Californian, Yellowknifer win last two Canadian Challenge races

Californian Jesika Reimer is the winner of the Canadian Challenge eight-dog, 160-kilometre race.

She left the 969 Wilderness Camp at approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday and arrived in Missinipe at about 2:42 p.m., after a mandatory overnight stop in La Ronge. There were eight other competitors in the eight-dog race including Jillian Lawton who took second, and her son Lane Lawton who took third. Both of the mushers are from Rocky Mountain House, Alta.

Kevin Lewis of Island Lake, Sask., took fourth place and American Aidan Torres took fifth. The top prize in the eight-dog race was $1,600, followed by $1,000 for second and $600 for third.

The six-dog, 80-kilometre race began Friday and ended the same day in Missinipe. Marcel Marin of Yellowknife came in first place, taking just over four hours. Anna Bolvin of Porcupine Plain, Sask., took second, Monroe Mondor of Wawota, Sask., took third, Trevor Kequahtooway of White Bear First Nation took fourth and Alex Isbister of Island Lake, Sask., took fifth.