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.

One mush.

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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