The Swedish musher who now lives in Willow continued to dominate the GCI Open North American Championship Sled Dog Race Sunday afternoon by winning his 10th title in the last 12 years, holding off hard-charging Salcha veterinarian Arleigh Reynolds on the final day of the grueling three-day race.
“Number 10, it’s pretty amazing,” Ellis said after completing the third heat and taking care of his nine-dog team on another bright sunny day at the Jeff Studdert Racegrounds.
Ellis’ 10th victory came 13 years after his first attempt at the Open North American. Ironically, that race was held at the Studdert Racegrounds. His first nine wins came on courses that started in downtown Fairbanks, some on the Chena River and some on Second Avenue.
“When I started running this race in 1998 I was fifth and I was just hoping to win it one time,” Ellis said. “I never thought I would win it 10.
“It’s been kind of a wild ride,” he added. “Very amazing.”
Ellis begin his string of victories in 1999 and the only two times he didn’t win the race came in 2003 and 2007 when Buddy Streeper captured the crown.
Ellis didn’t have the fastest time of the day in Sunday’s grueling 27.2-mile heat, but his 54-second lead over Reynolds was more than enough to hold off Reynolds.
Sunday, the Salcha musher finished 11 seconds ahead of Ellis.
“My dogs got into a nice rhythm early on and were able to maintain it most of the way,” Ellis said. “Once they get that rhythm down they can keep it going for mile after mile. We accomplished that for 98 percent of the time today.”
Ellis did have some decisions to make in the last two miles or so as one of his wheel dogs tired in the home stretch.
“I’m sure that’s why we slowed down a bit coming up the hill,” Ellis said. “I was debating whether to cut the line, but I decided not too because I knew Arleigh was pretty close behind me.”
With E-mail and Ruby leading the way on Sunday, Ellis posted a time of 92 minutes, 14 seconds to finish with a total elapsed time of 218 minutes, 4.5 seconds for 67.2 miles of racing.
Reynolds had the fastest time of the day Sunday finishing in 92:03.4, which gave him a total of 219:01.8.
Reynolds also won Friday’s first heat, but Ellis had such a strong second-day run that he finished more than a minute faster than Reynolds on the 20-mile course used the first two days.
Ken Chezik of Fife Lake, Mich., captured the third spot in 221:28.2, with Salcha’s Jason Dunlap (221:54.8) and North Pole’s Marvin Kokrine rounding out the top five in 229:29.1.
The top 10 finishers shared in a $25,000 purse.
Rounding out the top 10 were Mark Hartum of Edmonton, Alberta (2:32:32.2), Curtis Erhart (234:04.2), Jeff Conn (234:20.4), Mike Stephens (237:48.4) and Jack Berry (242:15.3).
Ellis passed George Attla’s record of eight career victories last year and he knows that it’s going to be a while before anyone ever reaches the 10-win barrier.
“That’s a good feeling,” he said.
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