Ask the Musher Vol.18: Newton Marshall
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 12:46 pm
It is my pleasure to introduce Newton Marshall to our forum! This thread is now OPEN for questions~enjoy!
Thanks to our great forum member Minipins444 for making the initial contact with Newton and his team!
For those of you who aren't familiar with Newton & his journey from warm, sunny Jamaica to the cold below zero temps of Alaska here is a brief summary....
Twenty-six year old Jamaican, Oswald “Newton” Marshall first became part of the Chukka Caribbean Adventures family in 2002. He had always dreamed about working with the horses at Chukka Cove, and having moved up from gardener to other positions he was transferred to the River Valley Mountain Horseback Ride at White River Valley as a tour guide.
Chukka Caribbean Adventures had become proactive in trying to further schooling for employees, while recognizing that many must work in order to support their families. Newton became a most eager pupil. Then in 2005, Devon Anderson, another animal lover and operations manager at Chukka Cove, saw something special in Newton and handpicked him to look after a trio of new dogs at Chukka Cove Farm.
By 2006, the team was a reality; youthful exuberance and a way with animals propelled this young Jamaican on a journey to the snow and great outdoors to train with huskies in Minnesota, far away from his warm Caribbean home for the first time.
Next up was his biggest challenge yet. He left sunny Jamaica in November and arrived in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada to begin his long distance training with three-time Yukon Quest winner Hans Gatt. The goal was to prepare Marshall for his own Yukon Quest experience. Gatt proved to be a hard taskmaster, as the training strongly tested Marshall – and his team’s – survival in harsh conditions.
However, Marshall was up for the task. In March 2008, he finished 7th place out of a field of 15 in the 210-mile Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race and received the Sportsmanship Award from his fellow mushers. He later successfully completed Alaska’s Copper Basin 300 in January 2009, placing 13th in a field of 27 competitors.
On February 26, 2009, Marshall became the first Jamaican ever to finish the Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race. He finished 13th out of a field of 29 mushers. Race officials selected Marshall as the recipient of the Challenge of the North Award, recognizing the perseverance and determination of a competitor.
Marshall continued his success in 2010 with some of his most impressive highlights yet. In March 2010, Marshall made international headlines when he became the first Jamaican to complete the Iditarod, the World’s Last Great Race. He finished 47th out of a starting field of 71 mushers. He also completed the Gin Gin 200 in January 2010, finishing in 15th place.
Newton is currently in Alaska preparing for his next Iditarod & training with Lance Mackey. Larry, Lance's famous lead dog, led Newton's team into Nome last year, wonder if he will be again? Hmmm sounds like a good question for Newton!
Newton's website:
http://www.jamaicadogsled.com/index.php
or on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/JamaicaDogsledTeam
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/new ... all?ref=ts
**All pictures and biography information used with permission
Thanks to our great forum member Minipins444 for making the initial contact with Newton and his team!
For those of you who aren't familiar with Newton & his journey from warm, sunny Jamaica to the cold below zero temps of Alaska here is a brief summary....
Twenty-six year old Jamaican, Oswald “Newton” Marshall first became part of the Chukka Caribbean Adventures family in 2002. He had always dreamed about working with the horses at Chukka Cove, and having moved up from gardener to other positions he was transferred to the River Valley Mountain Horseback Ride at White River Valley as a tour guide.
Chukka Caribbean Adventures had become proactive in trying to further schooling for employees, while recognizing that many must work in order to support their families. Newton became a most eager pupil. Then in 2005, Devon Anderson, another animal lover and operations manager at Chukka Cove, saw something special in Newton and handpicked him to look after a trio of new dogs at Chukka Cove Farm.
By 2006, the team was a reality; youthful exuberance and a way with animals propelled this young Jamaican on a journey to the snow and great outdoors to train with huskies in Minnesota, far away from his warm Caribbean home for the first time.
Next up was his biggest challenge yet. He left sunny Jamaica in November and arrived in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada to begin his long distance training with three-time Yukon Quest winner Hans Gatt. The goal was to prepare Marshall for his own Yukon Quest experience. Gatt proved to be a hard taskmaster, as the training strongly tested Marshall – and his team’s – survival in harsh conditions.
However, Marshall was up for the task. In March 2008, he finished 7th place out of a field of 15 in the 210-mile Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race and received the Sportsmanship Award from his fellow mushers. He later successfully completed Alaska’s Copper Basin 300 in January 2009, placing 13th in a field of 27 competitors.
On February 26, 2009, Marshall became the first Jamaican ever to finish the Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race. He finished 13th out of a field of 29 mushers. Race officials selected Marshall as the recipient of the Challenge of the North Award, recognizing the perseverance and determination of a competitor.
Marshall continued his success in 2010 with some of his most impressive highlights yet. In March 2010, Marshall made international headlines when he became the first Jamaican to complete the Iditarod, the World’s Last Great Race. He finished 47th out of a starting field of 71 mushers. He also completed the Gin Gin 200 in January 2010, finishing in 15th place.
Newton is currently in Alaska preparing for his next Iditarod & training with Lance Mackey. Larry, Lance's famous lead dog, led Newton's team into Nome last year, wonder if he will be again? Hmmm sounds like a good question for Newton!
Newton's website:
http://www.jamaicadogsled.com/index.php
or on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/JamaicaDogsledTeam
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/new ... all?ref=ts
**All pictures and biography information used with permission