Bark River Racing is a family owned and operated mid to long distance racing kennel. Our 2009 season goal was to show the competition what dedication, perseverance, and determination can get you - 6 top ten finishes, which included 2 first place trophies! With a successful 2009 behind us, 2010 should prove to be an interesting year. We will concentrate on that still illusive 1st place trophy at the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, which is perfect training for a 2011 entry in the Iditarod.
After years of recreational mushing, learning from trial and error, as well as from other mushers and kennels, the family decided in 2006 that it was time to join forces and Bark River Racing was born! Joining resources and knowledge, Bark River Racing began the climb from recreational status to the competitive level. An important goal for Bark River Racing was to be known as an Iditarod racing kennel, and so the first order of business was for both primary mushers to complete their first Iditarod.
Andrew completed his rookie year in 2005, finishing the 1122 mile trek in 55th place in 13 days, 11 hours, 25 minutes, and 32 seconds. The lack of snow in the Midwest during the 2006-2007 race season, although troublesome with cancellations and rescheduling of most races, actually helped BRR to focus our attention to Matt preparing for his rookie year. Trying to compete competitively in other races may have diverted our focus and attention from the most important goal of the year, Matt completing the Iditarod. Matt successfully completed the 1122 miles trail in 51st place in 14 days, 18 hours, 50 minutes, and 50 seconds. We can now be called "Wisconsin's Iditarod Family"!
With the title of "Iditarod kennel" in place, we turned our attention to research. Andrew spent much of the 2008 season working for and training with a competitive sprint racing kennel. Seeing an entirely different focus - a focus totally on speed vs. strength and distance - will hopefully prove to expand our kennels possibilities in the future. We also took the year to experiment with different training methods, nutrition, and breeding, looking for just the right combinations to produce winning teams. If all went as planned 2009 should have shown the results - it did and then some!
Our primary mushers are Matt Rossi and Andrew Letzring. Both Matt and Andrew have competed in many races, including:
ApostleIslands Sled Dog Race, Bayfield, WI
Tahquamenon Sled Dog Race, Newberry, MI
White Oak Classic, Deer River, MN
Wolftrack Classic, Ely, MN John Beargrease Sled Dog Mid Distance Race
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Midnight Run, Gwinn, MI
UP200, Marquette, MI
Red River Sled Dog Derby, Grafton, SD SeeleyLake 200, Seeley Lake, MT
Iditarod Trail International Sled Dog Race
In addition to raising, training and racing sled dogs, Matt, is the Executive Chef and Catering Manager at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Andrew has worked for and trained with kennels such as: Mitch Seavey in Alaska, working with them at their Seward, Sterling, and Anchorage touring operations; Nature's Kennel, McMillian, MI; and Joel Nelson, St. Cloud, MN.
Bark River Racing teams have finished "in the money" in the majority of all races they have competed in! We are also proud of the two Iditarod belt buckles on our mantle, as each Iditarod finisher only has one rookie year and only one belt buckle to prove it!
Over the years BRR mushers have received several sportsmanship awards - all awarded by fellow mushers following a race. Matt received the Tom Porn Sportsmanship Award (2008 UP200) and Andrew has received the sportsmanship award for the 2008 White Oak Classic, the Dan Zappa Sportsmanship Award (2006 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon) and the Tom Porn Sportsmanship Award (2005 Midnight Run).
The dogs and mushers do have help it is important to note. In 2008, while working in Alaska, Andrew met Christa Kamphenkel. Christa is from the St. Cloud, MN, area where she and her family have been running dogs for years. She decided that UMD was the place to finish her college education, which has allowed Christa and Andrew to have time to get to know each other. They have spent many hours training and running tours together, and Christa has even been on the runners of the race sled for BRRR. BRRR has been blessed to have her join us.
And then there are the handlers! A kennel of any size benefits from having a handler and our kennel is no exception. A handler is someone who doesn't mind getting cold, dirty, hungry, tired, and covered in whatever may cover them! Sue Lyons, our self proclaimed, Sherpa, has been with BRRR since the beginning. A race is just not the same without Sue there to share it with. Rich and Judy Bessler came on board two seasons ago and have the mushing bug something awful, planning their vacation schedules around our race schedules! Max Campbell has been an important part of BRRR since our move to Herbster, always there when we need that most important "stay at home help" and even ventured north to Alaska with Matt and Andrew in 2007!
There are countless others that have pitched in throughout the years and new faces just coming on board this season. This sport brings out the best in people, and our BRRR people are indeed the best!!!
Mailing Address for both BRR locations: Bark River Racing 16435 Bark River Road Herbster, WI 54844info@barkriverracing.com
715-774-3971
