Meet the Mushers!

Alan Ricalton (41), Natural Bridge, NY:

• Alan is a civil engineer who is married to Sara. They have two Children, Maria and Darren.
• His lead dogs are Copper and Natalie.
• The average age of his team is four years.
• Alan really enjoys the challenge of training and conditioning a competitive dog team.
• Alan has completed the CAC 30 and 60, the Midnight Run and the Eagle Lake 100 in 2005.
• Alan is entered in the CAC 250 this March!

 

 

Andy Benkendorf (39), Mine Hill, NJ:

• Andy is a landscaper who is married with a one year old son.
• Six dogs share the lead responsibilities: Reba, Brandi, Adam, Mag, Max and Roxy.
• The average age of his team is 4 ½.
• He especially enjoys the companionship with his dogs and the excitement of racing!
• He hopes to someday complete the Iditarod.
• He has 9 years of sprint experience and has completed the CAC 60.

 

 

Jason Bennett (32), Fort Kent, Me:

• Jason is a carpenter who is married and has two young sons.
• His lead dogs are Kit-Kat and Babe.
• The average age of his team is five.
• Jason enjoys the rush of the takeoff and time spent on the trails with his dogs.
• Jason plans to finish the CAC 250 in the near future.
• He has completed the CAC 30 & 60 and the Eagle Lake 100 in 2007 where he placed 14th.

 

 

Kathy Lesinski (42), Broad Brook, CT:

• Kathy is a teacher and is married to Bill.
• Her lead dogs are Bonnie and Coal.
• The average age of her team is 3 ½ years.
• She has bred and trained all of her dogs by herself!  Kathy also enjoys the everyday challenges of dogsledding and exploring new trails.
• Kathy would like to increase the size of here team and run longer races.
• She has completed the Midnight Run, CAC 60, Stratford Nighthawks 30 and Eldorado Race all in 2007.

 

 

Larry Murphy (56), Fort Kent, ME:

• Larry is Principal of the Eagle Lake Elementary School and is married with 3 children and 4 grandchildren.
• “Murph” is a founding member and committee member of the EL 100!
• Murph has six dogs that lead for him: Reggie, Dawn, Goose, Merlin, Hazel and Carson.
• The average age of his team is six.
• Murph especially enjoys the teamwork associated with a dog team and the solitude of night runs.
• He would like to get better and smarter concerning competitive “dogging”.
• Larry has successfully completed The CAC 60, Blanchard Fun Run, CAC 250, Katahdin 100, Greenville 100, and Eagle Lake 100 since its inception placing 5th in 2005.

 

 

Shawn Linendoll (45), Fort Ann, NY:

• Shawn is a professional dog sled builder.
• His leaders are Blackie and Duckie.
• The average age of his team is 3 years.
• Shawn especially enjoys his dog’s excitement and desire to please.
• He would like to run long distance races in Alaska someday and to finish with happy and healthy dogs.
• He has completed the Craftsbury 60, CAC 60, Midnight Run, Stratford Nighthawks and Jim Lobdell Memorial.

 

 

Lindy Howe (44), New Sweden, ME:

• Lindy is a Law Enforcement Instructor who has two grown children.
• Her leaders are Autumn, Aly and Austin.
•  The average age of her team is 5 years.
• Lindy especially likes the positive feeling of working with a happy and healthy team in nature.
• Her future goal is complete the CAC 250.
• Lindy has completed the CAC 30 and has been a sprint racer for years.

 

 

Bob O’Hearn (44), Sandown, NH:

• Bob is a master auto technician who is married to Rhonda.
• His leaders are Rocky, Enzo, Cosmo, Raven and Halley.
• The average age of their team is 4 ½.
• The O’Hearns especially enjoy time spent with their dogs on the trail or in the dog yard.
• Their future goal is to relocate to the Fort Kent area so they can be closer to local races and suitable training!
• They have completed the Sandwich Notch 30, Crafsbury 30, CAC 60, Beargrease 150, and all three Eagle Lake 100s placing 8th in 2006.

 

 

Martin Massicotte (39), St. Tite, PQ:

• Martin is a pavement contractor who is married and has two children.
• His main leaders are Angel and Ti-Blanc.
• The average age of Martin’s team is four years.
• He enjoys the contact with his dogs and the wilderness.
• Martin would like to return to the Yukon Quest someday and also complete the Iditarod.
• Martin has completed the Labrador 400, UP 200, Yukon Quest (2003 Rookie of the Year), won the CAC 250 3 times, and placed 4th in the 2006 Eagle Lake 100, 5th in 2007.

 

 

Andre Longchamps (37), Pont-Rouge, PQ:

• Andre is a farm mechanic who has one child with his wife Amelie.
• His leaders are Pitoune and Deutch.
• The average age of his team is five years.
• Andre loves the large hearts that his dogs have.  He enjoys all aspects of dogsledding including feeding, training and racing.
• Andre would like to have a successful 2008 racing season.
• He has completed the CAC 250 and Greenville 100 for the past 3 years.  This year will mark his third Eagle Lake 100 as well.  He has finished 3rd and 4th here in the past two years.

 

 

Ron Brigham (42), Warwick, MA:

• Ron is a corrections officer and has one son.
• His leaders are Casadia, Eyota, Diesel and Rindge.
• The average age of his team is 2 ½ years.
• Ron enjoys his leaders the most and feels that after years of training and breeding they have gotten better.
• His future goals are to complete the Iditarod in 2009 and the Yukon Quest in 2010.
• Ron has completed the Sandwich Notch 30, Craftsbury 30, the Eagle Lake 100 for the past three years (14th last year) and plans on running the CAC 250 this March.

 

 

Rob Cooke (41), Shubenacadie, NS:

• Rob is a Royal Navy Aircraft Engineer who is married to Louise.
• His lead dogs are Paris and Medea.
• The average age of his team is 3 1/2 years.
• Rob enjoys the temperament and enthusiasm of his team and being out on the trail with the dogs and nothing else.
• He plans to enjoy watching his young team age and get into long distance racing with them.
• Rob completed the Stratford 30 and CAC 60 among other races in 2007.

 

 

Normand Casavant (44), Val Des Lacs, PQ:

• Normand owns and operates Casaventures Sled Dog Tours with his girlfriend, Karine.  He also has two children.
• His lead dogs are Ve’nus, Chevy, Rex and Vison.
• The average age of his team is three years.
• Normand says that it is “Real Love” that he feels for his dogs and the sport.
• His goal is to place first in this year’s race!
• He had an excellent 2007 finishing in the top four in the CAC 250, Marmora 120, Eldorado 40, and Daoquam!

 

 

Martin Charette (36), St-Michel-des-Saints, PQ:

• Martin owns and operates a sled dog guiding business.
• His leaders are Punk and Spirou.
• The average age of his team is 3 ½ years.
• Sled dogs are a real passion for him.  He loves to work with dogs.
• He has a busy slate for 2008 including: De’fi Taureau 50, EL 100, L’Odysse’e Appalachienne 120 and the CAC 250.
• Martin placed 4th in the 2007 L’Odysse’e Appalachienne 60.

 

 

Denis Tremblay (36), St-Michel-des-Saints, PQ:

• Denis is a commercial truck driver.
• His lead dog is Bandit.
• The average age of his team is three years.
• Denis loves running his dogs fast.
• In the future he plans on racing the Yukon Quest.
• He has successfully raced in the CAC 30 (1st in 2000) and L’Odysse’e Appalachienne.

 

 

Kyle Stoops (41), Winterport, ME:

• Kyle is a flooring installer.
• His leaders are Gimli, Isiah, Martin and Fish.
• His team has an average age of 2 ½ years.
• It amazes Kyle to see his dogs work as a team.  He enjoys the everyday interaction with his team.  He especially loves the heart and desire of his dogs as the run, run , run…….
• His future goal is to complete the CAC 250.
• Kyle has completed the Blanchard 30, CAC 30 & 60.

 

 

Claude Baril (57), St-Zenon, PQ:

• Claude is a single, door and window maker.
• His lead dogs are Gus and Cumming.
• The average age of his team is 5 years.
• Claude claims that the dogs are always honest; they are true friends.
• He plans on running the CAC 250 next year.
• Claude has completed the CAC 60 six times, the Lac St-Jean 90 and Mastigouche 100.

 

 

Kim Darst (39): Blairstown, NJ :

• Kim is a helicopter pilot and owns her own transport business.
• Her lead dogs are Maple, Sapphire and Cotton.
• The average age of her team is 5 1/2 years.
• Kim loves to spend time with her dogs in the wilderness.
• She plans on running the CAC 250 this March.
• Kim has completed the CAC 60 and 250. She also finished the Eagle Lake 100 and Midnight Run in 2006

 

 

Lev Shvarts (28): Winchendon, MA:

• Lev is an electrical engineer.
• His lead dogs are Loke, Chena, Lupi and Turtle.
• Lev enjoys the commraderie he has with his dogs who are his best friends.
• Lev plans on racing the CAC 250 in March.
• He has completed the CAC 60 and 250, the Greenville 100 and placed 7th here in Eagle Lake in 2006. Lev finished last year’s race after he apparently scratched after demolishing his sled. He managed to talk another scratched musher into borrowing her sled and managed to finish the race!