Distance Mushing NZ

Thank you to Glen from Canada Goose (NZ) for sponsoring our Best Kept Team Award. Our well deserved award winner Tessi is going to put the gloves to good use when she heads to Norway next year!

This time last Saturday we were at our Southern Sled Dog Challenge finisher's dinner. We are incredibly fortunate to have such wonderful support from our sponsors, and as such, can provide our participants with generous finishers packs.
We also have some very special prizes to award:

BEST KEPT TEAM: Chosen by our vet Gemma Neave, this award was given to TESSI FRANZEN

MOST OUTSTANDING DOG: Kindly Donated by Pawtrax Siberian Husky Kennel & Chosen by our event crew, this award goes to the amazing EKKO (Owned by Christina Rock).

RED LANTERN (Rig class) TESSI FRANZEN

RED L:ANTERN (bikejor/canicross class) VIKKI SMITH

We want to give a big shoutout to the rest of the crew! To John (checkpoint manager), Gemma (vet), Marie (timekeeper), Moira (checkpoint manager) and last but definitely not least Ilona (event coordinator). Without you, this event would not happen. THANK YOU!

We are running a bit behind with our event posts (sorry) due to being very busy.
Next crew member up is Mike Bathgate. Mike put his hand up to be our Event Trail Boss and we are very grateful. He has lots of experience running dogs in the Northern Hemisphere and he has invaluable knowledge. He aced the TB position this year and we couldn't be happier!

To see our friend acknowledged makes our day! Congratulations Aliy!

That is a wrap! The 2026 Southern Sled Dog Challenge is complete. We want to thank everyone who participated and everyone who supported us. It means so much to us! More pictures and snippets will follow in the next few days, but for now we will concentrate on heading home. 🛳️

We are incredibly grateful to our Event crew. Without you this event would not happen. We are blessed to have many repeat offenders this year. Let us start introducing our crew members:
Our Race Marshall is Peter Johns.
We are incredibly grateful to Peter for agreeing to be our RM. With his cool, calm demeanor and innate sense of fairness he is most certainly one of the best Race Marshalls we have come across!
Here is a little bit about Peter and his history with the sport:
Over 20 years ago I had two dogs and was encouraged by friends to have a go at sled dog racing by entering in a SRSDC single dog race. Both me and Jake (my small beardie cross) were hooked. Since then, along with addition of two dogs (Holly and Max), I had been fortunate to have spent time along many of the race trails throughout the South Island and occasionally in the North Island with my dogs. While not your typical sled dogs my dogs enjoyed themselves running both in the forests and on the snow (except Max, the smallest one, who didn’t like the getting his wet feet) as well as doing weight pull. I have met at lot really cool people and dogs throughout the sleddog sports family over this time. Talking and spending time with those involved within sled dog sports I am constantly amazed at the passion, enthusiasm and care shown for their dogs and for the sport.
My dogs are all gone now, and my focus has shifted from competing to being more involved in the administration aspects of the sport, both within the SRSDC and on a national level. Becoming a race marshal in 2003 and being allowed contribute towards a race event in this capacity, I have found is a privilege, especially with the trust given to ensure the racing is fair for everyone involved.
This year I hope you all have a great time and enjoy being here with your dogs.

DARYN CHALMERS:
Daryn did not supply us with a profile, so we posted a pic from last year's event. Needless to say he is back this year with a very handsome team!

SHERYLL CORNFORTH: Sheryll is back this year and her team is a mixed bag of different ages, stages and experience. She is looking forward to spending time with her team as some will retire after this event.