Born to be Wild DogSouth Australia's Premier Sled Dog Race |
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Born to be Wild Dog Ø Introduction Ø The Whiskey Rebellion Ø Wet Dog Ø The Salad Days Ø On the Move Ø The Next 5 Years Ø Dude Where’s my Forest Ø X (that’s Roman for ten) Introduction Wild Dog has been a fixture on the national circuit for the last decade. To win a Wild Dog Derby or be a Wild Dog Mushers Association member is to wear a badge of honor. Wild Dog holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Australian Mushers. The inaugural Wild Dog Derby was held in July 1996 at the Mount Crawford pine plantations. In what was to be an omen for future derby’s, the race was run in heavy rain with sections of the track under several centimeters of water. Which is somewhat ironic as we live in the driest state of the driest continent. The Wild Dog formula for success is a simple one, put the needs of the Mushers and their dogs first and everything else will fall into place. As with most racing clubs, the formation of the Wild Dog Mushers Association was an act of rebellion; that would change South Australian racing from a past time to a sport.
The Whiskey Rebellion Sled Dog racing had been flourishing in South Australia since its humble beginnings in 1990. As the second state to establish a race season, we were at the forefront of Australian Mushing. The founders of racing were now training the second generation of Mushers, which they themselves had recruited. With the inception of racing clubs such as Undera and Southern Cross in Victoria (Australian Mushing’s birthplace), and visits by international Mushers, a sporting influence began to filter through racing. Mushers no longer considered themselves to be hobbyists. They were competitors and their dogs were athletes. Sensing the need for change, those who founded and currently organized racing set about expanding the format of sled dog events. Their plan was to introduce an open breed class in addition to Husky and Malamute classes currently on offer. The proposal met strong resistance from those who did not share the vision of sled dog racing’s future. For racing to move forward, they would have to start again. Wild Dog formed in 1995 in an effort to expand the sport; breaking away from the established breed club racing environment to form South Australia’s first racing club. Starting with nothing but enthusiasm and a vision: the founding committee of Wild Dog drew upon experience, reputations, friendships and favours. They knew that the countries best Mushers would come, it was a matter of faith. That name Wild Dog; where does it come from, what is it all about? It owes it origins to a night spent howling at the moon by Graeme Cook and Nick Badrice. After consuming a bottle of Wild Dog Whiskey.
President Michelle Bosenberg Vice president Graeme Cook
Secretary Michael Herbst Treasurer Ashley Taylor Race Coordinator Mike Allsop Promotions Joady Martin Committee Jamie Dalziel Sylvia Traeger Nick Badrice Liz Herbst
Wet Dog The rebels with a cause now had to deliver their first race. They had the skills, knowledge and most important, the motivation. The committee had no funds, equipment or resources; in fact they bankrolled the club from their own pockets. Fortunately they were provided with support and equipment from Undera and Southern Cross. July was deemed as the most appropriate month to hold the derby (20 & 21st), as it is typically our coldest and was free of other major races at that time. The logging tracks of an area named Big Flat were chosen as the first race site. Good quality technical tracks (lots of turns) with ample passing stretches were in abundance. Telephone Road provided easy access and the memorable Wild Dog start; a sharp left-hander twenty five metres from the start chute. The majority of the track was flat except for a small hill section endured by two & four dog teams.
Firstly, I would like to congratulate you for choosing to race at South Australia’s newest sled dog event, ‘The Wild Dog Derby’. A lot of hard work has been put in by all committee members (and friends) to make this an enjoyable event for all concerned. A great deal of time was spent looking for the best available tracks for both dogs and Mushers, and of course facilities for the Mushers comfort (which has been rather hard in South Australia). Our objectives are to hold professional, non-discriminatory, family orientated sled dog events, which will promote national and international racing. Promote and provide the utmost care and well being of our dogs at our functions in conjunction with the relevant animal welfare groups. To inform and educate senior and junior members/Mushers of the proper care and handling of their dogs to ensure humane treatment and to encourage junior Mushers to be totally responsible for running and caring for their dogs. I hope you have an enjoyable weekend. After all that is what racing is all about.
The Mushers came and so did the rain. The preceding week it bucketed down and all the run off drained into Big Flat. Tracks were awash and in some cases submerged, it was tough going. However, when the Mushers came out of Big Flat on to telephone road the ground became a little firmer and easier to negotiate. New Zealand and international Musher, Dianne Carbie presided as Race Marshall, bringing her vast experience to the event. And local Veterinarian, Dr Anthony Woof started an association with Wild Dog that continues to this day. On that damp and auspicious occasion a legend was born, the now infamous Wild Dog Mushers banquet. As the nearby Barossa Valley is one of the worlds great wine producing regions, the local product features prominently at our banquets. The first banquet was held in a campers hut at Fromms Farm (a venue that Wild Dog outgrew after the first year). Celebrations were raucous and carried on into the small hours of the morning for some Mushers. The final Wild Dog icons are the perpetual trophies; literally the biggest prize in Australian Sled Dog racing. They are cross sections a foot and a half in diameter and several inches thick, of a red gum tree. (One recipient, who actually dared to hang his trophy, lost a chunk of wall when gravity overcame the wall anchor.) On Sunday the skies cleared and the tracks were still under water, but at least it wasn’t running water. The inaugural Wild Dog Derby winners walked away from the podium, arms laden with wine and wood.
The Salad Days In only a single year the derby was now the top sledding event in SA, and growing in reputation across the country. Most Mushers from the inaugural race returned in 1997 to what was now nicknamed the party race. The original committee with only minor changes fronted up again and was able to utilize the same tracks as 1996, minus the water. Vice President, Graeme Cook officiated as Race Marshall.
For the second Derby the camp was moved to Chalks and the banquet held in a 40 x 40 foot square marquee tent. Chalks offered more space and flexibility as a campsite, allowing Mushers the space to relax and play. Under the marquee on a stage of straw bales Elvis entertained us 1970’s Vegas style, sweating, gasping and bulging out of his jumpsuit. Turns, trails, wood, wine, pancakes, partying. By 1998 the Derby was a well established formula, with all committee and club members slipping comfortably into their previous roles. Competitors were able to retrace the same 3.5km (one dog), 5.5km (two dog) and 6.5 km (four dog) trails. Whilst times in the four dog class remained stable; winning times in both one and two dog classes reduced significantly. The club looked with in itself once again as Nick Badrice donned the Race Marshall’s hat. The banquet was living up to its reputation as always, and the Mushers themselves provided the entertainment in a talent quest named: Muddy Faces. Particularly amusing was the sled dog team, consisting of four committee members playing the part of the team. Three knew the punch line, the fourth was the punch line; he was the bitch in heat. A trifecta of triumphs was now in the Wild Dog bag.
On The Move It had to happen eventually and did prior to the fourth Derby, logging started in Big Flat. Ashley Taylor became the second President of Wild Dog and was faced with the clubs’ first crisis since its inception. Fortunately everything south of telephone road was still usable and in good condition. The track would still utilize the previous hill sections but would now start and finish in the large four-way intersection at the heart of Starkeys. This proved to be an ideal venue offering multiple flat tracks of varying surface qualities and ample room for teams to set up. Most competitors at the 1999 Derby considered themselves to be regulars as that Wild dog pride filtered across the country. Competition was fierce as usual with only seconds separating all placings. Wild Dog almost became a relic of the twentieth century when a committee failed to form at the 1999 AGM. Coming back in the New Year for a second AGM a committee formed under the Presidency of Anthony Cook. The 2000 committee featured several new faces as well as the nucleus of the inaugural committee. Essentially it was a year that the club restructured to face the future. Returning to Starkeys the tracks were modified slightly. A memorable moment four one four dog driver was being thrown at the hairpin and seeing their team run off in the distance. The Derby continued to offer the same classes as it did in 1996.
Wearing two hats at once, two years in a row; Dr Anthony Woof tended to the dogs and the protests as Race Vet / Race Marshall.
The Next Five Years Wild Dogs’ fourth and current President Michael Herbst began his term with a statement on how the club would make it to the 10th anniversary. 2001 would be a landmark year for the Derby as new classes were introduced to the program: six dog and Novice. Competitor numbers, which had remained constant over the first five years, now doubled establishing Wild Dog as one of the big races in both quality and attendance. The tracks underwent some more changes bringing competitors home from the center of the forest and giving two, four and six dog teams a chance to run the rolling hills of the Elliot’s plantation. Race Marshalling duties for 2002 were bestowed upon local Musher Mark Banks. Looking for an interesting way to celebrate the end of the 2001 race season a committee member’s wild idea became a reality: the Wild Dog Relay race. Relay Teams were named after Iditarod trail checkpoints and formed by drawing names out of a hat. Each team consisted of a 3 or 4 dog team and at least one two dog team and a number of one dog teams. The first member of each team leaves the start chute at one min intervals, upon arriving at the finish line they hand their bib to a runner, who then takes it to the next team member. When the next team member has put on the bib they can enter the start chute immediately. This exchange occurs for the subsequent team member and when the last team member crosses the finish line the team will have completed the race, the fastest combined time wins. Numbers increased again in 2002 as Wild dog broke the South Australian record for competitors at a sled dog race. With so many Mushers attending it became necessary to combine race site and campsite, which was easily achieved at Starkeys. Relay race day 2002 was expanded to incorporate the Wild Dog 100. A hundred metre drag race contested by two teams on parallel bunted tracks. The first team across the line wins through to the next round. As this is the last event on the local calendar it became an opportunity to establish a ceremonial finish to the racing season; extinguishing the lantern. Each year a Musher who is active in the local scene is asked to extinguish the ceremonial lantern and officially close the season. The Committee was working with a dual focus of running the 2003 Derby whilst preparing for the 10th anniversary that was drawing ever closer. Incorporating project management techniques, documenting processes and introducing the Race Manager role where important steps towards the 10th. Wild Dog hit a road bump in 2003 when logging commenced in Starkeys displacing the Derby from its newly combined race / camp site. Ironically the new round of logging gave Wild Dog the opportunity to return to Big Flat and utilize much of the original track from 1996. For the first time ever some new tracks were cut; they were short bridging sections to work around trail issues. Fronting up as Race Marshall for the second year in a row, Hayley Coutts’ guidance proved most valuable in establishing a Touring class to add to the newly combined Novice / Veterans.
Dude Where’s my Forest? The issues of 2003 paled in comparison to the challenges faced in 2004. The Wild Dog Mushers Association had to fund the derby without the support of a major sponsor. Luckily Big Flat required very minor trail dressing after the work of the previous year and preparations were going well.
Turning to the local Mushers for support a contingent of thirty volunteers converged on the Waterholes site six days before the race. Using shovels, rakes and some light earth moving equipment, new sets of tracks were dressed and a campsite prepared. It was Wild Dog’s finest hour. A new venue, new tracks, new marque and new caterers for the banquet gave the Derby an unexpected make over. Long time Wild Dog supporter Mario Suban Race Marshaled, at what was the first Derby to not incorporate any of the original tracks. Following the mantra of look after the Mushers needs, Wild dog held a second race at the end of the 2004 season. With the collapse of breed club racing in South Australia, local Mushers had only five events to attend. The committee responded by holding Wild Dog Raw 2004, as opposed to the annual relay race. Raw was very much a low key local event to fill the void.
X (that’s Roman for ten) Grab your pen and start writing, you are the living history that is the 10th anniversary. |
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