Jesse Terry secured his second straight Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race victory.

By Derek Cornet

Merry Terry

Musher takes Canadian Challenge top prize for second straight year

Feb 23, 2023 | 2:46 PM

Jesse Terry is a back-to-back winner in the Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race.

He was the first of eight mushers in the 10-dog race to cross the finish line, having done so at 9:08 p.m. on Wednesday. He left Elk Ridge at noon on Tuesday and was able to travel the distance (322 kilometres) in just over 33 hours.

“The best thing about finishing in Missinipe last night was the fact my family was there at the finish line again,” Terry said. “My two kids, Miali and Tevai were there, as well as my sister and her son and my mother-in-law. They were all there at the finish line at that was really, really special.”

Terry and his wife, Mary England, both participated in the 10-dog race with England coming in third behind Rhonda Heerschap of Nolalu, Ont. The couple run a kennel in Sioux Lookout, Ont.

Terry explained there was a lot of training that went into getting his dogs in shape for an event like the Canadian Challenge. He noted the amount of conditioning is extensive as it starts in the fall before they can use sleds.

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“Races aren’t won on the race, races are won with the work that goes into a race,” Terry said. “As well as having the right the dogs to be able to do it, but also the work that goes into a race beforehand. You can’t just expect them to run a race like this, you have to put the work into getting the dogs conditioned ahead of time before you come to a race like this.”

He also contributed his edge in the race to the strong bloodlines in his dogs. He added that’s a big part in getting the dogs to do what he wants them to.

As the winner of the Canadian Challenge, Terry will receive $4,300. Rhonda Heerschap will take home $2,600 and England will get $2,000. La Ronge’s Ragnar Robinson took fourth place, while Garrick Schmidt and Christina Gibson are both still on the trail. Two mushers bowed out of the race on Wednesday.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno

by Derek Cornet

Musher takes Canadian Challenge top prize for second straight year

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