Culture

“This was the biggest year we’ve had by far,” says Chris Bannister of Xtreme Weather Kennels in North East, who has organized the race for the last six years.

“We had teams come from 12 different states this year, making FHC the largest race with the most regional turnout in dryland racing history.”

Also known as “dryland mushing” or “urban mushing,” dryland racing is a relatively new sport. Instead of pulling snow sleds, dogs pull their handlers across dry terrain in wheeled carts (called gigs). The gigs look something like a go-cart frame with handlebars; they’re hauled by teams of four to six dogs, with their “musher” standing on a platform at the rear of the gig.

There’s also a “bikejor” category—where dogs pull a rider on a mountain bike—and a similar category for scooters.  In the “canicross” category, a jogger is tethered to one or two dogs and runs behind them.  

The Fair Hill Challenge has grown in popularity over the years. Pet food vendors, sled makers and outfitters, dog rescues, and pet suppliers brave the frigid wind to set up booths near the starting line, and spectators young and old bundle up to enjoy the show. Sipping hot chocolate, they cheer competitors along the winding, three-and-a-half-mile Cecil County course across meadows, woods, and streams.

Dryland racing is a great way to train sled dogs, but any dog that weighs over 30 pounds and likes to run can compete in the challenge, so it’s a nice way to keep the family pooch in shape, too.

Insa Robinson, of Collegeville, Pennsylvania, is competing with her Vizsla (“Roka”) and Weimaraner (“Mia”) in the two-dog scooter category for the first time today.

“We’re very excited to be here,” says Insa, while her pups wriggle with anticipation. Greyhounds, German shepherds, and even bloodhounds have run the challenge, although huskies and Eurohounds (Alaskan husky/pointer mixes) are more common.

Regardless of the breeds participating, the challenge is a thrill to watch. Leaping in their harnesses and barking frantically, some of the dogs get so amped up at the starting line that their handlers struggle to keep them from launching ahead of the gun.  

But others are more Zen-like, including Jared, a 14-year-old Alaskan husky who preps for his event by snoozing.

“He’s been running as our lead dog since he was a puppy and is very accommodating,” says his owner, Nick Sands, of Delaware.

“He loves nothing more in the world than this,” he adds, harnessing the now-awake Jared—tail wagging—to the front of the team.

Competitors of all ages come to Fair Hill for the challenge—some to enjoy an unusual day out, others to train for bigger contests. Among the latter is two-legged competitor Bailey Vitello, 13, who hopes eventually to triumph at the Junior Iditarod in Alaska.  

“I’m gonna win the Iditarod—yes!” he says, smiling.

Today’s event, though, is more about dog- and family-friendly fun than the pursuit of national glory. Still, the more than $1,800 in purse money and prizes at stake keeps the competition fierce.

The 2011 Fair Hill Challenge takes place December 10-11 at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Elkton. Admission is free (but there’s a small parking fee). For more information, visit www.fairhillchallenge.com.

To view a the digital print version of this article, click here.

Photographer for this article, Lisa Helfert, posted an entry about her photo shoot on her blog and also has a great slideshow of the event.