Aaron Peck is the winner of the 12-dog Canadian Challenge race. (Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race/Facebook)

By Derek Cornet

sled dog race

Peck becomes 12-dog Canadian Challenge champion for third time

Feb 21, 2020 | 4:14 PM

Just before 5 a.m. this morning Aaron Peck, of Grand Prairie, crossed the finish line to be declared the 2020 Canadian Challenge 12-dog sled race winner.

Peck completed the more than 500-kilometre race in 64 hours and 51 minutes, nearly six hours before Jesse Terry arrived at the final checkpoint to claim second place. Christina Traverse took third having completed the race in 73 hours and 15 minutes, while Clayton Perry is still yet to finish but is between Wadin Bay in La Ronge.

“I’m really happy about the dogs’ performance,” Peck said. “This is kind of a warm-up run for the Iditarod, we’re going to be going to Alaska next week. These dogs will be going on a thousand-mile run on March 7. It came together pretty well here, and we’re are confident in the dogs’ ability.”

The 12-dog race began Feb. 18 in Elk Ridge and continued past La Ronge to the communities of Grandmother’s Bay and Stanley Mission, before looping back to finish line in La Ronge.

This marks the third time Peck has won the race having last done so in 2017.

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Peck noted it would have been nice if more than four mushers raced in the event, adding he had a big enough lead near the end of the race to give his dogs additional rests. He also mentioned how much he enjoyed travelling through northern Saskatchewan.

“The trail was awesome and we love the geography up here,” Peck said. “This region up here in northern Saskatchewan is beautiful. Going north into the northern communities kind of reminds me of some places on the Iditarod. Coming across Lac La Ronge is beautiful. It’s a lot like going across the Bering Sea when you are in Alaska. We love it up here.”

The final event of the Canadian Challenge is the awards banquet Saturday at La Ronge Hotel and Suites. Challenge president Stefaan De Marie said the public is invited to join and tickets for breakfast cost $20.

“It’s worthwhile because there’s going to be a lot of stories about the mushers on the trail and several awards,” he said.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno