Robb's return to Minnesota

Damion Robb went back to Minnesota on December 15 to continue his training for the snow racing events scheduled to start in January. Robb trains hard everday and is excited about his upcoming events. His fans and supporters are even more enthused as to Robb's performance for the 9 races that he will enter.

Ron Schara's Minnesota Bound at East Meets West Dryland Challenge

Ron Schara met up with the athletes and dogs at the East Meets West Dryland Challenge, including Robb. Check out his story and video -- Minnesota Bound: Mushing without snow.

Newton's arrival at Whitehorse

Newton left sunny Jamaica on Thursday November 28 and got into freezing Whitehorse on Friday November 29; the beginning of his training for the Yukon Quest 2009. News of Newton's arrival was no secret as he was greeted with interviews from Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). After such a long flight Newton was a bit tired but all smiles for the camera.

Fun Times for Jamaica Dogsled Team

Jamaica Dogsled Team poses with Pride~

Robb came back home to cheers you could hear from a mile away. Teammates Devon Anderson and Oswald "Newton" Marshall embraced the overwhelming reality of Damion's accomplishments. Damion has again allowed both the Jamaica Dogsled Team and Jamaica to make another mark on the world map!

Damion Robb is number 1!!!!!

Damion did an incredible job in thee East Meets West Dryland Challenge, 4-Dog Pro Class. Amazing is all that can be said about Damion’s performance. So young and yet so talented, Robb’s name is a buzz within the dogsled community and here at home in Jamaica.
The best however is yet to come, we wonder how young Robb will do on the snow, but as we say in Jamaica, “No Problem”

Robb Finishes 1st at East Meets West Dryland Challenge

Overcoming a tangle and some lost time in Saturday's leg in the 4-Dog Class at the East Meets West Dryland Challenge, Damion Robb made up a full minute on Sunday and finished in 1st Place doing Jamaica, Chukka Caribbean Adventures and the Jamaica Dogsled Team proud.

Ken Davis: Day Two East Meets West Dryland Challenge, Brainerd, MN

Robb did fantastic again. He had some leader troubles on Saturday with a big tangle but got out of it on his own and proceeded to pass 2 teams after that. Then yesterday he had a very fast run and no problems and passed another 2 teams. He only had to make up 8 seconds to get 1st.....he made up over a minute! He now has a very beautiful 1st place trophy. Robb has turned into a very good dog driver and I think this winter he will do well on the sled.

Ken Davis: Day One East Meets West Dryland Challenge

Robb is second in the Sportsman class at Brainerd, the biggest dryland event in the Midwest, more than 100 participants. Robb had a huge tangle that cost him 30 secs, and he is still only 8 secs of the leader.

The Brainerd race is dual start another first for Robb, the mushers have to jockey for the first bend and early lead then try to hold it on a narrow trail.

Robb continues to be the consummate ambassador for Chukka and Jamaica and was interviewed by local ABC and NBC stations as well as two or three radio stations.

Ron Schara's Minnesota Bound

The Jamaica Dogsled Team looks forward to meeting Ron Schara and Raven -- his Labrador retriever and star of the award-winning television magazine show Ron Schara's Minnesota Bound -- at this weekend's East Meets West Dryland Challenge in Brainerd, MN. The show airs on KARE-11 in the Twin Cities market as well as the Duluth, Rochester and Fargo markets.

Radio Margaritaville Interviews

Carson Cooper will interview Danny Melville tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. on Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margaritaville, so tune in everyone. Topics will include an update on Robb and preparations for the East Meets West Dryland Challenge this weekend. Speaking of the East Meets West Dryland Challenge, Carson's interview with race organizer and executive director of ISDRA (International Sled Dog Racing Association) Dave Steele will air on Thursday, November 14 at 9:13 a.m. Don't miss it. Radio Margaritaville is live on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 31 or on the internet at www.radiomargaritaville.com.

Robb Decorating for Thanksgiving in MN

Robb is helping Rick and Anette Johnson at the Ah Regah Kennels decorate for Thanksgiving. It will be Robb's first.

Robb's First Snowfall!

We had our first real snowfall this morning and Robb was more than a little excited about it. His smile was bigger than usual!

Training Update from Ken Davis

Training here has been going great. Robb has definitely become a part of the kennel. The training runs have been going especially well and Robb's team is as ready for Brainerd as can be. We will be doing more fun perky runs right through Wednesday and head out for Brainerd next Friday.

When we're not training Robb has been making friends in the area and has been a perfect guest, helping with different projects around the kennel.

Damion Robb sends thanks to the Trailblazers

Hi Trailblazers!

On behalf of the Jamaica Dogsled Team we want to say Thanks for inviting us to the annual Dryland event ‘Dirty Dog’ in Pearson. It was a lovely event and was a pleasure for us to be there. With the Love of God I hope we will all be there next year and hopefully it will be successful again.

Thank You,
Damion Robb
Jamaica Dogsled Team

P.S. Looking forward to seeing you all at Brainerd and Land ‘O’ Lakes!

Next Race: East Meets West Dryland Challenge

Robb has one more dryland race, the East Meets West Dryland Challenge, November 17-18, 2007, in Brainerd MN, before hitting the snow in January. www.isdra-dryland-racing.info

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Ken Davis: Day 2 of the Dirty Dog Dryland Derby in Pearson, WI

Robb did fantastic!! The 4-dog Pro class at any Wisconsin race, dryland or snow, is extremely competitive. There were 16 teams in his class, the Adult Rig 4-Dog Speed Class. If Robb had finished 7^th or 8^th I would have been impressed because it takes more than just good dogs to get into the top 5 with these people. The other top team drivers all commented that he must doing all the right things by finishing 3^rd.. After two days of racing Robb held third by just 100ths of a second. The driver behind him is Michael Marsh, a multiple ISDRA medal winner, who was also very impressed by Robb. The course is a hilly and fairly curvy trail that is 2.7 miles long.

Ken Davis: Day 1 of the Dirty Dog Dryland Derby in Pearson, WI

Wow...What a good day! Robb and his team did fantastic. He is 29 seconds out of lead....and 19 seconds from 2nd. This is out of 16 teams and 13 of them are Pro class. He is placing 3rd with the big boys. He came in with the dogs very happy and Copper is usually faster the second day.....and she was hot today! This is a nice wooded trail with hills and turns that is 2.7 miles long. Robb did it in 8:40:48....fast. The whole day was great...I came in 3rd in the 6-dog pro and Amanda (our kennel help) came in 2nd in the 2-dog Bikejoring...We all just hope to hold our own tomorrow.

Ken Davis: Day 2 at the Byllesby Dryland Classic in Cannon Falls

Wow did Robb do well. His 2^nd day time was only 4 seconds slower than the leader and when he came in he said the dogs had a lot more to give. I think Robb did everything right this weekend….this was a small fun race that is perfect for getting the team & musher ready for bigger races. He is comfortable on the Outlaw rig and he is really bonding with his team. He ran 1.63 miles in 4:30:31 (min./sec./100^th) which is freaking fast.

Ken Davis: Day 1 at the Byllesby Dryland Classic in Cannon Falls

Robb is having a blast and really handling everything well. When it is this warm it's hard to predict what will happen. His leader Copper always does better the 2nd day. I am very proud of Robb...he's racing like a pro already.

Training Update from Ken Davis

Robb is doing great. The dogs really like him and his first run with the main four dogs went fantastic. His one leader 'Crystal' was co-leader on a team that won the 8-dog class at the North American Championships in Fairbanks in 2005.

Training update from Ken Davis

The dog sitting down is Foremon...the center dog is Ole, (he was one of Devon's wheel dogs last year)...on the left is Felix. The dog in yellow is Twiggy and the black dog is Tuula. The team that Robb is running is Copper & Crystal, not shown, and a blurry Simon & Collar. These will probably be the four he runs the most. I think Robb is having a good time with the dogs so far.

Danny's Birthday Donation to JSPCA

Danny Melville turned 60 years young on September 29 and a little rain didn’t dampen his birthday bash or the generosity of his guests. Animal lover Melville had asked that donations be made to the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (JSPCA) in lieu of gifts. The JSPCA holds special place for Melville as the wonderful dogs that are now the Jamaica Dogsled Team and part of the Chukka Caribbean Adventures family were second chance dogs adopted from this important organization. With Muggzie looking on, Melville’s birthday gift totaling JA$270,000.00 (US$4,000.00) was donated to the JSPCA. A cheque was presented to Dr. Paul Turner (second from left) senior veterinarian and Mrs. Pam Lawson (second from right) general manager by Marc Melville (left), co-managing director of Chukka Caribbean Adventures, and Devon Anderson (right) the lead musher for the Jamaica Dogsled Team and operations manager for Chukka Caribbean Adventures. Melville, Chukka Caribbean Adventures and the Jamaica Dogsled Team will continue to support the educational efforts of the JSPCA with donation from the proceeds from the sale of team merchandise and dogsled tours.

Sprint Team Truck Gets Facelift

The JDT wheels got a great new paint job and is ready to hit the road for their first race in Byllesby.

East Meets West Dryland Challenge

We're looking forward to having Robb compete at the East Meets West Dryland Challenge at Brainerd International Raceway on November 17th & 18th!

We have scouted the course and it looks good - see you there!

Happy Birthday to Danny, sorry I couldn't make it!

Dave Steele
ISDRA

Danny has confirmed that Robb will be running in the Byllesby Dryland Classic, Oct 20-21, 2007 in Cannon Falls, MN. This will be his first race and we're all pulling for him. Devon (pictured here in Byllesby, photo by Joy's Sled Dog Photos) had a great showing at this race last year finishing second in the Pro 4-Dog Rig Class. Jim Benson of Gold Rush Racing was the first-place finisher.

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Robb and Newton and the full Dogsled Team hosted eight Canadian journalists for a cool Sunday evening Encounter. Two lucky reporters got to ride the famous buggy and everyone had a great time. Robb & Newton also reported how proud they were of the team led by Chukka, Smiley, Rusty, Shy Shy, Tallowa and Zesty.

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Dr Bradford from the JSPCA came to Chukka Farm for the regularly scheduled examination of the team dogs -- 19 now rescued mutts now call the Dog Yard home! We're happy to report they're all in great health.

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Whitehorse’s own entrepreneur-optometrist Dr. Dick Watts is donating the proceeds from the sale of SUN DOGS at Northern Lights Optometry, Shades Plus and Yukon Harley-Davidson to the team to help cover costs of training in the Yukon and to support our efforts to run the Yukon Quest in 2009.

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Junior musher Damion Robb is preparing to leave the Jamaican Sunshine to brave the cold days and nights in Minnesota as he begins his training to be a lead musher. Good luck Robb, we know you will be brilliant representing the team and Jamaica.

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Better late than never, pics of our first Dogsled Experience with Lisa and Fred Garber from Charlottesville, VA. Mid-run, Cove -- a new team dog -- spotted a goat and in true Jamaican fashion took off after it, sidetracking the entire team. The Garbers took it all in stride and helped get the group back on the road.

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Our good friends and amazing racers and trainers Rick and Anette Johnson just celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary. Congratulations you two and we're looking foward to seeing you back home in Jamaica to check out your team. Pictured: Devon, Anette and Rick at Ah-Regah Kennels in Mahtowa, Minnesota.

Well I saw it for myself: seven spotted, six-month-old pups (all brothers and sisters) flat out behind Robb on a quad around the trail at Chukka Cove. They were all in harness but running free, what a sight to behold.

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Danny

The Jamaica Dogsled Team has been invited to participate in the 14th Annual Kearney Dog Sled Races, February 8-10, 2008 in Kearney, Ontario. The town is celebrating its Centennial and we're looking forward to being there.

Danny Melville (left) founder of the Jamaica Dogsled Team with three-time Yukon Quest champion Hans Gatt (right) and sled dog Emma in Whitehorse, Yukon. Melville announced his lead musher, Jamaican Devon Anderson, will train with Gatt with the goal of qualifying for the 2009 Yukon Quest 1000-Mile International Sled Dog Race -- billed as the toughest sled dog race in the world. Photo by Chukka Caribbean Adventures.

Welcome to the Jamaica Dogsled Team Blog. As we prepare for the upcoming racing season we look forward to writing about our training, the dogs, the travel, the fun -- home. So many people have come together with a sense of excitement and determination to make the Jamaica Dogsled Team a reality, we’ve asked some of these friends to contribute as well.

If you're wondering how Jamaica came to have a dogsled team, please check out our website, www.jamaicadogsled.com.

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