Jonrowe Kennel takes first in the Don Bowers 200 & 300 mile races

Willow, Alaska: Saturday, January 28, 2006
DeeDee Jonrowe bit back at the cold temperatures this weekend when she finished the 200 mile race in first place with a time of 27 hours 55 minutes. Rookie musher Maria Mulvangh, who just happens to be DeeDee's handler, won the Don Bowers 300 mile race putting a qualifier under her belt for the Iditarod. Temperatures for the race were cold, registering at minus 25 throughout the weekend.

The 2006 Don Bowers race start was somewhat chilly, with temperatures around -25°F. Seventeen teams did leave however. This race is dedicated to Don Bowers, who was a member of Montana Creek Dog Mushers. As a distance musher he didn't race but attended meetings to help out in any way he could, and acted as Race Marshal on several occasions.

In January, 2000 Don Bowers—author, airman, dog driver—started a combined 200/300 mile dog race in Willow. Following his death that year, a group of volunteers continued that race, now renamed in his memory. The race is a qualifier for both the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest. Montana Creek Dog Mushers sponsored the Don Bowers Memorial Race in 2002, 2003 (which was canceled for lack of snow), 2004, 2005 and again in 2006. Bib no 1 is reserved for Don Bowers.

Starting order was not quite bib order for the 300 and offsets will be adjusted accordingly. Kent Haltenbacker signed up for the 200 but turned his ankle this morning and withdrew. Similarly Mike Suprenant signed up and then couldn't get his truck to start and withdrew. This accounts for the missing bib numbers in the results.

Click here for race information

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