Boxer Competes & New Record Set at Sled Dog Races!

We have footage of a white boxer competing in the Grand Mesa Summit Challenge Sled Dog Races along with the complete results and details on a new record being set!

"Any dog can be a sled dog as long as it has the desire to pull" is what one sled driver told me, that's why you'll see a variety of dogs at this event including Alaskan and Siberian Huskies, hound mixes, German crosses and last year the was even a Rottweiler.

This year a white Boxer named "Nightmare" and his partner a Husky named "Cowtag," named after a town along the Iditarod, were part of the races.

Watch the Footage From Grand Mesa Summit Challenge Sled Dog Races

Was a New Record Set at the 2014 Grand Mesa Summit Challenge Sled Dog Races?

Steph Dwyer from Leadville may be the holder of a new record from this weekends dog sled races on the Grand Mesa, with one of the fastest times this course has ever seen!

The weather was gorgeous and made for an amazing event for me and family, (who spent most of the day sledding and playing in the snow), but for racers it made for a, "super fast, hard and fun" course, which is why we saw some record setting times!

Official records have to be have to be reviewed, but with her combined time of 27:34 Steph Dwyer now has one of the fastest times in the history of the Grand Mesa Summit Challenge for the 4 dog 4 mile race!

Her team of Alaskan Huskies are not only some of the top competitors in their field, they're also her friends and companions!

Here's the complete results and some side-notes about the competitors:

3 Dog Skijor                                           Day One      Day Two

1. Drake Benson - Carbondale           30:50            31:06 One of our oldest competitors

8 Dog 8 Mile                                          Day One      Day Two

1. Charlie Odegaard - Flagstaff        30:14            29:21
2. Austin Forney - Leadville              35:43            34:48
3. Rick Meinig - Colorado Springs    49:18            47:06 His 14 year old son competes as well.

6 Dog 6 Mile                                          Day One      Day Two

1. Lynn Whipple - Montrose             20:38            20:34 Former "Musher of the Year".
2. Tim Thiessen                                23:35            23:35
3. Charlie Odegaard - Flagstaff        23:41            23:44 Ran back to back races with different teams.
4. Joshua Miltier - Grand Junction    25:50            25:27 Took a break from his duties in the Army to flyin from Mississippi to compete this past weekend. Former "Rookie of the Year", his father races as well but took a break this season to handle his sons teams.
5. Bruce Harper - Rifle                      27:01            27:28 Our Race Marshal and Pure Breed winner, he recently inherited a long haired mini-dachshund that he brought to the races with him, we teased him all weekend long, telling folks he was going to run her as his lead dog.
6. Sofia Koepke - Tabernash            33:53            37:37 At 15 years old not our youngest racer but close! This was her 2nd year racing.

2 Dog Skijor 6 Mile                            Day One      Day Two

1. Kale Casey - Paonia                  21:59            22:37 Fan favorite! His dogs "Pops" and "Quinn" are some of the most awarded animals I know!
2. Aaron Natonieski - Carbondale  22:40            22:51Raced in his shirt sleeves both days. (I think it made him faster!)
3. Laurie Brandt - Montrose          23:15             23:25 She's also a mountain bike racer and champion!
4. Steve Bethka - Grand Junction   27:02           27:19 Our Trail Boss and general organizer, his son Tom races as well.
5. Mark Schwartz - Mancos           33:22            22:57

4 Dog 4 Mile                                          Day One      Day Two

1. Steph Dwyer - Leadville             14:01           13:34
2. Seth Sachson - Aspen                  14:57           14:33 Built his team out of dogs he rescued from his animal shelter in Aspen.
3. Aaron Natonieski - Carbondale      15:23           14:46
4. Forest Bramwell - Pagosa Springs  15:48        15:35
5. Jaclynn Bramwell - Pagosa Springs  17:39       17:05 Wife of Forest, this was her first race EVER!
6. Joshua Miltier - Grand Junction      19:09          18:50
7. Bruce Harper - Rifle                        20:41          21:23
8. Carolynn Doss                                21:51          22:25
9. Peter Menig - Colorado Springs     23:55           21:54 At 14 also NOT our youngest competitor, but close! His father also races.
10. Teresa Petterson - Montrose          26:39          29:27

1 Dog Skijor 4 Mile            Day One      Day Two

1. Kale Casey                 17:29           17:29
2. Laurie Brandt              18:13           18:14
3. Teresa Petterson        21:40           21:54

2 Dog Skijor 4 Mile                         Day One      Day Two

1. Brently Johnson - Texas         21:00           20:45
2. Tom Bethka - Grand Junction  21:18          19:46 Raced the MOST UNUSUAL team this weekend a white Boxer "Nightmare" and his partner a Husky named "Cowtag" after a town along the Iditarod.
3. Drake Benson                         23:41           24:43

3 Dog Skijor 4 Mile                         Day One      Day Two

1. Michael Wason  - Cedaredge  27:04          28:51 Just sold his house and moved to Cedaredge fo he could be twenty minutes away from the trails!

Sportsman 4 mile                              Day One      Day Two

1. Page Hauptmann - Montrose    19:26           19:59 At 12 years old she is our YOUNGEST competitor this year, she practices with her team every weekend and school holidays, she told me she also has to maintain all their gear and make sure they have the proper diet. And even though she had a small accident when her sled turned over at the start of her 2nd race she was able to get going and finish the course! This is serious business for these young adults and future Champions!

Last years results.

Prior races.