Event Photos : 1st Annual Music City Dryland Challenge
We are going to reorganize the web site in the next few weeks to include some new features. Thank you to all those that came out on Saturday the 13th! Here are some photos from the event.The name of the sled dog race is Music City Dryland Sled Dog Challenge.
Date/time: February 13, 2010; 9:00 a.m.
Location: 1526 W. College Street, Murfreesboro, TN. This is the Gateway Trail of the Murfreesboro Greenway System.
Sponsored by: Blue Ridge Dryland Sled Dog Mushers Club and Precise Dog Food
Race Directors: Rodney Whaley and Jeff Blewett
Trail Distances:
| Race Classes | Trail Distance |
|---|---|
| 1-2 Dog Bikejor/Scooter | 1-2 Miles |
| Junior Rig | 1-2 Miles |
| 4 Dog Rig | 3-4 Miles |
| 6 Dog Rig | 4-6 Miles |
How Do I Enter the Sled Dog Race
View the Registration InformationEach participant in the race gets a 40 pound bag of Precise Dog Food.
What is Dryland Dog Sledding?
A "dryland sled dog race" (aka dryland mushing, urban mushing etc.) is just like a winter sled dog race in the northern regions of our country with the exception of two things: snow and sleds. In lieu of sleds, the mushers utilize "dog-sleds-on-wheels" or "rigs" as they are often called. Dryland racing has become very popular among husky owners and mushers in the southern region of our country.About the Race Directors
Rodney Whaley
The race director, Rodney Whaley of Rockvale, TN, is the only Tennessean to have ever competed in the world's toughest race, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska (2008). Growing up in Alaska, Whaley began racing sled dogs at the age of 9, and has always remained passionate about the sport. In addition to the Iditarod, in recent years Whaley has competed in the Similkameen Sled Dog Classic (British Columbia, Canada), the Jack Pine 30 (Northern Michigan), the 200 mile Cascade Quest Sled Dog Race (Leavenworth, Washington), the Moccasin 200 (Minnesota), the Seney 300 (Northern Michigan), and the UP 200 (Marquette, Michigan).Jeff Blewett
Jeff Blewett, his wife Jennifer, and their three children, Jordan, Jacob, and Jenna, live in Hickory, Kentucky. Jeff “caught the bug” when he acquired two Siberian Huskies in 1994. His first experience mushing was in 1996 in Wisconsin. Addicted to mushing, he then committed himself to researching everything he could find on dog mushing, sled dog training, and the sport of sled dog racing.Jeff placed second in the 2007 Blue Ridge Dryland Sled Dog Race, and fourth in 2008 (4-dog class). In 2005, he attended the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska and was a handler for Iditarod musher, Perry Solmonson. In 2008, he once again traveled to Alaska and was a handler for co-director, Rodney Whaley’s Iditarod run. Whaley also selected Jeff to ride his “tag sled” in the Iditarod ceremonial start, an experience of a lifetime.
Jeff has endeared himself to Siberian Huskies and has rescued several dogs. Currently, he has 17 dogs in his kennel, several of which are Seppala Siberians. In addition to training at Land Between the Lakes National Park and Recreation area, Jeff makes dog mushing presentations at schools and churches in the western Kentucky area.