If you want to become a sponsor of the Bootleg Sled Dog Races, contact Brenda Birrell at 250-919-3422 or e-mail her.

The 2nd Annual Bootleg Sled Dog Races once again was graced with picture perfect blue skies. Conditions were very hard and fast as 64 teams competed for the crowds raising funds and awareness for East Kootenay Friends of Children. The crowds, the cheering and the amount of money raised indeed indicates it was another success. As soon as we have a final tally it will be posted. In the end one of the families who has been assisted and helped by East Kootenay Friends of Children came forward to tell their story and how much they have been helped and supported by this organization. This testimony impacted many hearts and reminded us all to look around and realized how blessed we are to be able to race dogs and go out and have some fun and make a difference for others. Thank you to all the competitors, all the sponsors and all the volunteers. We look forward to seeing you all there for the 3rd Annual in 2011.

2010 Bootleg Sled Dog Races - Bob Fawcett on the trail.

2010 Bootleg Sled Dog Race Organizers (L to R) John Birrell, Rick Kavanagh and Brenda Birrell present a check to Gail Brown of the East Kootenay Friends of Children Fund.

In the final analysis, $18,293.59 were raised in the 2009 edition of the Bootleg Sled Dog Races and $17,466.52 in the 2010 edition for the East Kootenay Friends of Children Fund. Congratulations to all the sponsors, participants, volunteers, spectators and supporters. The second annual Bootleg Sled Dog Races were indeed a huge success!

As we prepare for the 3rd Annual Bootleg Sled Dog Races, we cannot begin to convey the degree of effort required to host an event of this nature. If you're interested in volunteering to help, be sure to check out our Contacts page. If you'd like to become of a sponsor of the Bootleg Sled Dog Races, all the information you need is available on our Sponsors page. If you're just wanting to come see the races, the Schedule, Area Maps and 2009 Poster will be of special interest to you. If you're a musher, you'll want to check out everything.

We feature 6-dog 6-mile Open and Purebred classes, 4-dog 4-mile Open and Purebred classes, 2-dog 4-mile Skijoring and a 2-dog 2-mile Junior class. The Trail Status page will allow you to keep up-to-date on trail conditions and the Registered page will keep you abreast of mushers who have registered for the races.

Unlike other sled dog races, the Bootleg Sled Dog Races have a cause. Treatment facilities for victims of cancer and other illness in the Kootenay Rockies region are non-existent and patients inflicted with cancer and other illness must travel to Vancouver or Calgary for treatment. The East Kootenay Friends of Children Fund assists the families of patients with the financial burden of this travel. However, there is never enough to appreciably offset these costs. As sled dog enthusiasts we can help. All proceeds of the Bootleg Sled Dog Races will be donated to assist those fighting this battle.

Also unlike other sled dog races, the Bootleg Sled Dog Races will maintain realtime race results right here on our website. As race times are recorded after each class of racing, the finish times, race time and position will immediately be available through our Results page. You'll have the results here before they're posted at the rate site.

The 2011 Bootleg Sled Dog Races ... the event everyone is talking about!