First to last -- that sums up the weekend of Salcha dog driver Arleigh Reynolds at the Montana Creek Championships sled dog race on Saturday and Sunday. In Saturday's race, run in near ideal conditions, Reynolds ripped off a new track record of 35 minutes, 47 seconds in the open class to grab a three-second lead over Michael Tetzner of Germany.

"I didn't ask anything of the dogs," he said on Tuesday. "In fact, I held them back."

Then came Sunday -- a windier day that turned out a lot tougher for Reynolds.

Early in his run, one of Reynolds' dogs stepped into a hole and injured himself.

Reynolds had his hands full trying to load the big, frisky animal into his sled bag, which ripped in the process, while trying to hang onto his dog team as his snow hook began to slip.

"Sometimes," he allowed, "stuff like that happens."

Reynolds troubles allowed Tetzner (72:11) to claim a comfortable victory over Christian Taveau (73:32) and former Fur Rondy Open Champion Egil Ellis (74:47) while Reynolds struggled home with a time nearly five minutes slower than any other racer.

But the mishap didn't dull Reynolds enthusiasm for his team, which finished third at Rondy last year.

"This is the best group of dogs I've ever had," he said. "We've been training for Rondy since two days after the race ended last year."

The final Montana Creek race of the season is the two-day Susitna Valley Championships starting Jan. 23, with several Rondy entrants expected to race.

Montana Creek Championships

Combined Times, Saturday and Sunday

Open -- 1) Michael Tetzner, 72:11; 2) Christian Taveau, 73:32; 3) Egil Ellis, 74:47; 4) Dori Hollingsworth, 75:40; 5) Eddy Dayton, 77:33; 6) Erik Renneberg, 78:15; 7) Greg Sellentin, 78:34; 8) Andy Seitz, 79:04; 9) Marvin Kokrine, 79:41; 10) Jason Dunlap, 80:08; 11) Mari Hoe-Raitto, 80:11; 12) Arleigh Reynolds, 81:04.

8-Dog -- 1) Michael Tetzner, 45:18; 2) Brenda Burge, 46:10; 3) Jennifer Porbert, 46:36; 4) Amanda Byrd, 47:30; 5) Debbie McGrath, 47:44; 6) Christian Taveau, 48:03; 7) Evelyn Beeter, 48:07; 8) Robert Kokrine, 49:50; 9) Roxanne Dayton, 50:41; 10) Katie Wood, 55:27.

6-Dog -- 1) Amy Gjestson, 34:06; 2) Bev Stevens, 34:47; 3) Jennifer Probert, 34:49; 4) Greg Sellentin, 35:41; 5) Kris Rasey, 36:03; 6) Mickey Reynolds, 38:28; 7) Melissa Owens, 39:13; 8) James Castro, 39:30; 9) Meredith Mapes, 40:50; 10) Dan McGrath, 41:36.

4-Dog -- 1) Kim Wells, 26:16; 2) Evelyn Beeter, 28:08; 3) Melissa Owens, 28:23; 4) Bud Rice, 29:20; 5) Kris Rasey, 30:45; 6) Meredith Mapes, 31:39; 7) Debra Castro, 33:00.

Skijor -- 1) Becky Voris, 27:24; 2) Rebecca Knight, 27:35; 3) Bud Rice, 29:26; 4) Kim Wells, 29:38; 5) Andy Seitz, 30:38.