Winners of the Ultimate Jamaica Villa Adventure Vacation

Congratulations Dale and Anne Babala!

These two are the first lucky winners of the Ultimate Jamaica Villa Vacation, which was contributed by Chukka Caribbean Adventures, the Jamaica Dogsled Team and WestJet Vacations for the fundraising event in Calgary October 2008.

Dale and Anne had a wonderful time in the beautiful island of Jamaica. They stayed in Danny Melville's wonderfully breathtaking villa by the cove at Chukka Cove Farm in Llandovery St. Ann.

The couple was entertained for their entire stay which lasted for 8 days and seven nights with adventurous tours at their disposal. On top of it all Dale and Anne were treated to some of the most superb Jamaican dishes which was accompanied with all the tropical delights imagineable.

Anne and Dale-we salute you, your welcome back anytime!

Anne and Dale on the patio at the villa
Anne and Dale at the Villa where they stayed for their one week adventure

Getting ready to go out on the Dogsled Experience tour

On tour with RObb on a nice cool day!

On tour with Robb.

Whoooo! What a great ride!

Anne, Dale, Sarah and of course Marbles trying to get into the picture

The couple poses with Marbles and Sarah

More celebration for the return of Newton and Robb!!!

Danny Newton and Robb toast away the afternoon
Robb and Newton cutting the welcome home cake-yum yum!

Newton's family came to Chukka Cove Farm to welcome him home

Newton and Robb poses with staff and friend, 'Bulby'

Welcome Back Photos taken at Sangster's Interational Airport, Montego Bay.

Newton be greeted by Danny Melville on his return-big smiles!
The JDT/CHUKKA family poses for the camera-from left Vaneka Mckenzie, Danny Melville, Newton Marshall, Marc Melville, Daniel Melville, John Byles and Damion Robb

Newton and Robb are welcomed by friends and co-workers

Newton being welcomed by Margaritaville

Welcome Welcome Welcome Back!!!!

Newton and Robb returned to their beautiful island, filled with sunshine and sand.........a far fetched comparison to where they spent the last couple of months, which was filled with snow and ice.
Robb returned on the 10th of March while Newton came back on the 11th.
JDT members as well as Chukka Caribbean team mates were all so proud of the two mushers and are happy to tag them as Jamaican Ambassadors.
There was a big JDT welcome home celebration on a bright afternoon:
Location-Sangster's International Airport, Montego Bay.
..............and the Atmosphere? Pride filled Jamaicans~~

More pics of the JDT Truck for all you doggie truck lovers out there-ENJOY!!!

(Check out our chrome dog-Mush mon!)

Snowflake 09-contributed by Ken~

Robb & I had a fantastic finish for our racing season. We both ran the 4-Dog Pro at Snowflake International in Duluth, MN. A lot of people came out just to see Robb and the JDT. There is so much support and interest everywhere we go. We had fun as this is one of our favorite trails. It is a tough, curvy and hilly 6K that is a blast to run a team on. Robb had good clean runs on both Saturday and Sunday finishing 6th out of 25 in a very competitive field. I finished 5th, just beating Robb but my older leader has done this race 7 times. She knows the trail quite well. It is exciting to me to now watch Robb as he drives his team like a professional. We also had a mushers party Saturday night at our house for all that attended Snowflake. It was a great way to send Robb back to JA. He is so well thought of up here by all the mushers that he competes with. Robb did an awesome job on and off the trail again this season. It is with pride and pleasure to be Robb's coach and affiliated with the Jamaica Dogsled Team. Thank You. Ken -- Ken Davis

Snowflake with Robb

Fast Sled Rider
Cranking on the sled

Here's going out to you Craig

Please take a look at Robb as he leans on the JDT truck; this one is going out to Craig from Duluth. Hope you like-will try to get some more to pass on to you!!!!

Take Care~

Hermantown Elementary Jamaican Musher Encounter :-)

Thursday and Friday before Snowflake International Robb and I did two different school functions. On Thursday Proctor High School sent 18 students out to the kennel. They got to visit with all the dogs and talk to Robb about mushing and Jamaica. Their teacher Mrs. Vicki Lee said the students enjoyed it. It was a great 2 hours. On Friday we went to Hermantown Elementary School and did an hour long visit with the 2nd and 3rd graders. They had already been studying the Itidarod and the Yukon Quest and were following Newton online, they had also watched 'Sun Dogs'. The whole school learns about mushing from the librarian Mrs. Juntenen. The kids loved Robb and got to ask a lot of good questions. We took 3 dogs with us and they were a hit also. We enjoy doing this so much and it seems like the kids had a great learning experience.
Ken Ken DavisElfstone KennelJamaica Dogsled Team

The finish banquet in Fairbanks

Newton thanking his sponsors after receiving his cheque (US$3K) for 13th placeNewton looking at his trophy

The icing on the cake came at the finish banquet in Fairbanks when it was announced that Newton had won the coveted ‘Challenge of the North Award’ for best exemplifying the spirit of the Yukon Quest.
The winner is chosen by the race marshal and judges; on making the presentation to Newton the marshal said:-
“I’ll be the first to admit when I saw his entry I didn’t think it was much more than a publicity stunt,” race marshal Doug Grilliot said.
We felt so proud; imagine a Jamaican musher being awarded for “exemplifying the spirit of the Yukon Quest”. Newton is a true ambassador for Jamaica.
The trophy is a beautiful ink drawing of ravens on a caribou antler.
Newton is in Anchorage to witness the start of the Iditarod; who knows where he will be racing next winterJ
He returns home to Jamaica on March 11th.
Danny