Race 5 Ford 3 Stage Event - Proudly Sponsored by Skinner's Dog Food

Proudly Sponsored by Skinner’s Dog Food

The one and only 3 stage race in the SDAS Championship Series didn’t disappoint, and Ford Estate once again proved why it’s one of our all-time favourite venues! Race 4 of the season saw competitors and dogs alike come together for a weekend of mud, madness, and some seriously impressive mushing.

For those arriving early on Friday, the wind gave us a bit of a warm-up (literally trying to take the tents with it), but nothing could deter our awesome team of trail setters. Hats off to Keith, who strimmed until his back gave out—we salute your sacrifice! The trail was prepped and ready, and excitement was building for what was to come.

Saturday Morning – Stage 1

A crisp, chilly start to the day made for perfect race conditions. The trail? Short, snappy, and packed with twists to test even the most seasoned mushers. The first run saw some fantastic times posted across the board—speedy dogs, focused teams, and just enough mud to ensure no one left the trail looking the way they started.

The open bike classes across men and women were particularly competitive all weekend. After Race 1, the difference between 1st and 3rd was under 10 seconds—meaning it was all to play for across the three stages. The night race saw Jo Odom and Graeme Molloy stretch out a small lead with some seriously impressive runs in the dark… did I say dark?

Saturday Afternoon – Pawpack!

Our mini-mushers took centre stage between the day and night stages. The Pawpack might be small in size, but they’re HUGE in heart. Some zoomed, some zig-zagged, some looked like they were on a Sunday stroll—but every one of them crossed that finish line with a smile (and probably a bit of dog drool). We may have spotted a few future champions in the making—especially the ones who already prefer their bikes!

Saturday Night – Stage 2

As the sun went down, the adrenaline went up. The night race is always a highlight of the weekend, and Ford never fails to deliver that magical, head-torch-lit atmosphere. The trails sparkled with excitement (and a bit of fear depending on how well you cope with sudden bends in the dark!). Kate Campbell tore round the DR3 course with a blistering 7 minutes 35 seconds, grabbing the fastest time of the day.

Special shout out to our juniors, who raced earlier at twilight—giving their all and showing amazing care and teamwork with their dogs. The next generation of mushers is looking seriously bright!

And let’s not forget the real MVP of the night—JP’s American Smokehouse! From towering sausages to mouth-watering brisket, JP kept the bellies full and spirits high into the night. If you didn’t eat your weight in food, did you even race at Ford?

Sunday Morning – Stage 3

A calm and cool morning greeted our racers, and the trail was ready for the final stage of the weekend. With everything to play for, teams gave it their all—and then some! We saw some absolutely rapid times fly in, with Kate Campbell smashing her own record and grabbing the weekend’s fastest time at 7 minutes and 7 seconds! Not far behind, the battle in DBW between Jane Lothian and Jo Odom was incredibly tight—only 0.2 of a second separating them at 7:10. Talk about neck and neck!

Prizegiving Postponed (Thanks, Wind!)

As always, safety comes first, and with high winds expected for the drive home, we postponed our prizegiving until our next event: Ford 2 Stage in two weeks’ time. We wanted to make sure everyone could get home safe and sound—with no dogs or trailers doing unplanned acrobatics on the A-roads.

But make no mistake—it was another EPIC weekend with our amazing SDASfam. Big cheers to everyone who raced, helped, cheered, catered, and kept the vibes high all weekend.

All our 1st to 3rd podium placers will receive some cracking prizes thanks to our phenomenal sponsor, Skinner’s Dog Food. With a history dating back to 1688 and still family-run today, Skinner’s continues to produce top-tier feed for our four-legged athletes. Thank you, Skinner’s, for your continued support—we’re proud to have you on board!

Until next time,Your SDASFam 💜