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Alaska Excursions 120Fans and mushers alike were delighted this past weekend with the newest race on the mid-distance sled dog racing circuit: Ryan and Erin Redington's Alaska Excursions 120, sponsored by Redington's Callin' Trail Kennel. The race began and ended at the newly refurbished Aurora Dog Mushers clubhouse in Big Lake, starting Saturday, Dec. 19 and ending Sunday, Dec. 20 over a portion of the original Iditarod Trail to Flat Horn Lake and back. From the well-organized start to the excitingly close finish, the new race was a class act all the way!
Ryan led the racers out of the starting chute on Sunday morning, but first place went to Willow musher Cim Smyth, who placed fifth in this year's Iditarod race. Cim narrowly edged out Paul Gebhardt of Kasilof, winning with a sparse three-minute lead. Ray Redington Jr. of Knik came in third, Dean Osmar, from Clam Gulch, was fourth, and the first-day leader Ryan Redington placed fifth. Overall it was an excellent inaugural race, getting the mushing season off to an exciting start! The next race on the mushing calendar is the Gin Gin 200 running Dec. 28-30, a 200-mile race from Wolverine Lodge to Maclaren River Lodge and back, in the remote backcountry north of Glennallen. This year the race will feature an exciting mass start for both the men's and women's divisions, in which all the teams leave the starting line at the same time. Popular in European races, mass starts are unusual in Alaska, and it should be a colorful beginning for this year's Gin Gin 200. Sleds lined up to start:
Northern Light Media photos
The time tower and starting chute:
Kevin Neher checks the time as musher Shaynee Seipke passes by:
Martin Buser having a good run:
Ryan Redington enjoying his inaugural race:
Cim Smyth on his winning run to the finish line:
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At the end of Saturday's run, race founder Ryan Redington led the pack of 40 teams, which included some of the top names in Alaskan mushing. Ryan is the grandson of 
