Old news

20.12.2010

6.11.2010

For WC-race season had to improve camera and get new better objective. For a week intencive hunting and compering "It" foud: Canon EF 70-200 mm f/4 L IS USM. After few test pictures "It" seems to be very suitable and actually good.

Pictures morning training cloudy, grey weather about 9 o´clock:

At twelve 0´clock in sligh snow:

20.10.2010

Dryland season is over. Next race is in January 2011.

In sebtemper in Kausala siberian husky special show Apassi got "very good", Komanssi did not enjoy judge to touch him - he lied down, so " not be judged".

First race in autumn was Pekolan Pakolliset. Unofficial rigrace partiticipated with junior team - testing young dogs. As result was fastest time in race avg speed 27,78 km/h. Dogs in team; as leaders: Polar Speed Polka – McAhon Delaware and wheeldogs: McAhon Devil – McAhon Dakota.

In Ohkola continued 2.10.2010 Danler-Powerline Cup. This time Antti participated in four diffirent classes and for first time to six dogs rig - but only five dogs in team. Dogs ran quite well. Main goal is in Jämi Finnish chamionship - so trainig was not optimal to Ohkola race, witch is seen in speed. DR1 Corvette gave all he can. In finish dog´s head was covered with scum. In DS2 ran smallest dogs, Carina ja Darcelect and they ran quite well. In DR4 ”team number 1” ran quite well, Anselli has overweight and cannot ran same speed as others, but time was reasonable. (One second more than in Ohkola spring race).

Next was VUL´s camp for juniors in Räyskälä (Antti was one of tutors). Racedogs got power- speedtraining for weekend.

In Jämi arranged L-SVU´s traditional autumncamp and Dryland FC in scooter- and rig-classes. Race was biggest dryland race in Jämi ever. Antti partcipated to three classes: DS2, DR4 and DR6. In DS2 ran Corvette and Darcelect, cause they can not yet ran in this time of season for full speed six kilometres (distance in DR2 and DR4 was 4,4,km). Both dogs ran well in both days. Corvette was, as usual, covered with scum in finish. In DR4 dogs ran unsatisfactorily. In both days Anselli did not cope with the speed. Position in race was meaningless, but final time was disappointment. Biggest reason to poor time was Anselli´s overweight - she was not got put off the weight - even we tried to do it. In DR6 dogs ran also quite well. Distance was bit too long compared to training, but it did not show for freezing -actually only in last uphill. Afterwards thinking it might been vice to leave Rocet off the team in second day. But the time benefit has then been few seconds - so, no change to final position.

As result in DR6 silver medal (and only 10 seconds behind gold medal)

Danler-Powerline Cup position finally second with 74,5 points [races: Ohkola springrace (16,5 points), Jämi springrace (20), Ohkola autumnrace (26) and Kärry-SM Jämi (12)].

Look more details here

Pictures from Jämi DR6 (photo Kauko Ruokolainen):

26.8.2010

Dog´s training started bit over week later than previous year. Finally in the end of August was temperature in the early morning (about six o´clock) under 15. Now in racetraining is 12 dogs and rest of the dogs run train to safaries. In winter only 6 dogs are selected to race team - so half of the training dogs are racing only dryland.

In sunday 22^nd of august we find ourselves in dog show: Carina was shown by showhandler Kirsi and got "very good". Few dogs are also participating special show of siberian huskies - so have to continue showhandling practice.

18.7.2010

Rudi and Sembra out on the field 2.7.

12.6.2010

In thursday (10.6) we got new member in our dogteam: Lecibsin Grudolf. Rudi is four months old really brisk puppy, brave and keen to contact Mittel Spitz ( German spitz, midle size). Rudi was just in friday " Arctic Crowd-puller" in Finninsh Siberian Husky Club´s stand in Hunting Exebition Riihimäki.

Jämi Spring-race arranged 22.5 with traditional puppy camp. It was one part of Danler Powerline Cup. Meaning was to participate four classes, but six dog´s rig was loan rig and the owner couldn´t come at all - so Antti participated (only :) ) three classes.In 6 dog´s rig class was ment to test young dogs in race for next season and get those experience. Wheather was warm so race moved to late evening and distance shorten to 3,3 km in small classes. Trail was really soft. Result was as expected. In DS1 Corvette ran quite well in warm wheather ande position was 5^th.In DS1 Polka and Cherokee also ran quite well, position second. In DR4 dogs ran well half of the trail and then they bit freeze. Time was still reasonable 8:44 (last autumn in same trail time 8:12) position second.

In Danler-Powerline Cup position after two races second half point before thrid position.

Season 09-10

Season was good to our kennel. As result: two Scandinavian Championships (4S C, 4SS C), Finnish Championships: Gold medal (Sp4 C) and Silver medal in 2R and two bronze medals 4R, Sp4 C. In autumn dryland races went well. Dryland Finnish Championship race in Jämi all dogs ran exellent and same speed continued in Ohkola dryland. In winter´s first races running condition was incomplete.Running was quite blocked( obstructed) in Robur sprint, cause hard speed training was difficult to do in our trailconditions. In middle of January Ara hurt his paw(toebone broken ) and his raceseason was over.Luckily in this season at first time there was really good spare dog - good enogh. In Ohkola first round went well with both dogteams. Dogs find speed in spite of soft trail. Second round got jelly: dogs been trained to run 8 km per day ( two rounds for same day was too much) Two weeks after Ohkola was Metsäkartano Sprint( in Rautavaara). Dogs got good rest before race. In Rautavaara trail was soft - in first day had to brake whole round. Second day dogs begin to warn and slowen the speed in soft parts of the trail. In spite of softness main speed was better than in Robur sprint month before, where was good, hard trail. A week after Rautavaara in Ohkola arranged unofficial race. Trail was excellent, so we got brilliant trainig for SOC. In Norway Scandinavian Open Championship ( SOC) frist day went well. Trail profile was very suitable to our dogs and trailconditions was excellent. In second day dogs ran excellent. Third day was bad in Olympic model, mass start went poorly, dogs were thired and running was difficult for all those mix-ups. In late March Oinakka-ajot dogs had lost top condition. Running was really forced, trail extemely soft. Spring dryland races went quite well. Dogs aren´t yet in top condition, but ran still well.

Timing the top condition succeeded. Top was in SOC, which was the main goal of the season. Domestic races was more and less succeeded "training", dogs didn´t ran perfectly in any race.

14.5.2010

Ohkola Spring race arranged 8.5. Antti partisipated in three classes: DS1,DS2 ja DR4; all together six roundsin same day ( each class two rounds in same day with two hours break. First started DR4. Dogs ran quite nicely. Time was good. Stil seemed that they did not go in their best. Wheeldogs ran like unbalanced. We choosed Corvette in DS1. Corvette was right choice, he ran very rough working whole round. In the end part of the trail he saw competitor started before - so in finish Corvette was almost "half dead". DS2 started Polka and Cherokee. Start was poor. Dogs started to run propely after half kilometre. End of the round went without problems - so position 5^thafter first round^.

Musher got under 2 hours break for second rounds to all classes. DR4 dogs ran better time got better 6 seconds.Positon stayed the same; third one and half minute behind the winner. DS1 Corvette ran again well, but rough working in first round made hin seem thired in last part of the trail. Position shared third place almost two and half minutes after winner.DS2 Polka and Cherokee ran in full speed whole round so time got better 15 seconds. Final position fourth bit over one and half minutes behind the winner.

Next race was in Turenki (13.5). This time participated only in DS2 class with Apassi and Anselli. Weather was bit too warm to dogs. Trail was good, hard but speed wasn´t good enought. Position third.

Last race of the season is Jämi and puppy camp. Then is whole season 09-10 over.

Few pictures from Ohkola:

DR4: Sembra, Anselli, Komassi ja Apassi

DS1: Corvette

DS2 Cherokee and Polka

5.4.2010

Off snow season started with ATV again. Some pictures from the training:

Leaders Apassi and Anselli

Carina and Polka

Corvette and Cherokee

Sembra and Komanssi

Biloxi and Rocet

4.4.2010

We ended winter season in Oinakka ajot 2010 20 - 21.3. In this time two teams participated in four dogs class. Second team stated the race almost straight from sleddog safari. Only couple higher speed training before race.Warmer weather and new snow made our trails poor and soft - so last two weeks training had to drive slow speed in deep snow. This took sharpness away from race team, witch was on top in Norway.

Oinakka ajot first day trail was really sinking. Dogs wade almost belly in snow.In results first team was first and second team was third. Diffirence to A-class first Teemu over 7 minutes!

In second day the trail was harder. Teams kept their standings (and diffirense to Teemu was only 3 minutes). First team ran avg speed 25,6km/h, but still best sharpness was gone. Second team ran 22 km/h avg speed,witch is safari team´s normal training speed. Result: Sp4 C –class Finnish Championship and FC bronze medal.

Race season continues in dryland races with rig in may.

Some pictures from Oinakka ajot, pictures © Kari Yliräisänen

12.3.2010

SOC

Text about Scandinavian Open Championship bit later ( in translation )

Two gold medals to our team: Sp4 C and Short Sprint 4-dogs ( Olympic Model, mass start) We are so proud!

At home from Norway. Next to do is to get ready to new race. I got two golden medals in Nordic Open championship.

Race trip started on Wednesdays afternoon. First we drove to Hauho. There we transfered dogs to Micke´s and Erja´s trailer. So we contined towards Turku with two cars and one trailer. Then ferry Silja Europa to Stocholm. Silja Europa was only ship in that night, witch wasn´t got stuck into ice. Still we dodged Mariehamn cause Finnlink blocked the harbour.Luckily ferry arrived to Stocholm on schedule. Journey continued throught Sweden to Norway and we were in Hamar about 5 o´clock. Hanler-Aija left with Micke and Erja to musher´s meeting as representative.I stayed with Riku and Pasi to prepaire sled´s runners ready to competition.

Friday morning cold and clear weather in centre of Hamar was -26°C , but uphills in competition area only -16°C. Four dogs class started at ten o´clock. My own handler centred to photos (as result about 800 photos during weekend), so Micke and Erja had to be handlers to my team. Start went well, but in second turn dogs fell beside the trail into half metre snow - leaders can not see the trail - so they straighten the turn too much. Leaders got up and going quicly, but lines got mixed. So I have to stop. After 200 metres I noticed that leader´s neckline is under hardness so I had to stop again to clear the lines. It took almost one kilometre to get good running rythmn. Rest of the trail went without problems. I passed few dogteams. As result best time of the day 44 seconds before next competitor and avg speed 28,7 km/h. Rest of the day I helped othes Finnish competitors to start and waiting them to come to finish. Runners I left to team´s waxer´s problem.

Ensimmäisen päivän lähtö

Lauantaiaamu oli lähes yhtä kylmä kuin perjantai ja sää oli edelleen aurinkoinen. Nelosilla oli vuorossa takaa-ajolähdöt. Ensimmäisenä autoin matkaan Teemun joka lähti sekunnin ennen Norjan Lena Boysen-Hillestadia. Sitten aloin valmistautua omaan starttiini, joka oli 17 minuuttia myöhemmin. Oma valjakko suoriutui tästä päivästä varsin hyvin. Matkalla tuntui ettei kaikki koirat oikein kulje, mutta vilkaisu gepsiin kertoi kyllä jotain muuta. Maaliin tullessa eroa seuraavaan oli kertynyt kokonaisajassa jo yli kaksi ja puoli minuuttia ja keskinopeudeksi toisena päivänä tuli 29,9 km/h. Pyöräkoirat olivat maalissa aika väsyneitä ja hapoilla, mutta kohtuuhyvin ne palautuivat seuraavalle päivälle. Loppupäivä meni samaa raataa kuin edellinenkin. Illalla kävimme porukalla syömässä Hamarin keskustassa ja sieltä suuntasimme palkintojen jakoon Rica hotelliin. Majapaikkaan lähdettiin PM-kulta takataskussa (kaulassa).

Toisen päivän lähtö ja maaliintulo

Sunnuntai oli aamusta lämpöisempi kuin muut päivät, mutta aamupäivästä taivaalle alkoi kertyä pilviä eikä lämpötila noussut enää juurikaan. Nelosissa ajettiin erillisenä kilpailuna short sprint (lyhyt sprintti) yhteislähdöllä. Matkana oli n. 3 x 2,3 km. Lähtöalueelle sopi rinnakkain kuusi valjakkoa, joten niitä jouduttiin laittamaan useampaan riviin. Lähtösuora oli noin sata metriä pitkä, mutta lähes puolet siitä meni ”lähtöloosseihin” seuraavaksi olikin sitten luvassa pari loivaa kaarretta noin 4 metrisellä uralla. A-koirien yhteislähdössä olin handlaamassa Teemun tiimiä. Olihan se melkoista meteliä kun 17 valjakkoa odottaa lähtöä muutaman aarin alueella. Handlereille yhteislähtö useasta rivistä on hieman vaarallista, mm. viereisen ruotsalaisvaljakon molemmat handlerit teilattiin tantereeseen takaa tulleen valjakon toimesta. Ensimmäisessä mutkassa osa valjakoista ajautui ulos radalta ja seurauksena oli melkoinen sotku. Kaikki valjakot taisivat kuitenkin selviytyä radalta hengissä takaisin.

B- ja C-koirat oli yhdistetty samaan lähtöön, kun muuten olisi tullut aika pienet massalähdöt. Omalta osaltani lähtö ei tälläkään kertaa onnistunut ongelmitta. Oma valjakkoni lähti uran toisesta laidasta, pari metriä edellisen päivän lähtöuran vierestä. Koirat päättivät, että toinen lähtöura on parempi ja hyppäsivät matalan lumipenkan yli sinne. Handleri-Riku kahlasi lumihangen läpi kääntämään koirat oikealle uralle. A-koirilla tässä kohtaa oli aita, mutta järjestäjät siirsivät sen pois ilmoittaen ettei näin hitaat koirat tarvitse sellaisia! Siinä sitä sitten lähdettiin takaa-ajoon melkein viimeisenä. Koirat olivat tosin sotkeneet liinansa joten täytyi pysähtyä niitäkin selvittelemään. Noin kilometrin ajon jälkeen sain kärjen kiinni. Toiselle kierrokselle lähdettäessä edellä ajavien valjakot pysähtyivät maalialueen reunaan. Olin juuri ohittamassa toista valjakkoa kun sen johtajat vaihtoivat vähän juoksulinjaa ja tulivat omien johtajieni eteen jotka reagoivat normaaliin tapaan esteeseen eli hyppäsivät yli. Siinä sitä sitten selviteltiin valjakoita. Suomalaisista Mikael Bäckman selviytyi hässäkästä kunnialla ja siirtyi kilpailun kärkeen toiselle kierrokselle lähdettäessä! Itse selviydyin kolmantena uralle. Kierroksen alun ylämäki osuudella ohitin edellä olleet valjakot ja kolmannelle kierrokselle lähdettäessä oma valjakkoni oli kilpailun kärjessä. Sitten koirat ajautuivat/kääntyivät yleisön sekaan ja takana tullut valjakko pääsi ohi, tosin sen valjakon keula hyppäsi uran sivuun parin kymmenen metrin jälkeen. Yleisön (ja ylituomarin) avustuksella valjakkoni saatiin oikeaan suuntaan. Pyöräparin vetoliina oli tarttunut reen jalaksen kiinnityskohtaan ja reki alkoi puoltaa ja lähestyi uhkaavasti rinnalla ajanutta valjakko. Siinäpä sitten hyppäsin korjaamaan liinoja juuri ennen kuin reki olisi törmännyt toisen valjakon koiriin. Kolmas kierros meni sitten ilman sen enempiä ongelmia, takana tulevat pysyivät koko kierroksen ajan tasaisesti reilun sadan metrin päässä. Viimeisen kilometrin koiratkin tulivat jo normaaliin tapaan ja eroa takana tuleviin kertyi lisää. Maalissa eroa oli yli puoli minuuttia. Kokokilpailun ajan koirilla oli vaikeuksia päästä juoksurytmiin, kun kokoajan oli ohituksia ja pysähdyksiä.

Kolmannen päivän maaliintulo (yhteislähtökisa)

Maaliintulon jälkeen pari IFSS:n toimitsijaa tuli ilmoittamaan, että toinen johtaja joutuu dopingtestiin. Seuraavaksi tuli tieto, että ruotsalaiset olivat tehneet pari protestia. Dopingtestiin joutuva koira juotettiin ja laitettiin boxiin odottamaan testiä. Tunnin kuluttua menimme hakemaan toimitsijat valvomaan testiä. Anselli suostui lopulta viiden minuutin kyttäämisen jälkeen tekemään tarpeensa ja osa osui vielä purkkiinkin (90 ml). Tämän jälkeen menimme jakamaan näytteen A- ja B-näytteeseen ja pakkaamaan kuljetusta varten. Dopingtestin jälkeen mentiin sitten selvittelemään jurylle protesteja. Ruotsalaiset olivat tehneet kolme protestia: yhden kiilaamisesta ja kaksi hyökkäilevästä koirasta. Agressiivisesta koirasta oli laitettu saatteeksi, että sama valjakon vasemmanpuoleinen pyöräkoira on jo useamman vuoden ajan käyttäytynyt agressiivisesti kilpailuissa. Pientä hilpeyttä aiheutti se että ko. koira juoksi kolmatta kisaansa koko elämässään ja ikääkin on jo 2,5 vuotta, eikä se ole koskaan nähnyt ulkomaista huskyvaljakkoa! Koira oli kisan aikana parissa ohituksessa tuijottanut ohitettavaa valjakkoa, mutta jatkanut juoksemista aina omaa linjaansa hyökkäilemättä minnekkään. Tuomarineuvosto päätyi lopulta kahteen erilliseen varoitukseen, jotka ilmeisesti lievenivät suullisiksi huomautuksiksi koska niitä ei annettu kirjallisina eikä merkitty tuloksiin.

Kilpailupaikalla oli koko viikonlopun ajan todella avoin ja mukava tunnelma. Kaikki suomalaiset kannustivat ja auttoivat toisiaan minkä omalta suoritukseltaan ehtivät. Kilpailun järjestelyt toimivat kohtuullisesti, tosin jonkin verran jäi vielä parannettavaa ensivuodelle MM-kilpailuihin.

Kotimatkan aloitimme vasta maanantai aamuna. Ruotsin puolella pysähdyimme tutustumaan yhteen "pommi kenneliin", melkoinen lauma erivärisiä pieniä karvapalloja siellä olikin. Laivalla Tukholmasta Turkuun olikin sitten matkustamassa useampi suomalainen. Niinpä tarjosimme Lehtomäen V-P:n kanssa laivan ravintolassa kakkukahvit (omakustanne hintaan) kaikille paikalla olleille suomalaisille valjakkourheilijoille.

-Antti-

17.2.2010

Raceweekend in Rautavaara Metsäkartano Sprint- race. In Sp6 ja SpU -classes Finnish Championship and in Sp4-class arranges Finnish Kennel Club´s Finnish Champion race-test. Our team participated to Sp4-class. In Shoutern Finland there is plenty of snow, but in Rautavaara and Eastern Finland there have been lack of snow. Metsäkartano tralis have first been made on the lakes, on the ice . Few weeks before race also Rautavaara got snow and trails can be made in woods. Unfortunately two weeks is not enough to make hard basis to trails. On the ice raised water - so original tralis became impossible to ride. Tralis were soft - as you can see times.

First day our team started quite beginnig of the class. Sp6 had their race before Sp4 - on the trail was full of holes and soil was soft. Dogs running has to take slowly - brake almost all the way to avoid injuries. In sloping hills coudn´t dare to kick speed to maintain steady pulling to dogs. Time was reasonable in spite of braking and position third 20 seconds behing second position.

In second day the trali became harder, but still soft on some parts. It was ment to get cauht racer before, but dogs desided that trail is too dangerous to running - so they sloved the speed in downhills and became watchful.Time got better 20 seconds, but othes ran faster. Position third. Dogs got Champion -title and REK1 result.

Dogs in team:

SM-REK4-07 SM-REK4-09 SM-REK4-10 McAhon Apache

SM-REK4-09 SM-REK4-10 McAhon Anselli

SM-REK4-10 McAhon Comanche

SM-REK4-10 Wintry Sembra

31.1.2010

More than interesting race day in Ohkola Talviajot: In the morning car´s engine doesn´t start.( accumulator empty although it was loaded day before.)Luckily in garage there was one tractor´s accumulator ready to use - so , we got engine started. Near Lahti one " birdhouse" cliced yellow ( automatic speed control) and now we wait for postman. During the journey to Ohkola watercanister fell and 10 liter water was on the floor inside the car. Lid was badly turned on.

Ohkola´s trail was really interesting, unfortunately soft for weatherconditions. Curly fieldtrail was funny and really nice, challenging to drive. Good training to dogs - it seem that dogteams are going in all directions,

First roud was really good, no any problems.. Timo´s team made fastest roud time of all siberianhusky-teams (Sp6 + Sp4 -class). While going to second roud, just when Timo opening the fastening rope , got mainrope broken- no dogs connected to sled!. Happily near was enough hadlers to help taking the loose team catch. We loaned new lines ( Thanks to Jenni Lautakatto for loaning lines to race!). This all happend three mitutes before start. How quick we all were, we couln´t change dogs to other lines fast enough: result was late start and 3 minutets time penalty and new stating time lastest of the class. So dogs waited almoist 20 minutes in lines. Timo passed several slower teams on the trail. Dogs got tired end of the round, cause distance was half longer than we have trained them to run (2 x 8 = 16 km in same day). Antti´s team started same time while, Timo was still on the trail (- no hanler - no GPS). Part of the dogs went totally jelly in end of the second roud, they even didn´t got exited of passing team. Last kilometer was almost sightseeing.

Result of the day was REK1-result ( first price of racetest) to all 10 dogs and reasonable postition in race. Timo´s team was third siberianhusky team and eight total results and Antti´s team was fastest siberianhusky team and fifth in total results

Next race is after two weeks Metsäkartano Sprint. There is also Finnish Kennel Club´s Finnish champion racetest in four dogs sprint. Only one of our dog teams takes part to the race.

Six-dog team coming to finish, roud one.

28.1.2010

Ohkola winterrace is coming. Ara´s injury put the raceteam mixed. Komanssi was a spare dog, but now he has to take Ara´s place in the first team. We already planned to test Komanssi in raceteam insted of Sembra in some races during winterseason. Now he takes part every race. To Ohkola goes two teams: "first team" (Antti) participates Sp4 and "secondteam" (Timo) Sp6.

Few pictures today´s training and few pictures two weeks ago

16.1.2010 "Second team" ( but Sembra insted of Corvette)

Antti tries to ride new sled

28.1.2010 Second team and driver gets ready to Ohkola

Second round goining on

Timo exercises Bewe driving with team "number One"

Kenneltrainee Jenni drives puppyteam

28.1.2010

Ara operated today: toe´s bone fixed with plate and from femoral bone tranferred bone to fasten bonegrowth. Paw is in gypsum 2 weeks.

20.1.2010

Unfortunate accident to Ara; one toebone was broken week ago and dog´s race season is over. Paw is in support bandage two weeks and new x-ray should be taken after 5 weeks. So dog is in rest till then.

14.1.2010

Last weekend started winter´s raceseason Robur sprint in Toivakka. Kimmo Hytönen had made brilliant tails - good to race. Hopefully there is elsewhere also so exellent trails.

Our team went moderate. As result: first place in class C ( siberian husky and fourth place in total results Sp4). You should be saticfated, but dogs wasn´t in their best at all. Main goal was to get routine in competiting to dogs and to driver routine to handle Danler sled. Driving was really diffirent to Bewe sled. In saturday going was obstructive and not relaxed. Speed wasn´t even in steady parts over 28 km/h and in passing one of the wheeldogs bungled so whole running rythmn got lost. In sundays dogs running was more sensitive and time got better half minute. Whole weekend the driver couldn´t steer the sled propely in turns and passings. Danler didn´t turn easy and fast. Hopefylly one can fix the driving problems by training more.

Next race is after a week Euro-Cup in Rautavaara also pre race to SOC. There is higher golas, but main goal is in March. Trying to find to dogs sensitive and speed and the driver learnig to drive the new sled.

19.12.2009

7.11.2009

Puppies -pages: added puppy-news.

3.11.2009

Dryland season is over. Only two official races this autumn; both had plenty of competitors. Our dryland season was excellent, look the results. Now is time to look ahead: winterseason, next winter and to new year. Golal seem to be in Hamar, Norway Scandinavian Open Championship -race (SOC).Year 2010 SOC is prerace to year 2011 WM-race, also in Hamar Norway.

here pictures from Ohkola 31.10.2009:

13.10.2009

Finnish Dryland Championship in Jämi was maybe biggest race of the whole season in Finland; 80 competitors. It is great to notice that dryland is going strong and get more and more intrest to participate. In every class is plenty of competitors. Also there is more rigs and rollers available - so there is better and real race between competitors.

Race was succeed to our kennel: much more than we expeted. 2R-class silver medal and the time was plesant suprice. ( we expected that mean speed 25 kh/h is possible, result was: 29,95 km/h) 4R-class bronze medal was really positive. Own pesomal record to that trail got remarkable better (time 8:35 => 8:12). Our second team ran their own level, but now it was not better than 9^thplace.

Pictures Finnish Dryland championship" Pawtrekker SM Jämi 2009" -race is here: http://mcahonkennel.net/kuvagaleria/main.php

Here few pictures from Jämi:

4.10.2009

Only week to Finnish Dryland Championship. Race team1 has over 30 trainig rides , other teams has a bit over 20. Distances has been short, weather is still too warm.

In Pekola, Hattula arranged 27^th September "Pekolan Pakolliset" -event. Main part of southern Finland's sleddogsportmen gathered together to unofficial rollerrace.

Mcahon kennel´s second team ( Timo) won the race and kennel´s first team ( Antti) was second.

("team 1" is built uniform and homogenous with same performance to sledraces in 4S sprint races. Dogs are same size, not too small, with capacity to work same rough speed. "team 2" Dogs varies in size, still fast enogh, rough working. Diffirence between those two teams is in power. They are similar in speed and speedendurance)

Dogs in team:

Team 2:

leaders: Polar Speed Polka - McAhon Carina

wheeldogs: Polar Speed Rocet - McAhon Comanche

and team 1:

leaders: McAhon Anselli - McAhon Apache

wheeldogs: McAhon Arapaho - Wintry Sembra

Here some pictures from Pekola race ( copyright Tomi Niemi)

-Antti-

11.8.2009

As we looked the calendar, we almost got panic: Finnish Dryland Championship and only two moths left. So we had to start trainig, altough the weather is far too warm ( almoust like summer). Early in the morning is chilly enough to run dogs with ATV. Dogs seem to be in better shape afterthis summer - so we expect good results for dryland races. Only our male raceleader has put on weigh one kilo. He is on diet now.

14.6.2009

Finnish Siberian husky club elected in 4-dogs class

"Year 2009 sled-driver" McAhon kennel´s Antti Mäkiaho.

5.5.2009

In Ohkola arranged 3.5 unofficial rollerrace. McAhon kennel´s 1. team (Antti) was third; tme 8:22 and 2. team (Timo) was fifth; time 9:02, distance was 4,1 km.

Dogs in team 1:

leaders: McAhon Anselli - McAhon Apache

wheels: McAhon Arapaho - Wintry Sembra

Dogs in team 2:

leaders: Polar Speed Rocet - McAhon Carina

wheels: McAhon Biloxi - McAhon Comanche

Carina and Komassi ran their first race.

1.5.2009

31.3.2009

Polar Speed Polka had second litter today. Six puppies was born. Three males and three bitches. Dad is Wintry Sembra.

29.3.2009

Something about race season 2008-2009

In race season 2008 – 2009 we participated 3 ”rollerraces” and 7 ”sledraces”. Our kennel´s team1 was fastest siberianhusky team in every race. Also team2 went well in those races, where we partcipated with two teams.

Difference to Finnish best mixed-breed raceteams stayed stabile whole winter season. Difference was 4-5,5 minutes time in four dogs sprint distace when trail was hard and in softer trail diffirence was about. 5,5-7 minutes. Biggiest difference to mix-raceteams comes in uphills and in soft trails. Our teams strenght compared to mix-raceteams is fast flat trailparts and downhills. Our meaning in future is to narrow the difference in speed to mix-raceteams by training, still we want to take care of that our siberianhuskies are inside breed-definition.

Compared to previous season there is huge developmet seen. Mistakes in training was taken to learn - you can see it in results. We changed few dog in team to make it more balance and bit faster...

We try to develop training in next season. More training with uphills and also with speedendurance.

Dogs in team 1 : Apassi (McAhon Apache) is brilliant race leader,who is leader in races as long as he is retired. ( not for a long time) Apassi has something that you can´t explain in words. Anselli (McAhon Anselli) developed to good raceleader in rollerraces last autumn. She is now taken her place in team one. Ara (McAhon Arapaho) continues stedy work as wheeldog. Excellent teamdog, who goes and goes and goes. Sembra (Wintry Sembra) ran super first season in raceteam. Sembra is really promising young dog . We wait a lot about him also in future.

Next autumn we test our youngsters in rollerraces. They seem to be promising. Propably in next winter raceteam 1 is the same, but to second team is comig dogs from our c-litter. Maybe we also take part to six dog´s class with the second team...

This season continues with few rollerraces. We try to fight places on the top. Also we try to improve our own record in Jämi trail.

Antti Mäkiaho

23.3.2009

Oinakka ajot 2009 Finnish Championship race and Breedclub´s Finnish champion race-test. Result in race 6/29 and dogs got race champion title: SM-REK4-09 cause the team was fastest siberian husky team in four dogs class.

SM-REk4-07, SM-REK4-09 McAhon Apache

SM-REK4-09 McAhon Anselli

SM-REK4-07, SM-REK4-09 McAhon Arapaho

SM-REK4-07, SMREK4-09 Polar Speed Rocet

Pictures © Hannu Rauhamaa

15.3.2009

Preparing to Finnish Champiship is in finsihing line, Next week is Oinakka Ajot 2009 It seems to be main race of the seanson, cause in SOC was so few Scandinavian competitors.

Prepairing has gone variable, but hopefully last traning sessions make dogs to top mood. Long racing season makes own challenges to training. Long pauses between races are difficult. Also we had difficulties to train the race dogs cause also race dogs run in safaris

Few changes to race team: Wintry Sembra is off the team because of mystic shoulder injury. So Polar Speed Rocet is second wheel dog. We`ll see how big boy can run? Rocet has ran only 2 races in this season and he is not in his best if the soil is soft.

Distance (8 km) in Finnish champinship is best to our team. We have noticed that dogs can run maximum speed 7 kmand after that will be bit slower before final spurt. So, if dogs are in shape, they will be able to run maximum speed whole race.

Antti Mäkiaho

1.3.2009

In Triathlon race Koskenpää arranged 28.2.2009 2 x 10,5 km sprintrace. There was 2 starts in same day. McAhon kennel participate at first time in six dog´s class ( 6S)

Result 3., fastest siberian husky team

In team: leaders: McAhon Anselli - McAhon Apache, speedpair: McAhon Arapaho - Wintry Sembra, wheeldogs: Polar Speed Rocet - McAhon Biloxi

Polar Speed Polka is expecting puppies and no longer in workteam . We expect puppies to be born in week 13, daddy is Wintry Sembra

16.2.2009

Scandinavian open championship - race is over. Unfortunately swedish competitor did not start in the race - so there was no official SOC-championship title to won. We have done all dog training and work with dogs to reach Scandinavian championship in class C"siberianhusky" Antti won the C-class but not in the way he wanted.

About the race: First day in race wasn´t gone well. Route was soft and dogs started to run too slow. At home it is not possible to train dogs in soft snow, because it is only 10 cm snow here. Dog´s paws don´t sink in 10 cm snow. Second day was good. Dogs ran brilliant and time was 1,5 minutes faster than saturday.

2.2.2009

Racing season started in Jongunverranajot 24-25.1.2009 Lieksa. Antti drove 2 teams. He had stomachache in second day´s morning and couldn´t eat anything. Between first and second team was 30 minutes to change dogs. At the first trips end on ice he felt dizzy and he almost fainted. Of couse we foget to buy sportdrinks! So in hurry we feed him with chocolate.

When comig home our car started to have odd noise. At home we did´n find any problem. So we manage to drive to Ohkola, but then frontwheels´s bearing stopped going. Antti hitchiked with dogs, sled and other stuff , to Kirsi´s car to Ylämaa Kasarin salpasäpinät ( results here)

18.1.2009

McAhon Safarit started sled dog rides to customers in New Years Season at Laukaa, Varjola. Our purpose is to arrange sleddog rides mainy at home kennel in our own routes. It is possible to arrange sledride also in customer´s place if there is safe route.

Goal of the season is still racing: Scandinavian Open Championship in Rautavaara, Finland

Few pictures taken in Varola:

Corvette and Biloxi:

Polka and Anselli

Apassi:

Corvette and Biloxi:

13.11.2008

Article in local newspaper: vekkari1.htm and continues: vekkari2.htm

5.10.2008

After Dryland Finnish Championship race is time to start to work again. Yearlings also in trainingteam

14.9.2008

In Larek´s autumnrace McAhon kennel situated to places 2nd and 3rd in four dogs roller class 4R :

11.9.2008

Waiting for Finish dryland Championship race in Jämi:

7.9.2008

Update at last. It has gone for a while sinse.

Busy summer is over and dogs training has started .

Last puppies have been also few times in team. Oh, they love runnig!

Here new pictures taken today´s training.

Kennel´s regular driver ( Antti ) is i the army now. He runs in woods in army training camp.

So the owner of this kennel ( Timo, second driver) has to take part some races and do almost all training to the dogs in this season.

In autumn we take part few dryland roller races.

Main goal is Finnish dry land championship in Jämi.

26.4.2008

The new racecart in test.

3.3.2008

In Rautavaara Finnish Siberian Husky Club´s mastership race. Distace was a bit too long for dogs and Antti said, that it goes like toddling. Position third.

In home journey our dogtrailer got broken. Today we are doing in heat repairings. Tomorrow we start to Sweden by nightboat. Season´s maingoal is in WSA´s worldchampionship race

Follow the race: http://www.polarhundsvm2008.se/

22.2.2008

Article in local newspaper:

8.1.2008

Main goal to the raceseason is inSweden Åsarna 2008 WSA Sleddog World Championships to registered nordic breed sled dogs

WSA Sleddog World Championships

Team Finland Siberianhusky and mushers introducion is here

23.9.2007

C-litter was born in 21.9.2007.

Mother is SM-REK4-07 Polar Speed Polka and dad is SM-REK4-05 Wintry Indian.

Puppies was born 8 , 4 males and 4 bitches.

21.6.2007

Good Midsummer!

Linnea borealis

1.5.2007

24.3 - 25..2007

Karelia Charm Finnish Siberianhusky club´s 40 year anniversary-race and SM-REK 07

Antti won 4-dogs class Siberianhysky club´s championship and in same time dog got SM-REK4-07 title!

Dogs: Polar Speed Polka, McAhon Apacheas leaders and wheeldogs Polar Speed Rocet and McAhon Arapaho

Antti came third in Iron Finn cup 2007!

Ylä-Karjala lehti

3-4.3.2007

Victory in 4-dogs Triathlon!

McAhon kennel´s raceteam win the race in Koskenpää Triathlon. First day races was load (race13.6 km and sled was loaded 40 kg) and also sprint race (13,6 km). In the second day it was middledistance race (36 km) Raceteam was: Polar Speed Polka, McAhon Apache as leaderdogs and in wheelpair Polas Speed Rocet, McAhon Arapaho, driver was Antti Mäkiaho

9-10.2.2007

Racing season started in Ruuhirod 4x20km during 20 hours. Drivers comment: if you can get REK2 with that performance, it doesn´t take much,.. was a bit too critical. Race was quite high level in 4-dogs class. Results: http://larek.pp.fi/RR-tulokset-07.htm

26.1.2007

Two male puppies from kennel Wintry joined the team.