Iditarod! Rootin for Newton!

[jaith]

Re: Iditarod! Newton's start video...

thanks for the updates nan....i'm really enjoying this! i loved the clip of him bedding his dogs...you could tell they were dog-tired & just wanted to hit the hay!!!

[SistahD]

Re: Iditarod! Newton's start video...

Great updates ((Nanook)))


Newton's always so cheerful even when you see how tired he is... love the dance addition!


Hope he is taking care of his nose!

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod! Newton's start video...

It is big fun to see the fortitude Newton does carry!

In the video I was just watched said he feels like he is Alaskan now...he was expressing that he felt a certain love of Alaska, he likes that the towns are small so everyone knows everyone. I can identify with that! It brings a sense of security. Anyway...the title of the video was :"Newton to become resident?"

Just today I wondered if Newton was getting Iditarod fever and wanting to do the race next year!

Barring some catastrophe that prevents Newton from making it to the finish, I predict he will do so, respectably.

Newton has 14 dogs having dropped two and has been switching different dogs to the lead position, in order to keep them all happy. He seems as home on the trail with his team in the wilds of Alaska as I imagine he is on a beach or in the bush of Jamaica. Many teams have dropped two to three dogs at this point and six have scratched. It's time to weed out the ones slowing down a team.

Dang if they're not having a rash of GPS problems but this moments data is miles : 283 of 1550

Standing: 52nd

[halfwaytree]

Re: Iditarod! Newton's start video...

Looking forward to following his progress !!

Thanks Nanook!!!

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod! Newton's start video...

Good morning Milo!

The video I saw last night was posted on facebook this morning.

Hopefully this link will work, it is very sweet.

hereso

[R00TS]

Re: Iditarod! Newton's start video...

Very cool!
You think he will get Rookie of the year?

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod! Newton's start video...

It would be so great if Newton wins Rookie of the year. He is a strong contender from the start, they said.

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod! Come see Newton story from McGrath!




McGrath Awaits Eleven Teams
Date: March 10, 2010 at 9:35 pm

<span style="font-weight: bold">It’s official; this morning’s temperature of 36 degrees below zero was a new record low in McGrath for March 10th.</span> Mushers rolled in all day long. Some have stayed and like Newton Marshal have declared their 24-hour rest thinking that Takotna might be too crowded. Truthfully, once the dogs are bedded down and fed and the musher heads inside for some great checkpoint food and conversation, it’s pretty inviting to stay put for what feels like another very cold night.



What brought Newton Marshall of Jamaica to mushing in Alaska? The story Newton told was about commitment. His boss wanted to send someone to Alaska to participate in ultimate sporting events. How much more ULTIMATE can an event be than a couple of 1,000 mile sled dog races over some of the most beautiful but demanding terrain and weather conditions in the world. Newton who played soccer and cricket in Jamaica said he really didn’t understand the distances when he agreed to come and do the Quest and Iditarod. Had he really understood the distances he might not have agreed to run the races, but Newton gave his word that he’d finish what he started.

Newton trained with Hans Gatt and completed his qualifiers last year. Lance Mackey has tutored him for the 2010 races. Newton says Lance is a great coach and very fair. He’s taught me to create a fun situation for the whole team – dogs and driver. He has a great deal of respect for Lance and really appreciates his knowledge and willingness to share his expertise.

As far as the run from Willow to McGrath, Newton said the Steps, Gorge and Burn were not as bad as he expected but the wind in Rainy Pass was Brutal. Newton called the situation a complete white out. He could not even see his dogs and he admitted to being a bit concerned. At one point, he found himself wallowing in snow up to his chest. He did say that Libby Riddle’s storm run of 1985 was probably worse, but not much worse.

How about getting used to the cold and in some cases, record cold? Newton replied that dressing warm helped and in some cases it was just mind over matter. He didn’t really think that his family back home in tropical Jamaica would ever really understand the harsh conditions he’s experienced in the Ultimate sport of running dogs.

As of Sunset on Wednesday, there are eleven teams yet to arrive in McGrath from Rohn. It won’t be many hours and the excitement of Iditarod 2010 will be history in McGrath.
Posted by terriehanke in race Coverage

Great job so far Newton!

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod! Come see Newton story from McGrath!

Bless your heart, Newton...

Time For A Rest
Share
Today at 12:33pm
(from Eppo Eerkes)

It's official... Newton is taking his mandatory 24 hour lay over in McGrath. After talking to several other mushers, Newton learned that the overload of teams in Takotna for the 24 hour rest wasn't leaving room for other teams to park. So, Newton decided it was in his best interest to just rest here.

And speak of the devil... Newton is standing beside me right now.

&quot;Right now I feel comfortable and the people are great, but I'm also thinking about Jamaica. Yes, me brethren out de. I'm just stayin' here for 24 hours and then going to the next checkpoint. If i don't say anything more today then I guess I'll say it when I get to Nome... the finish line! Ya Mon!&quot;

Newton's affection for his dogs was so intense that he had to make sure that the officials would take care of his two dropped dogs in Nikolai. It just so happened those two dogs flew in my plane from Nikolai to McGrath and they were as calm as ever in the air. Newton was happy that someone he knew personally delivered them to McGrath.

from the JDT facebook page

[sistacaf]

Re: Iditarod! Come see Newton story from McGrath!

Nice! he's impressing me more with every new thing i hear about him. i can't wait for the tv program to come out so i can see the whole thing....

and i gotta say i especially love how he loves his dogs.

MUSH MON!

and when he's done mushing, dawggies get a special treat, Newton-stylee!

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod! Come see Newton story from McGrath!

LOl the beach huskies are the bomb!!!

It sounds like Newton might have a little bit of problem with frostbite on his fingers and face. This was posted on facebook today...

by Eppo written March 10th, 2010
I've just returned back to Nicolai by snowmobile after following Newton towards McGrath and he's powering along listening to his I Pod! This morning he woke up after a few hours to some hands that were still stinging from the cold. &quot;I think I have frostbite on my finger tips...and the tip of my nose and ch...eek are stinging as well.&quot; Newton was worried about heading back out there in -30 Degree temperatures also knowing that he was dropping the two dogs.
But fans and locals in Nicolai kept pulling out Newton's positive side to give him the drive to get back out there and push through. Nicolai native and elder Phillip Esai spoke proudly of Newton and made a point of meeting him at the checkpoint when he arrived in this small town of 98. He and Newton even compared seal skinned mitt's.
The K - 12 school of only 16 children were glad that Mr. Marshall came to their home for the brief visit. &quot;Newton has inspired me by coming all the way to my home and proving that he can do this race. He has in turn taught us that we can do whatever we want in life.&quot; said, Phil Runkle Jr. a 16year old from... the tiny school.
Newton's team looked very healthy on the way to McGrath and he told me that he wanted to make it for the 24 hour rest in Takotna by tonight. I hope to report about Newton when I arrive in Takotna sometime tonight as well. This is the Eppo Insider signing off from the town of Nicolai. oh...great to hear that my documentary i directed about Newton called UnderDog aired in Australia! Now we need it to air in the U.S.

source

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod! Come see Newton story from McGrath!

Newton had steak dinner medium rare in Takotna. There was a guy at the place playing guitar and he played Margaritaville and when he was finished Newton asked if he could play some Bob Marley.

These videos are turning up on facebook from the insider so if I see it there I'll post it!

Newton is in 49th place with 14 dogs and has traveled through 321 miles. His mentor and host Lance Mackey is kicking some serious butt and has moved up to 2nd place with 13 dogs.

[SistahD]

Re: Iditarod! Come see Newton story from McGrath!

for Newton avoiding frostbite... I know he still has a long way to go. He still makes us all proud of his progress and good attitude.

Stay warm and tek cyar! (((Newt)))

[Nanook]

Re: Iditarod! Come see Newton story from McGrath!

Newton is doing wonderfully. The task is so enormous it's hard to grasp. All I know for sure is I could never, even in my most fit days, have taken on such a challenge.

Newton is at the Ophir checkpoint, next stop Cripple.

[Nanook]

Re: 2010 Iditarod: Larry &amp; Newton

2010 Iditarod: Larry &amp; Newton

Lance Mackey’s Larry is a mushing legend. The big gray Alaskan husky is the winningest lead dog in long distance racing history; he’s led Lance’s team to victory in seven 1,000 mile Yukon Quest and Iditarod races, and he has won three coveted Golden Harnesses.

Larry has been to Nome nine times, eight with Lance and once, in 2003, as part of Paul Gebhardt’s team. In the 2010 Iditarod Larry is once again going to Nome, but this time he’s not in Lance’s team – he’s part of Jamaican rookie Newton Marshall’s bid for an Iditarod buckle.



Oswald “Newton ” Marshall is the first Jamaican and Caribbean musher to enter the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Marshall is a rookie in the Iditarod, but in 2009 he completed the grueling Yukon Quest, winning thirteenth place and the coveted Challenge of the North Award for best exemplifying the spirit of the Yukon Quest. After training for that race with three-time Quest champion Hans Gatt, Newton chose three-time Iditarod champion Lance Mackey as his mentor for the 2010 Iditarod.



While Newton is running dogs from Lance’s kennel in the Iditarod, including Super-Dog Larry, the team dogs in Jamaica are rescued from the streets or from the Jamaican Society for Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (JSPCA). A portion of proceeds from the Jamaica Dogsled Tours and DVD sales on the team website benefits the JSPCA. The Jamaica Dogsled Team is sponsored by Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Chukka Caribbean Adventures, WestJet Vacations, Alpine Aviation and Annamaet Petfoods.



As of Thursday evening, Newton and Larry were holding their own in the Iditarod through minus thirty-five degree temperatures, and Newton had declared his mandatory 24 hour lay over in McGrath. Videographer Eppo Eerkes, who’s following Newton’s progress on the trail, reported, “After talking to several other mushers, Newton learned that the overload of teams in Takotna for the 24 hour rest wasn’t leaving room for other teams to park. So, Newton decided it was in his best interest to just rest here.”



Eppo also reported, “Newton’s affection for his dogs was so intense that he had to make sure that the officials would take care of his two dropped dogs in Nikolai. It just so happened those two dogs flew in my plane from Nikolai to McGrath and they were as calm as ever in the air. Newton was happy that someone he knew personally delivered them to McGrath.”

Source