UTH[ B[5T RAC[ IN CANADA, If NOT TH[ WORlD!"
1982
hat was how the 1982 Canadian Long Distance Championship was summed up by Ron Lecuyer of Belleville, Ontario, who took home $750.00 in prize money and a husky pup named "Marmora". It was 150 miles, non-stop to Maynooth with 11 teams competing, but due to adverse conditions, only five crossed the finish line. 1982 also saw the creation of the new "60 MILE RACE TO GILMOURAND BACK", an intermediate race with a trophy donated by the Crowe Lake Cottagers' Association and taken home to Midland, Michigan, by female musher, Linda Lamparski.
T
PURSE: $2,500.00
RONLECUYER
With the Marmora Cup & a husky pup namedMarmora".
SPONSORS: Purina, Quaker Oats
RAC[ D[lAY[D ON[ DAY
1983
PATHN BACK WIT~ A v[NG[ANU rimming more than six hours off the winning time of 1982, John Patten returned to Marmora to be the first to win the Marmora Cup twice. Rain had delayed the race for twenty-four hours while bridges were built over waterways on the course. Race organizers worried that the course would be too rough for the racers after the rain, but all John Patten could say was "I don't think I've been in a better race". Four of the nine competitors dropped out, but the big surprise was the arrival of novice racer, Kevin Turnbough, also of Grand Marais, Minnesota, in second place, while experienced local drivers, Don McEwen and Ted Francis got lost. And as for Ken Sherwood, of Mayfield, N.Y., who placed third, the Marmora Herald wrote:
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CHAIRMAN, ROBERT DRUMMOND
"Ken Sherwood, who placed third, took a little detour early in the race. His dogs ran around a barrier at the Senior school, went to Highway #7 and then raced through town out of control as they headed for the Nu-Avalon Motel. The dogs and their driver ran a red light as they hit the centre of town and witnesses could hear the driver yelling for help as he passed. Sherwood and his team were escorted back to the course via police cruiser and they took up the race where they left off."
"This year, even with the lack of snow -
QUOTE FROM JOHN PATTEN:
I'm sure Don McEwen ranks with the best drivers in the
It was a novice, too, that won the 60 mile race. Robert Allen of Eldorado, competed against 14 racers, and felt the challenge when Reed Merkley of Maine (2nd) and Gloria McEwen of Eldorado (3rd) were only a total of 7 minutes behind him. PURSE: $5,000.00
IDDTII( 1st 2nd 3rd
SPONSORS:
MARMORA
Ron Lmyer Ken Hmon John Giannone TOTAl [NTRI[S: I1
the race must go on. "
world. I hope he gets to go to Alaska and prove it. " Don went to Alaska in 1990 .
Molsons, Quaker Oats
IIIIl TII( MARMORA
(UP
Bdleville.Ont. Glenfield. N.Y. SaugHties. N.Y.
29h Dim DOs 29h 10m 48s 31h 34m 48s
Is t 2nd 3rd
John Patten Kevin Turnbough Ken Sherwood
(UP
Grand Hmis. Hinn. Grand Hmis. Hinn. Hayfied. N.Y.
2lh 57m 355 22h 56m 48s 26h Ilm 17s
Total [ntries: 9 RA([ MARSWl: John Brumfit 11