History of the event

The Cariboo Challenge Sled Dog Race - Home of the Jack Gawthorn Memorial has a long and varied history in the region.

For many years the Cariboo & 100 Mile House area of BC have long been home to dog sledding enthusiasts, in recreational mushing, racers, tours and outfitter/guides.

For over 25 years there has been a race held annually on the 3rd weekend in January. Initally the race was run in near by Lone Butte, then as snow conditions and highways were changed/built it was moved to 100 Mile House. There the community helped build trails along Bridge Creek and the event ran smoothly for many years there.

Again snow conditions or a general lack thereof led to the race being held at the 108 Resort - and spectators could stay warm & dry and watch a lot of the race course from inside the resorts lounge. 

In April 1991 - local musher & outfitter Jack Gawthorn took his team of malemutes out on a final run to one of his winter cabins on Lang Lake, just north of 100 Mile House. It was on that fateful run that Jack and his team disappeared and after months of searching - neither his body nor any sign of his team was ever found. In his memory the race organizers at that time changed the name to the Jack Gawthorn Memorial in his honor. Every year his daughter and grandchildren come up from Vancouver to help officate the event. Jack's daughter, Chris presents the annual Jack Gawthorn Musher's award to the team/musher that best represents the sport of mushing, animal care & sportsmanship for that year.

In the mid 1990's the race had to move again - this time to it's present location across the highway from the 108 resort at the Hills Health Ranch.

Since this move, The Gawthorn has undergone many changes. The trails have been developed - thanks to tireless work from Hills general manager Pat Corbett & his staff - and are well maintained and professionally groomed with a Bombardier trail groomer. Boasting some of the best trails on any race circuit in Western Canada - we have in fact heard from mushers - that our course is one of the best in all of Canada!

Mushers appreciate the accommodations - where they can keep their dogs close by, not have to drive too far for the race start - and the great food and fun we have every year. This family event is great fun to attend and wonderful to participate in. Our race has been known to be one of the friendliest to novice mushers, with the 'pro's helping those who are new to the sport and encouraging patricipation for anyone who wants to try running their teams. We focus on the purebred classes, due to our love of the purebreds, and we are one of the few races to do so in Western Canada. But that doesn't mean that we don't appreciate & encourage the athleticism of the pro-racers and their alaskan husky/hound crosses - they are truly some of the finest athletes in the canine world!

In 2007 - race organizers decided to try to boost the interest, attendance and participation of the event to the region and so actually changed the name to "The Cariboo Challenge - home of the Jack Gawthorn Memorial." Although this change had been initiated several years ago by previous race organizers, the change had never actually taken place until this year. 

So far this has been a huge success - as the race which has always been seen as a 'private' event - has now been branded as a regional event. We have the mayors of two of the four big Cariboo Communities (Quesnel & Williams Lake) agreeing to a 'mayor's challenge' race and we are still working on the other two mayors!

We have the largest skijoring purse in Western Canada ($1,000) and are working on a large purse for the other classes. More details on the purse as they happen.

This year we also have some of the stars of the upcoming Keystone/Disney picture "Snow Buddies" due out on DVD this winter, as well as some of the doggy stars from such sledding classics as Eight Below, Snow Dogs, Kevin of the North & Call of the Wild. These 'stars' will be available for cuddling and schmoozing on a limited basis.

In addition there is a winter carnival being planned to run in conjunction with the race, a draw for dog sled rides on each day of the event, a silent auction, vendors booths, and tons of family fun.

Admission is by donation to the food bank.

So make plans to join us for all the fun - January 19th & 20th, 2008!

Happy trails!

Why not join the Cariboo's dog sledding circuit and join us at the Cariboo Challenge and then head up to Quesnel for the following week's Gold Rush Mail Run! This annual event follows the historic Gold Rush Trail and mushers are sworn in as offical Canada post 'special' carriers to deliver mail to Barkerville. You can purchase envelopes and have them stamped as "carried by dogsled" and send them all over the world! This 75 mile - four day stage event starts on Thursday and finishes with a 5 mile dash into the town of Barkerville.

For more information on the Gold Rush Trail Mail Run and all the fun events surrounding it and the 150th anniversary celebrations of the town of Quesnel - please see http://www.dogsledmailrun.ca/