 |
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Our "2008 Future Stars" Sponsors
| Sponsorship
: Payable To: Karen Ramstead Mailed To: Colleen Hovind Box 163 Craven, Saskatchewan, Canada S0G 0W0 |
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