Celebrating our Timers – Lesley and Marcel

Sharing this news carries many emotions for your KDSR Committee. After almost decade of working with us on dog sled race weekend, our dedicate timers Lesley Morrison and Marcel Garneau are moving into retirement from timing events.

Timing races is a mostly thankless job despite it being the most important and sometimes the most difficult. Months of planning and preparation eventually ride on the shoulders of our race officials to make sure the race is ultimately fairly and accurately timed. They’re starting their work before dawn and often times ending well into the night. In between, they spend their entire day braving the elements in all their glory to sit on the course and ensure everyone gets their race time.

On top of the role of timers being taxing from a physical perspective, it is arduous work that is mentally taxing. Sled dog races are like any competitive event – messy and imperfect. Multiple teams crossing the finish line at the same time, some starting early, some going off course. You have to pay attention to many things at the same time all the while you’re trying to keep warm. We’re sure Lesley and Marcel could list dozens of curveballs they’ve been thrown through the years. And that’s without mentioning all the times that the technology failed.

To Lesley and Marcel – From the bottom of our hearts, the race committee thanks you for your many years of hard work. We are the largest sled dog race in Ontario. Your unwavering support made that possible. You stayed with us through many changes  and challenges through the years. Our gratitude is enormous.

KDSR is working through all the options available to us for race timing. There will be news on the outcome in the near future. For now, please help us thank Lesley and Marcel for their years of hard work for us on the trails.

We hope to see them both with us at Kearney this year or at future races in a new capacity – not as officials, but as spectators and friends.

Cheers !