YQ300 Musher Profiles

2012 Participants

1. Blake Matray

Residence: Two Rivers, Alaska
Age: 44
Website: www.teambdo.homestead.com
Occupation(s): Pilot
Number of years running dogs: 15
Number of dogs currently in your kennel: 20
Kennel Name: Brown Dog Outfitters
Bloodlines: Mackey, King, Hendricks, Skoro
Breeds Include: Alaskan Husky, Siberian Husky
How did your kennel get its name: From my guiding business in North Dakota years ago
How did you get started running dogs: I bought two puppies from musher Brad Pozarnsky in ND
What do you love most about running dogs: Watching the young dogs develop
Why did you enter the 2012 YQ300 and what are your goals for the race: To get a young team some much needed experience

Recent Sled Dog Races

  2. Ava Lindner

Residence: Two Rivers, Alaska
Age: 20
Occupation(s): Dog Handler/Student 
Number of years running dogs: 6
Number of dogs currently in your kennel: 70
Kennel Name: Johnson River Kennel
Bloodlines: Our Own :-)
Breeds Include: Alaskan Husky
How did your kennel get its name: An old homestead of my father's on the Johnson River
How did you get started running dogs: I was born in to it.                                             Please share with us some stories about your dogs: Whip is one of my favorite dogs. She is so amazing and incredibly sweet. She loves to cuddle and is an amazing leader.
What do you love most about running dogs: I love the peace, and I love working with my dogs everyday.
Why did you enter the 2012 YQ300 and what are your goals for the race: I am using it as a qualifier for the 2013 Iditarod.

Recent Sled Dog Races

 3. Cindy Abbot
Residence: Irvine, California
Age: 52
Website: www.reachingbeyondtheclouds.com
Occupation(s): Health Science Instructor at California State University Fullerton
2012 Sponsors: Mackey Kennel Inc.
Number of years running dogs: 1st year
Number of dogs currently in your kennel: 75
Kennel Name: Mackey Kennel Inc.
Bloodlines: The Lance Mackey Special – Mackey, Swenson, Osmar
Breeds Include: Alaskan Huskies
How did you get started running dogs: By working at Lance Mackey’s kennel
What do you love most about running dogs: The dogs! The adventure! Nature!
Why did you enter the 2012 YQ300 and what are your goals for the race: Iditarod qualifier and race experience. My goal is to run a good race and finish with all my dogs happy and healthy.

 4. Rob Cooke
Residence: Dawson City, Yukon
Age: 45
Website: www.shaytaanhuskies.com
Occupation(s): Retired
Number of years running dogs: 13
Number of dogs currently in your kennel: 43
Kennel Name: Shaytaan Siberian Huskies
Breeds Include: Siberian Huskies
How did you get started running dogs: Got a couple of huskies as pets…
What do you love most about running dogs: Being out on the trail with just the dogs
Why did you enter the 2012 YQ300 and what are your goals for the race: Gain experience and qualify for the Quest
Are you a member of any other organizations involving sled dog sports: Siberian Husky Club of GB

Recent Sled Dog Races

5. Peg Harpham

Age: 47
Place of Birth: Canadian
Current Residence: Fairbanks, Alaska
Occupation(s): Safety Assistant
Website: http://www.tailwaggerskennel.blogspot.com
Kennel Name: Tailwaggers Kennel
How Did This Name Develop: We are the home of happy dogs
Kennel Bloodlines: My own
Breeds Included: Alaska huskies, Malamutes
# of Dogs in Kennel: 43
Sponsors: Friends, family, visa
How many years have you been running dogs? 23
Tell us about your dogs: One of my "go to" dogs is a smaller male with a big tough nothern name - PeePee. He earned that name because that's what he does when he's excited which is usually all the time. He was a bottle fed pup and he and I share a remarkable bond.
How did you get started running dogs? Former Quest musher Dave Oleson.
My experience has been long distance expeditions mostly.
What do you love most about running sled dogs? The relationship with the dogs and how we can travel where few people get to go.
Why did you enter the 2012 YQ 300 and what are your goals for the race?
Entered the Quest for the challenge. My goal is to finifh with happy, healthy dogs.

6. Luan Marques

Residence: Macae – Rio De Janero – Brazil
Nationality: Brazilian
Age: 21
Occupation(s): Dog Trainer, Pet Shop Owner
Number of years running dogs: 5 months
Kennel Name: Dream A Dream Dog Team
Breeds Include: Alaskan Husky
Why did you enter the 2012 YQ300 and what are your goals for the race: To qualify for the 2013 Iditarod.

Recent Sled Dog Races
 

7. Jimmy Lebling

Residence: Two Rivers, Alaska
Age: 44
Occupation(s): Commercial Fisherman, Tour Guide
2012 Sponsors: Jan DeNapoli, Eric Cosmutto, Lance, Tonya, and The Musherz
Number of years running dogs: 15
Number of dogs currently in your kennel: 40
Kennel Name: Muzzys Place
Bloodlines: Boulding, Garnie, Jan’s mix trying to keep the “old” AK Huskies going
Breeds Include: Alaskan Huskies
How did your kennel get its name: Named after Jan’s cousin’s broadhead company
Please share with us some stories about your dogs: I’ve worked with a lot of dogs over the years and Jan’s are some of the nicest ones I’ve ever met! My leaders Bandit and Beauty survived a helicopter crash with me so I’m glad to be alive and have them for guidance!
How did you get started running dogs: Scooping poop!
What do you love most about running dogs: The peace I find on the trail and the friends I’ve made along the way.
Why did you enter the 2012 YQ300 and what are your goals for the race: I entered to see the trail and learn more about myself and these amazing dogs. My goal is to finish with happy and healthy dogs!

8. Josh Cadzow
Residence: Fort Yukon, Alaska
Age: 24
Occupation(s): Dog Musher, Construction, Heavy Equipment Operator
2012 Sponsors: Native Village of FYU; Doyon Ltd.; Yukon Cargo; American Mechanical Inc.; Brice Inc.; Chizhur LLC.; Dick/Erla Hutchinson – Circle, Alaska; KZPA Radio Station; Aunt Vivian; Clyde Mayo Jr.; Justin James-handler; Cadzow Kennels.
Number of years running dogs: 20
Number of dogs currently in your kennel: 30
Kennel Name: Cadzow Kennel – Fort Yukon
Bloodlines: Cadzow
Breeds Include: Smyth, Goosen, Cadzow, Taylor
How did your kennel get its name: Last name – Family name
Please share with us some stories about your dogs: This group has been together for 5 years, with a few add ons.
How did you get started running dogs: Our family has been mushing for a long time.
What do you love most about running dogs: Putting a team together that is competitive.
Why did you enter the 2012 YQ300 and what are your goals for the race: A good training run for my team before the Iditarod. This should be a good race for my team this year.

Recent Sled Dog Races

9. Ed Abrahamson
Residence: Fairbanks, Alaska
Age: 43
Occupation(s): Father/husband, caregiver & musher for our 21 dogs, retired fisherman – soon to be out of retirement
Number of dogs currently in your kennel: 21
Kennel Name: Dancing Light
Bloodlines: Canadian and Alaskan
Breeds Include: No idea.
How did your kennel get its name: My father and I came up with it over a beer.
What do you love most about running dogs: My relationship with my dogs. Experiencing the power, strength, and stamina of my dog team galloping through wilderness. I love it, not sure I could live without it.
Why did you enter the 2012 YQ300 and what are your goals for the race: Not enough money to run the YQ1,000.

Withdrawals:

1. Jean-Denis Britten

2. Ilana Kingsley

3. Michael Suprenant

4. Judy Currier

5. Vern Halter