Snowglobe - A Falls Creek Film
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Last night The winning teams in the Royal Canin Falls Creek Sled Dog Classic were decided.
The mushers of the two, three, four and six sled dog teams - which overcame what many said was a brutal first night of racing, relished the shorter, flatter, faster course set for the finals.
48 year old Wayne Baker, who was victorious in the six dog class, grew up at Bogong Village and has worked with dogs since he was 10 years of age. Baker said he brought six of the fastest Alaskan Huskies out of the 20 he and his wife have at home. His fastest time in the final 11.19 minutes was actually the quickest time set by any of the six dog teams (which had the huge crowd which lined the course yelling support) in the two nights of sled dog racing.
Darren Watson was victorious in the four dog class with what Falls Creek Sled Dog President Shaun Butcher said was freakishly quick time of 9.44 minutes. Watson recorded two of the fastest times (12.45 and 9.44 minutes) driving his Alaskan Huskies in the hard-fought four dog class and thoroughly deserved his first place prize of $500 and bragging rights for the year ahead.
Andrew Gersbach, who was second in the four dog class, just pipped Petr Dobbs for first place in the three dog class. Gersbach pulled out the fastest time of this class on the final night (12.01 minutes) with his team of Siberian Huskies. He stated afterwards that dogs are not a right, they are a privilege- enjoy the short time you have with them.
Phillip Friedlander took part in his first dog sled race on snow at Falls Creek and he went home a winner. Friedlander was the quickest in the final night of racing after what felt was a disastrous first night in the heats when he only managed a time of 24.10 minutes.
He, and his German Short Haired Pointers, blitzed the two dog class in he final run with a time of 12.46 minutes which was well ahead of the other participants in the largest sled dog category in this year's Royal Canin Falls Creek Sled Classic.
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See all of these shots and more from the event in full size at our Facebook page - click the button below.
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(Updated Thursday 21st July 2011)
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43 sled dog teams are registered for the upcoming first annual Royal Canin Falls Creek Sled Dog Classic.
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Excitement is building for the inaugural Sled Dog classic to be held next weekend during Falls Creek's S.K.I. (Spend the Kids' inheritance) week.
Shaun Butcher, President of the Falls Creek Sled Dog Classic, is delighted with the overwhelming response to the event - a first for mushers in the southern hemisphere. 43 teams and around 300 huskies will participate in the Royal Canin Falls Creek Sled Dog Classic later this month at Falls Creek.
"I couldn't have hoped for a better turn out," said Mr. Butcher. "There is no where else in Australia where you bring together action aplenty and speeding dog teams within close proximity of the resort's guests.
"Spectators throughout the alpine resort can now see more of the two, three, four and six dog teams as we have revised the format used last winter for an exhibition sled dog event. This year's two-day event, which starts and finishes in Slalom Plaza, really encompasses more of the village."
"Everyone who comes to watch these incredible animals, born and bred to pull sleds, will be enthralled by the spectacle they create. There will be lots of overtaking and passing whilst each team competes for the title of top dog (excuse the pun)."
Varied sized sled dog teams will compete on 3.8km and 5.6km length courses from 6:30pm over July 30th and 31st with FREE resort entry after 2:00pm.
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