And they're off: More than 60 teams take part in sled dog races

BRISTOL — The morning chill did not deter riders, dogs or spectators from Saturday's sled dog racing in Bristol.

The air hummed with energy as dogs barked and jumped higher than a person's waist, seemingly ready to run even before riders whistled and whooped orders at their teams.

The two-day event began Saturday morning with ski joring, which essentially is cross country skiing while being pulled by dogs. Skiers rode the trail, some with one dog and some with two. Some were pulled by dogs trained so well the skiers appeared to have barely anything to do at all.

The races were held by the New England Sled Dog Club on the trail between Profile Falls in Bristol and Old Hill Village in Franklin. Former NESDC president and current vice president Vince Buoniello noted that the larger the team of dogs, the farther out on the trail the riders race. Four-dog teams travel about 4 miles round trip, 6-dog teams travel about 6 miles round trip and so on.

In the 1960s, Buoniello said, the trail was the prime training area for New England sled dog racers, with some of the oldest sled dog races in the country starting in the Lakes Region.

Buoniello raced in the four-dog class Saturday. He's been running dogs for about 45 years and has served as a judge for the American Kennel Club. He started out in the show ring and said he began racing when his wife told him he shouldn't judge dogs without knowing them inside and out.

While the Siberian husky is a common breed used in sled dog racing, many riders use other breeds as well as mixed breeds, especially for short runs like Saturday's.

But, Buoniello said, the husky is the prime choice to race because of its webbed feet.

The dogs are more important than anything else, Buoniello said Saturday.

"They are only as good as you train them," he added. "They are athletes."

Jenna is his oldest dog. She is 13 and runs next to her son, who is 11. Buoniello got them from a runner in Quebec and has run them together for eight or nine years, he said.

About 63 teams raced this weekend.

"It's a fun sport," Buoniello said.

Teams came from locations that included Canada and New Jersey.

Grace Bailey raced Saturday in the 6-dog pro class. She races with K Tess Kennels of Strafford.

She has raced sled dogs for 10 or 11 years now and said she started when her sister, who is now in college, got her first dogs at age 11.

"It's a lot of fun," she said. "I really like the dogs."

Buoniello said there isn't a lot of money in racing sled dogs, so most runners do it because they love it.

"It's so satisfying," he said.

He described the hum of the sled and the heavy breathing of the dogs when it's just him and his team out on the trail.

"I don't always win, but I never lose," he said.

Keith Bryer, a world champion sled dog racer, ran a 16-dog team in the open class Saturday. He ran and won the Tamworth sled dog races last weekend and hopes to win the Laconia races next weekend.

It wouldn't be the first time.

He considered the race Saturday to be a warm up for the Laconia race.

"We are saving it for next weekend," he said.

He's been racing sled dogs his whole life, and it runs in his family. His parents are also world champions in the sport.

He said he also does it because he loves the dogs, loves to compete and is passionate about the sport.

Results are due to be announced Sunday, when the event concludes.