1919
THE RACE
M
armora's first exposure to dog sled racing was more than anyone could have hoped for. Local novice, Don McEwen jumped into an early lead, set a gruelling pace and then tired a little too early as John Patten of Minnesota passed him at the last checkpoint to win the honours." AI
MARMORA HERALD FEB. 21, 1979
John Patten, a youth minister from Minnesota with three years experience, had a strategy, but found that Don McEwen blew it apart. Instead, he decided, "I had to stick right with this guy or he's going to take it right away!" In the end, Patten only took one rest out of the planned three, but that one rest made the difference. He went on to say, "The organization is the best I've encountered and the people are champions. The response, the enthusiasm here is fantastic. I love it. I'm going to come back." Patten returned once, in 1983.
The community had proved itself W~th an outpour of volunteerism and friendliness, the various organizations in town hosted dances, lunches, breakfasts, a torchlight parade, a children's day, a bonspiel, sleigh rides and snow sculpturing. The local C.B. Club took care of radio communication, the Carling O'Keefe Service Caravan arrived to mark the headquarters and CJOH & CHEX television stations were on hand to spread the news. It was an event which "smacked of home town enthusiasm and openness" as was declared by Patricia Glinka, the visiting Miss Teen Dominion of Canada. "I enjoyed the small town spirit; I hope you can keep it up!"
1979 MARMORA
CUP POSTER:
Designed by Clive Peacock Sr.
PATRICIA GLINKA
TII( NARNORA 1st 2nd 3rd
John Patten Oon Mc[wen Tom Soper RA([ MARSHAll: Oennis Fitzgmld TOTAl lNTRI[S: 1
Grand Mmis, Min. Udorado, Ont. Chelsey, Ont.
(UP 21h 50m 30s 23h I3m 50s 25h 28m 55s
JOHN
PATTEN: After
the 1979
race, Patten hung around the finish
line for upwards of one
hour. "I wanted to see the guy who pushed
me so hard
This
McEwen guy must be some racer! Some Novice!"
5