Sunday, January 14th, 2007

Jack Pine 30 Gwinn to Marquette Sled Dog Race set for Saturday, February 17, 2007

    GWINN, MICHIGAN – As of mid-January, 30 teams have entered the fifth annual Jack Pine Mushers Association Jack Pine 30, the Gwinn to Marquette sled dog race.  The field is limited to 30 entrants, and this is a record for Jack Pine entries.  Additional registration applications have been entered on a waiting list.

    The 6-dog 30-mile trophy-class event will begin Saturday, February 17, at 9:30 a.m. at Larry’s Family Foods, Gwinn, and finish near Upfront and Company in Marquette, from about 11:45 a.m. until approximately 3:30 p.m.  Further information on the race is posted on the UP 200 Sled Dog Race website, www.up200.org.  Race results will be posted on the website as soon as they are available Saturday afternoon.

    For the second year, Marquette Mountain Ski Hill has permitted Jack Pine 30 Teams (and Midnight Run teams the evening before) to pass over Marquette Mountain.  Spectators can view the teams from the northeast parking area and are welcome to enter the ski lodge for snacks. Teams will proceed down the Weasel Gulch ski run and then cross the ski bridge just below the chairlift and adjacent to M-553.  From there, teams will travel northeast to Carp River Road before crossing under the US 41-M 28 Highway bridge.  Jack Pine 30 teams will proceed north alongside Lake Street, through the Founders Landing, to finish just east of Upfront and Company. 

    Upfront & Company is hosting a Winterfest Warm-Up Party, open to the public, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on February 17 in conjunction with the Jack Pine 30.  Upfront’s balcony overlooks the finish line.  

    The major sponsor of this competitive sport class event is Bell Hospital of Ishpeming.  The eight fastest teams will receive engraved plaques at the awards ceremony, also open to the public, planned for 4 pm at Upfront.

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 prepared by Jackie Winkowski