Spectators watch as Jeffrey Siegel of Woodstock, Illinois, leaves the starting gate during the Mackinaw City Mush Sled Dog Races Sunday morning, February 8. About 150 people gathered Sunday at the start and finish area near where I-75 and West Central Avenue cross in Mackinaw City. With temperatures in the mid- 30s on Saturday and Sunday, and more than 100 dogs barking, more than 200 people gathered each day to watch the 20th annual Mackinaw City Mush Sled Dog Race. President of the race organizing committee, Chuck Cullip of St. Ignace said the weather was great for racing on both days.

"It was a little too warm on Saturday. Saturday could been a little colder, but it made it better for spectators," he said. "We had near perfect weather on Sunday."

He said temperatures for racing should be about 15 degrees, and that the warm weather softened the trail a bit, but not enough to cancel the race. About the same number of spectators came out to watch the races on both days as last year.

The two-day time-trial races were Saturday, February 7, and Sunday, February 8. A total of about $2,000 was awarded to the winning riders.

Tom Rose and his team of eight dogs speed out of the starting gate Sunday morning, February 8, during the 20th annual Mackinaw City Mush Sled Dog Race. Spectators lined the start and finish lines, just south of where West Central Avenue and I-75 meet in Mackinaw City, to watch teams of riders and their dogs compete against each other for the fastest time around the track. The race pitted more than 60 racers, who traveled from as far away as New York, Minnesota, and Ohio, against each other in six divisions, depending on number of dogs and the riders' level of expertise.

Dawn Brown of Lowville, New York, took first place in both the adult eight-dog and six-dog speed categories, with two-day time totals of 42 minutes, 54 seconds, and 35 minutes, 37 seconds, respectively. Racers in the eightdog division traveled 7.1 miles, and six-dog teams traveled six miles.

Forest Collins took first in the junior three-dog and two-dog speed categories, with two-day times of 27 minutes, 36 seconds, and 8 minutes, 34 seconds, respectively. Junior racers in twoand three-dog speed divisions traveled one and four miles, respectively.

At left: Dawn Brown of Lowville, New York, leads her team of eight dogs into the starting gate Sunday morning, February 8, at the Mackinaw City Mush. She took first place in both 8-dog and 6-dog adult speed divisions. Douglas Frank of Lodi, Ohio, took first place in the adult fourdog speed division with a two-day time of 24 minutes, 3 seconds, and Jack Alexander won the junior one-dog speed division with a time of 22 seconds. Adult fourdog teams traveled four miles and junior one-dog teams traveled one-tenth of a mile.

Winners in each class (with cities, where available) were:

Adult 8-dog speed: Dawn Brown, Lowville, New York, 42 minutes, 54 seconds; Will Bomier, Raco, 43:11; Grahame Howe, Freedom, Ohio, 43:24; Monte Simmons, Engadine, 44:07; and Leigh Gilchrist, Brechin, Ontario, 46:37.

Adult 6-dog speed: Dawn Brown, Lowville, New York, 35:36; Courtney Frank, Lodi, Ohio, 36:24; Carol Finch, Williamsburg, 36:31; Melanie Bomier, Raco, 36:58; and Clement Boudreau, 37:09.

Monte Simmons of Engadine crosses the finish line, closely followed by Grahame Howe of Freedom, Ohio, in the eight-dog speed class division. Mr. Howe won third place, and Mr. Simmons took fourth. More than 60 riders entered into the races at Mackinaw City Saturday, February 7, and Sunday, February 8. Adult 4-dog speed: Douglas Frank, Lodi, Ohio, 24:03; Ryan Finch, Williamsburg, 24:14; Patricia Hnatuik, Massey, Ontario, 25:03; Mandy Collins, 25:39; and Gray Frank, Lodi, Ohio, 26:06.

Junior 3-dog speed: Forest Collins, 27:36; Simon Kimball, 32:38; Emily Harris, 53:51; and Hunter Campbell, 1:09:20.

Junior 2-dog speed: Forest Collins 8:34; Ben Schramm, 9:46; Aurora Jones, 10:20; Cassie Jones, 10:25; and Megan Campbell, 13:16.

Junior 1-dog speed: Jack Alexander, 22 seconds; Drake Collins, 26; and Kaitlin Haley, 44.