Sled Dog Derby is on for this weekend

Published Date Written by Roger Amsden

LACONIA — A weekend snow storm that dropped about eight inches of snow in the area with more snow expected for Wednesday night has put the 84th World Championship Sled Dog Derby back on track.
''We're good to go. The weekend snow definitely helped,'' said Lakes Region Sled Dog Club President Jim Lyman.
He said that the club made the decision when it met last night at Patrick's Pub in Gilford to go ahead with the race, already twice postponed, based on a forecast that what had initially been predicted as rain for Wednesday night will now be a snow event for the Lakes Region.
''Our trail groomer is packing the base and has snow to work with. We're okay as long as we don't get rain,'' said Lyman.
He said that two different trails are being prepared at this point, one 13 miles long and the other 16 miles long and that a decision will be be made later as to which trail to be used for the open class dogs.
The six-dog class races on a six-mile course which is a shorter loop of one of the longer courses. All courses begin and end off North Main Street, across the street from the former Laconia State School campus.
Drivers will meet at the Christmas Island Steakhouse on Thursday at 7 p.m. to draw for the starting order on the first day of the event.
Racing will start at 8:30 a.m. Friday morning with six-dog teams and the open class teams will run at noon.
Six-dog teams start at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday with three-dog junior class teams starting at noon both days followed by the open teams at 1 p.m.
An awards ceremony will be held Sunday at 4 p.m. at Patrick's Pub in Gilford.