Home Up
..o0o.. Listen
as Hope reads selections from her books!
Against the Tide My Little Book of Manatees Isaac Johnson |
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HOPE
IRVIN MARSTON
Aisling's Mushing Competitions for 2012
Eye on the Iditarod
Aisling’s Quest
Aisling's Mushing Competitions
for 2012
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January
14-15 : |
Norman Vaughan Memorial,
Hamilton, MA
Unfavorable weather this weekend
in Hamilton, MA.
The race was postponed until
February.
Aisling is totally frustrated.
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January 21-22
: |
Mushers Bowl, Bridgton, ME
(Postponed)
More discouraging news for
Aisling!
Due to poor poor track
conditions resulting from
lack of snow, the Mushers Bowl
dog sled races
have been rescheduled to
February 18-19.
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January 28-29
: |
Tamworth, NH (Cancelled)
Here’s the latest from Aisling…Sad!
“Tamworth has been cancelled.
Right now it doesn’t look like
we will be racing at all.
I’m very upset and disturbed.”
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February 4-5
: |
Farmington Frolic, Farmington,
ME
Saturday, February 4:
The good news: The Farmington
Frolic took place.
In Saturday’s run Aisling’s dogs
got tangled, her lead dog
Danu had to poop, and Steele got
his neck line caught
under his arm pit.
Aisling came in last, which was
just two minutes behind
everyone else.
Her goal is to make up
those two minutes tomorrow.
Go AIS!
Sunday, February 5:
Aisling rearranged her team for
Sunday’s
race and shaved a few minutes
off her time. It wasn’t
enough
for her to move up from seventh
place.
Poppy (her grandfather) and his
six dogs finished first over
all.
He received the good
sportsmanship brass because on
Saturday
he picked up a musher who lost
her team, and he carried her
for two miles, finishing second.
On Sunday Poppy shaved six
minutes plus off his time and
blew everyone away!
Aisling says, "I am glad for
him. Next week I am
rearranging
my dogs big time and hoping for
the best."
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February
11-12
: |
Eastern FISHING & Outdoor Expo
at the DCU Center
in Worcester, Massachusetts
Aisling attended the Eastern
FISHING & Outdoor Expo at the
DCU Center in Worcester,
Massachusetts with her Native
Performance Dog Food sponsor.
Aisling, along with her lead dog
Danu, was a guest at a Meet and
Greet Book Signing.
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February
18-19
: |
Mushers Bowl, Bridgton, ME
Friday, February 17:
Aisling talks about the event,
and about Poppy, her
grandfather:
"The race is still on though
there's not much snow. Mom
and I went over today and
there's maybe 2 inches, if we
wanna be nice. I have
signed up. Poppy isn't
racing due to a hand injury he
got when Pilot bit him. It
was an accident, really.
Pilot got loose and when Poppy
went to hook him back up, Morgan
bit Pilot in the back leg.
Poppy pulled Pilot to help free
him, and Pilot bit Poppy.
So his hand is like 3 times the
size, as he bit down to the
bone. He kissed it after
all was said and done. But
still we don't know how long the
trail will hold out for.
They don't think it will make
the whole day. Even so we
shall see. Wish me luck. ̶
Love, Aisling"
Saturday, February 18:
Aisling finished 2nd to last, in
pain and sick to her stomach.
But she felt pretty good helping
someone who needed it.
In Aisling's own words:
"Our race today was over sheer
ice and horrible. I took a
digger out of the shoot around
the first corner. I took
out some trail help and flipped
the sled. I regained it
all before entering the woods.
That was just the beginning of
my troubles.
My dogs got into three fights.
I flipped my sled on a 90 degree
corner, hit a tree head on and
lost my team. I got up
dazed and chased after them.
I finally caught up with them,
thanx to Owen who kept grabbing
the lines to the leaders and
pulling back on them trying to
get the team to stop. Don
Diego who ran lead with Steele
turned and started a fight.
I broke up the fight and
regained the sled. I took
another digger on a 180 turn
flipping the sled again.
This time I did hang on but I
hit some rocks against my side
and then my head.
I think having the helmet on did
more damage.
Three teams passed me by.
A newcomer from Virginia was
right behind me. Feeling
sick and dazed, I motioned for
him to pass. He yelled to
ask if I was ok. I said I
felt sick, but ok. I told
him he could pass, but he said
his dogs did better chasing.
So I kept in front and called
for his tired Siberians to chase
me. I finished 2nd to last
in pain and sick to my stomach,
but I felt pretty good helping
someone who needed it.
Mom took me to the ER.
Those folks said I bruised up my
side a bit. My knee is
swollen and my wrist is just
bruised. I have a minor
concussion. Yeh!
I am racing again tomorrow.
There’s not much snow left.
I’m dropping Don. I will
only have 3 dogs: Mary in lead,
with Steele and Owen in wheel.
At least I'll have no fights.
Mom doesn't want me runnin', but
she sees my drive thru my blood
shot eyes. Yeh! I’ve
got a nice shiner where my
goggles got slammed into one
eye. Pretty kewl!
Tomorrow I’ll be fine.
That’s what I tell Mom. I’ll
update everyone tomorrow."
Sunday, February 19:
Cancelled because of lack of
snow.
In Aisling's own words:
"Well, that was a waste of time
and gas and getting dogs
excited. We got to the
race site and waited until 9:30
before they decided to cancel
the whole race. What a
waste! I knew I wouldn’t
finish anywhere close to make a
difference, but still they could
have made this decision last
night.
I feel better right now, not as
sick as yesterday so I guess
it's not so bad after all.
I have some reading to do for
school even though there's no
school next week. I have
to work three days at
Responsible Pet Care doing my 24
hours of community service so I
can get out of freshman year.
It's getting warm out and the
snow is melting."
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February 25-26
: |
David D. Merrill Memorial
Race, Newport, ME
Cancelled because of lack of
snow.
In Aisling's own words:
The Newport Races are canceled
this week to due to lack of
snow. How did you guess?
Hahaha! Not funny.
Jackman is our last hope.
Three days of racing for Poppy
and me in the Pro Division.
The Championship! Hooray!
I have made some changes in my
team and I feel I need to
explain to those who don't know
me, or who wish to be like me.
I am racing Steele in lead for
brains, Mary in lead for her
drive, Owen in wheel. He's
the rocket. Enough said.
And Danu simply because I need
another girl and she needs
experience I can only hope for
the best for three days.
Here are the reasons for
rearranging my team like this.
Yes, I am out to win, but think
for a second. In order to
win, do I step on the one who
has assisted me, the one who has
always believed in me? No.
My poppy is going to be 70 this
fall. I would love to
think he's got 10 more years of
racing, even 20. I will
settle for 10, but you never
know. I am blessed to have a
grandfather who is agile and
loves the sport, but I have to
consider how many more races he
will have with a fast team.
I want Poppy to have a lot of
awesome memories of finishing
first and taking home trophies
with me by his side cheering for
him, proud to say, "That's my
poppy." I am only 14.
I have many years to run dogs.
Don't think I’m putting Poppy
out to pasture. Trust me,
I'm not. But I want the
best for him right now like he
has always wanted for me.
So in Jackman, the Northeast
Championship 2012, I am giving
him my best boy Don Diego for
his team. Poppy will run
my old leader Max in lead with
Harley, Jr. and two awesome
dogs, Don Diego and Emmett in
point. VJ and and Pilot, his
most trustworthy dog, in wheel.
On March 2-4 I want Poppy to
take home the Northeast
Championship 6-dog for me.
Winning is everything, but when
it comes to family and another's
dreams, I can stand back a bit
and wait in order to see someone
else in the sunshine, basking in
the glory of being #1.
I hope for the best for me and
my team. But please cheer
for the man who stood by me,
believed in me, always gave me
his best do, never left my side,
my grandfather Brian Shepherd. I
want him to win Jackman 6-dog.
I want people/kids to realize
winning isn't everything.
I'm still winning as I stand
behind a winning man, my poppy.
You don't always have to come in
first to be #1.
Lara (Aisling)
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March 2-4
: |
Northeast Championship, Jackman, ME
Races completed!
In Aisling's own words:
The weekend was bizarre!!
On Thursday we drove up to
Jackman in blizzard conditions.
It took almost 7 hours at 30
mph. The next day I went
out with minor issues on the
trail. I had Steele and
Mary in lead with Danu and Owen
in wheel. Steele just
wasn’t focused and he kept
slowing down. We came in
6th.
Poppy went out and took a digger
in the S corner. He still
managed to come in 4th. GO
POPPY! The organizers
combined the Pros and Sportsman
so he technically came in 1st
but he was only 4 minutes behind
the Pro drivers. WAY TO
GO!
Saturday was cloudy and we were
all hoping for no rain. It
showered freezing rain for 5
minutes and then it was fine.
But for me Saturday was trouble.
I went out trying Danu in lead
since she was digging so much
Friday (wanting to run!) Steele
once again began to trot.
Then he stopped mid trail.
I unhooked him and tried to bag
him. Danu followed me.
Owen jumped into the mix and
tried to fight with Steele.
It was all I could do to keep my
boys separated. In the mix
I got bitten in the hand and the
butt. NOT FUNNY!
I ended up putting Steele back
in lead and just kept going, at
times in front walking and
running with my team. It
took me 33 minutes to get back
in.
Poppy went out and WHAM!
The man came back in again 4
minutes behind the Pros, still
holding position. AWESOME
JOB!
Saturday afternoon we had the
Yukon Race. This is a
"race" we all do for fun.
You have 4 dogs out on drop
chains, 4 harnesses on your sled
and 1 handler for the leaders.
You and your handler have to run
from the start line to your
truck. Your handler holds
the lines out while you the
musher harness your dogs and
brings them to the sled gangline
them and hook them up.
Your handler can only hold your
leaders out. You release
your sled and you're off on the
trail for 2.5 miles. First
one back wins. It was me,
Jake, Turner, Alex, his dad, and
Eathon, a junior driver.
We mushers and handlers went to
the line. We were counted
down and wham we were running.
Jake was out of the yard first,
followed by Aex with his dad hot
on his heels. I was next
and then Eathon.
You don't get scared just cuz ur
out first. You still have
the trail! I took out
Harley and Danu in lead with
Emmett and Don Diego in wheel.
I was trying out a possible new
team.
Alex was back first, followed by
his dad. Jake came in 3
minutes after them. Eathon
and I chased each other on the
trail. All of our dogs had
already run that day between 5
to 7 miles so they were tired.
We decided just to have fun as
he was also trying out a
possible new team.
When we came out of the woods,
Eathon had about a 2-dog lead on
me. (He's younger and he
needs the confidence boost!)
He was running with all he had
and yelling, "I have you!"
I yelled back, "You’ve got this
one, Eathon!" It was a
blast! I found a possible
new team out of the deal.
Sunday came around and we were
happy, but our sad faces showed
as this was the last race on the
last day of the season. I
wish it could have lasted
longer. It was so nice to
have snow.
I decided to drop steel off my
team and run Mary and Danu in
lead with Owen alone in wheel.
We took off with minor issues as
Danu wanted to play. Mary
is a good leader, but just not
strong in control. We
survived. I shaved 12
minutes off my time and came in
5th. Not too bad for 2
dogs and a pup. I was
happy.
Poppy went out chasing the 3 Pro
drivers once again. When
the 3rd team came in we were
told poppy had crossed the
bridge. WHAT? OMG! MAJOR
CHEERS FOR POPPY! He was
right here with the Pros.
The other teams came in 10
minutes after him! We were
blown away. What an
awesome race for him!
We are not sure how this is
gonna affect his Sportsman
trophy as he was put with Pros.
We will see in the spring
meeting at the awards ceremony.
I took 5th place in 4-dog Pro,
receiving a check and brass.
Poppy took 4th in 6-dog Pro,
also receiving a check and bras.
HIS FIRST CHECK! We were
all blown away!!
You might have noticed I said
his team was running strong,
kind of. Max, my old
leader who is now leading
Poppy’s team, is an older dog.
All weekend he seemed to be a
slow starter. Harley,
Poppy’s other leader, was always
a neckline ahead of him.
This is not a good thing.
Max came in Sunday tired and
shaken. We have to assess
him and go from there. We
are unsure of his race abilities
anymore. He might be
looking for a forever home by
the fire with a new family.
We will cross that bridge after
some training. Since we
finally have snow we will work
with him, but that’s the
question we’ll have to answer.
As for my team I hate to say it,
but Owen is becoming a
liability. He fights with
all males and he even went after
Danu on Friday. I can’t
race with a dog who can turn on
his team mates. I will be
putting him up for sale on
Monday and explain he needs a
female team. He’s an
awesome dog and could be a great
asset to the right team.
Steele is another issue. Maybe
he needs to be out of lead now
and be a point dog. These
are things we will assess when
we go out next weekend to train
some dogs if we have snow, which
I am hoping for.
Overall it was a challenging
weekend but a happy one for the
man who always stood in the
shadows behind me. This
was his weekend to shine and,
boy oh boy, did he ever!
WAY TO GO, POPPY, Poppy!
As for my thoughts on the
Iditarod, I knew it was
officially starting while we
were at Jackman. I will
catch up on standings today.
I am curious to see where people
are placing, but after this
weekend of chills and spills, I
know things you will never be
prepared for will happen on the
trail. It’s all a crap
shoot. No matter the
training, dogs will be dogs and
we as mushers can only hope for
the best--good trails and a good
run!
Good luck to all those running
the last great race! I
will be watching you!
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March 19
: |
Iditarod XL
Officially
Concludes!
Jan Steves Last Into
Nome – Red Lantern
Winner!
Nome, Alaska -
Monday, March 19,
2012 – The 2012
Iditarod Trail Sled
Dog Race officially
ended at 02:57
Alaska Time when
Rookie Musher Jan
Steves (Bib #40)
from Edmonds, WA
made her way under
the Burled Arch on
Front Street in
Nome, Alaska with 9
dogs on her team.
The 55 year old
musher made the trek
to Nome in 14 days,
11 hours, 57 minutes
and 11 seconds.
Steves was awarded
the coveted Wells
Fargo Red Lantern,
presented by Scotty
Watkins, Wells
Fargo’s Nome
Community Banking
Manager.
After the ceremony
under the Burled
Arch concluded, the
2012 Iditarod Trail
Sled Dog Race ended
with Steves
extinguishing the
flame in the Widow’s
Lamp, signifying
that all mushers and
their teams were
safely off the
Iditarod Trail.
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