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Kennel
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Mark & Karen |
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North Wapiti Siberian
Husky Kennels
Iditarod 2007 -
'Sponsor-a-dog' Program
As part of our fundraising we are offering the opportunity to sponsor a specific Iditarod dog. For $300 Cdn. sponsors get their name listed on this website, a 2007 bandana, a certificate and some other cool NorthWapiti 2007 Iditarod memorabilia. (Click this link for information on currency exchange rates.)
Of the dogs listed, 22 of these will accompany us up to Alaska and only 16 will be chosen for our team. We cannot guarantee anyone's sponsored dog will make the final 16 - but certificates, bandanas, and other memorabilia will be issued to all sponsors regardless of whether or not their dog of choice participates in the Iditarod.
| Sponsorship
checks can be
mailed to: Karen Ramstead Box 9 Perryvale, Alberta T0G 1T0 Canada |
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(Click on each dog's picture to visit their individual page)
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The Active Training Pool |
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Big, leggy, hard working Draco surprised a
lot of people, myself included by winning big at the 2003 Canadian Siberian Husky Nationals in Winnipeg in November - not because I don't think he is beautiful - because he definitely is - but he certainly looks more like a working dog
than a show dog! In my mind, this is an impossible dog not to fall in love with!!
Dana & Judy Kevelder of Pickerington, Ohio certainly have an eye for gorgeous & hard working sled dogs. Draco is a head turner as is the other dog they have sponsorsored Crunchie. We are twice blessed to have their support and say "Thank you! Thank you!" |
Leader 8 ½ |
Iditarod 2001 Finisher |
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Surge is one big puppy at heart. Even out on the Iditarod Trail he loves to take the time to play and will frequently bat at me with his paws to try and convince me to do some roughhousing with him. He is a fun dog to live and travel with! |
Leader 7 ½ |
Grand Portage Passage Iditarod 2001 Finisher Iditarod 2003 Iditarod 2004 Finisher John Beargrease Marathon Race to the Sky 2005 Knik 200 Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 |
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 Kara Ch. NorthWapiti’s Valkyrie Kara (Striker x Breezy) |
1983 Iditarod Champ Rick Mackey claims Kara is so cute "you can't help
but smile when you look at her." She also proved to us last year that she is more
then just a pretty face by doing a huge amount of leading in the 2004 Iditarod.
A hard working sled dog, a good little show dog and a dream to live
with in the house - darn near the perfect dog, as far as I'm concerned! |
Main Leader Champion Showdog 7 |
Iditarod 2003 2003 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 |
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Another of the beautiful and talented Norse god and goddess litter. In harness, Odie has always been the star of this bunch. Hardworking to the core! |
Leader 7 |
John
Beargrease Marathon Iditarod 2003 Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher |
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Loki is well named after the Norse god of mischief. He always has a prank up his 'sleeve', but he never lets it get in the way of putting in a solid performance whenever he gets hooked up! |
Champion Showdog 7 |
Iditarod 2003 Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 Finisher |
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Moses is a dog with an 'all knowing presence' about him. His work ethic is simply inspiring to all. A very valued and key dog in our team!
On her way up to Alaska, Donna Quante stopped by the kennel and dropped off her sponsorship for Moses again. We wish Donna all sorts of good wishes for her new life in Willow and look forward to visiting her new home this winter!! |
Leader 6 ½ |
Yukon Quest 250 (with another musher) Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 Finisher |
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Definitely the 'Alpha Bitch' in this kennel.
Ollie is tough as nails and knows it well! Although she took
2005 Iditarod off to whelp out an unexpected litter of
puppies, she is a FORCE in harness and contributes big to the
team whenever she is a part of it! |
Leader 6 |
Iditarod 2003 Iditarod 2004 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 |
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Nahanni is a
beautiful dog. Fast, focused and tough as nails rounds her
out! Although circumstances always seem to line up against
Nahanni to stop her from running major races, she is still
a real asset to the team! |
Team Dog 6 |
Iditarod 2003 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 |
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'The Hermanator', as Mark often calls him -
Herman is all business. He just wants to get to work! |
Team Dog 5 |
Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher |
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Hector is a character. During Iditarod 2004 he took great delight in starting 'group howls' in checkpoints along the Race. Just outside of White Mountain - on a cold, clear morning - he led the team in a stirring song to start us on the last leg of our journey to Nome. It is a memory I will always cherish. |
Leader 5 |
Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher |
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Although nicknamed "Broom Hilda" after the cartoon witch - there is nothing
'witchy' about Hilda - she is sweet and hardworking. A real delight to have in the team. |
Leader 5 |
Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Knik 200 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 |
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Cute,
athletic, and energetic - Sprite was the only girl left in my
team in Unalakleet in the '05 Iditarod. An amazing up and
coming girl! |
Leader 5 |
Iditarod 2005 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher |
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Barq promises to be one of the fastest dogs
we own. He looks and acts a lot like his half brothers -
Draco, Orion, and Surge! |
Team Dog 5 |
2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 Ceremonial Start |
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Although being a Grover son
automatically earns you a favoured position in my heart,
Crunchie wasn't happy 'inheriting' that and has definitely
earned his status all on his own. A cool dog - one of my
very, very favourites. |
Leader 5 |
Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher |
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Snickers is a
perpetual motion machine - always on the move - except when
she is getting snuggles! |
Main
Leader 5 |
Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 Finisher |
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Dasher is very much unlike her sweet and
loveable Mom, Kara. She is bossy, opinionated, and demanding
of getting her own way! She is proving to be an amazing leader
and was a key dog up front for the first part of the '05
Iditarod. |
Leader 4 ½ |
Iditarod
2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher |
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 Batdog NorthWapiti’s Seeley Lake (Odin x Kaylinn) |
Everyone thinks 'Batdog' was so named because he has big ears,
but that's not the case. When he was young, he loved to be hung upside down and survey the world from this vantage! He reminded me of a little bat - hence his call name. He is a very promising and exciting young dog! |
Leader
4 |
2006
Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher |
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JR is well named - he is a junior
Grover, but with the vivid blue eyes of his mother, Joey.
I'm beginning to see the same stride and carriage in him in
harness that his Daddy has. That makes me very excited about
his future! |
Leader 4 |
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 Q NorthWapiti’s Q (Grover x Kluane) |
Q is a stunningly built boy. His early
performance in harness is also wonderful. Another exciting
Grover son! |
Team Dog
3 |
2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 Ceremonial Start |
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 Jinx NorthWapiti’s Jinx (Grover x Kluane) |
A pretty, little black girl, born on Friday
the 13th. James Bond fans will figure out the connection
between that and her name. Jinx is long, lean and built to
move. We look forward to her first serious season in harness. |
Leader
3 |
2006 Knik 200 2006 Goose Bay 120 |
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Experienced Rookies |
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Newt Four Wind’s Newt |
Newt came to live with us as an adult dog in
the spring of this year. He's done some sprint racing, but
never distance stuff. It will be interesting to see how this
athletic boy does on the team this season. |
Advanced |
 Extensive trail training in 2006 |
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 Eeek NorthWapiti’s Eeek (Striker & Kaylinn) |
Okay, I confess, as a pup I didn't care for
Eeek that much, so when Mark picked his goofy name, I wasn't
too bothered. Of course, he has grown up to be my favourite
dog from that litter! |
Advanced 3 |
 Extensive trail training in 2006 |
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 Vortec Tucoldturain’s Vortec at NWapiti (Grover x Skadi) |
Yet another Grover offspring. This boy is
still young, but exhibits a lot of the quiet confidence of his
father. |
Advanced 2 ½ |
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AMAZING is really the only word to describe this little girl. Holly has been leading big strings of dogs out of this yard since she was just over a year old. I can't wait for her to mature enough to be able to race with us. She is definitely going to be a special leader! |
Advanced 4 |
 Extensive trail training in 2006 |
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 Spider Tumnatki’s Ms Muffet N’Wapiti |
If Spidey is half as good in harness as she
is at getting out of pens, she will be a real asset to the
team. At about 3 months of age she was routinely climbing her
way out of our 6 foot high chain link pens - she is definitely
athletic. |
Advanced 3 |
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True Rookies |
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 Roary NorthWapiti’s Hear Me Roar (Striker & Kaylinn) |
Roary has a pedigree, build and personality much like Kara - so it goes to say that we have high hopes for this little red bombshell. |
Rookie
3 |
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 Charm Sibersong’s Charmed, I’m Sure (Smiley x Lyra) |
Charm thought for awhile that she was not interested in a serious mushing career, but in the last few months she seems to have changed her mind and
has really stepped up her performance in harness. |
Rookie
3 |
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 Lingo Chlout’s Lingo |
When Bob Chlupach called to say he had a young dog he thought would suit us, I asked no questions and just said 'Yes'!! Seeing that the previous dogs Bob though would suit us were Hector, Hilda, Herman and Moses - do you blame me??? Although only 2, Lingo already acts like a mature dog in harness! Lingo and all the dogs at NorthWapiti Kennels wish every Siberian had a home, so we are very supportive of a number of rescue groups! Many thanks to the folks from Harnessed to Hope Northern Breed Rescue for sponsoring Lingo - and more importantly, for all the work they do finding new homes for unwanted dogs! |
Rookie
2 |
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 Runner Kelim’s Running for NorthWapiti |
Runner's registered name is Kelim's Running for NorthWapiti - and running hard and strong he is. We are very pleased with the performance of this enthusiastic young dog.
Susan and Bob Bain of Chetere Laiki Siberians in Hingham, Massachusetts are delighted to sponsor Runner, bred by Kim and Kelly Berg of Kelim Siberians. Sue and Bob have Runner's littermate Laika and are hoping Laika will be as successful in her running career as they know Runner will be! Go for it Runner! |
Rookie
2 |
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 Watt NorthWapiti’s MegaWatt (Surge x Olena) |
Anyone who has visited the
kennel knows I think very highly of Watt. His run is sandwiched between Grover and Crunchie. Definitely a place of honour - and I firmly believe that Watt will live up to it in the years to come.
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Rookie
2 |
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 Charge NorthWapiti’s Charge (Surge x Olena) |
We weren't entirely sure of what to think of Charge when he was young. He was big and lanky, even as a puppy. He is still big and lanky - luckily though he has been using all of that size to his advantage and is putting in tremendous performances in harness already this season.
After meeting Donna and seeing the PRETTY SLED DOGS movie, Pat Bach and husband, Mel enlisted several friends - Janet Levine and Jackie Oberdoester (Creatures Great & Small) - to sponsor Charge. We welcome them to the family and look forward to seeing them at the race and where ever Mel is working comms along the trail. Thank you for your support! |
Rookie
2 |
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 Tess NorthWapiti’s Tesla (Surge x Olena) |
As a yearling, Tess was not very outstanding. She was just a solid, but plain dog in harness. This year she boldly announced that she was sick of being a 'wallflower'. Tess is shaping up to be one of the most exciting leaders I've worked with in years. I grin ear to ear
every time she is in lead! A late sponsor came forward impressed with Tess's work in single lead through the Farewell Burn, in particular given the fact that she's a rookie! |
Rookie
2 |
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 Boom NorthWapiti’s Boom (Moses x Kaylinn) |
Boom is the first Moses offspring to contend for the 'A' string. If he maintains the drive and attitude he is already showing, there will definitely be more Moses kids kicking around the kennel in the future. Shish - Boom - Baa! Boom is sponsored for the people of Transaction Publishers by Mary Curtis. They have listened to her tales, looked at the photographs, admired the North Wapiti tribe. This year, perhaps they will have a dog to follow to Alaska, and perhaps to Nome. |
Rookie
2 |
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 Pacer Alaskan’s Pacer of Anadyr |
The second I saw Pacer standing out in Natalie Norris's dog yard, I was in love. Nothing has changed since then. Pacer is hard working, loves to please and has a quirky personality that makes her
a lot of fun to work with. |
Rookie
2 |
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Kara Ch. NorthWapiti’s Valkyrie Kara (Striker x Breezy) |
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Main Leader Champion Showdog 7 |
Iditarod 2003 2003 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2005 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Goose Bay 120 Iditarod 2006 |
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Words are Inadequate... |
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Tears are words the heart can't express
And that is where I sit...without the words to express this loss, just the tears. I loved him so much, Karen |
MANY thanks to Mary Curtis
of Princeton, New Jersey - the magnitude of her support echoes
the impact Grover's life will have on our kennel for years. |
July 13, 1996 - October 30, 2006 |
Iditarod 2000 Iditarod 2001 Finisher Iditarod 2003 Iditarod 2004 Finisher Iditarod 2005 Sire or Grandsire to - |
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Honorary Sponsorship |
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 Butch NorthWapiti's Butch Cassidy SD (Spud x Orca) |
Butch isn't on the team this year, but
one of his fans INSISTS :) |
12.5 |
Iditarod 2000 Iditarod 2001 Probably Butchie's biggest contribution to our kennel is in his offspring. Not only is he an Iditarod finisher, but 3 of his sons (Orion, Draco and Surge) and 2 of daughters (Sprite and Dasher) also finished. I consider him to be the most important 'producer' in our kennel. |
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Our "2007 Future Stars" Sponsors
| Sponsorship fees
for Kara can be mailed (if preferred) to: Morna Murray 219 Parkland Rise SE. Calgary AB T2J 4K7 Canada |
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