Anchorage Daily News

This time around there were no late-race breakdowns.

Not even a record-setting performance by Egil Ellis on the final day of the GCI Open North American Championship sled dog race could keep Blayne "Buddy" Streeper from winning his second title on a brilliant afternoon in downtown Fairbanks.

Unlike 2006, when Ellis overtook Streeper on the final day to claim a seventh Open title as Streeper faltered on the home stretch, nothing could derail the Streeper Express this year.

"We had no problems at all today," Streeper said of his final run on the grueling 27.5-mile trail. "It was an easy run, the trail was good and hard and the temperature was perfect."

Ellis posted a Day 3 record time Sunday of 86 minutes, 28.5 seconds to break the mark held by Streeper (88:16.2 in 2004) by almost 90 seconds. But Streeper was just 23.2 seconds behind as he also smashed his previous best. He had more than enough speed to protect his lead of 1:45 going into Sunday's final heat.

Streeper's day time of 86:51.7 gave him a three-day time of 3:24:47.1 to break the previous record of 3:26:53.9 set by Ellis in 2004.

Streeper also set the Day 1 record this year, covering the 20 miles in 57:59.5.

"We set the first day record and the overall record, so this is quite satisfying," Streeper said as he stood on Second Avenue waiting for the post-race celebration to begin.

"We've finished second in this race more than anyone else ever has, so I never really felt like I had it wrapped up until I crossed the finish line," Streeper said. "We had a real good ride the last three miles."

Streeper said this is the first year that he has specifically geared his team to compete for sprint mushing's Alaska Triple Crown -- Fur Rendezvous World Championship, Open North American and the Tok Race of Champions. Streeper has now won the first two jewels, running away with the Fur Rendezvous last month in Anchorage and turned in a record-breaking effort in the Open North American this weekend.

"This is the best team we've ever brought up here that was strictly prepared for these races," the Fort Nelson British Columbia musher said. "We've won in Anchorage and got the three-day record here, so we'll see what happens at Tok next weekend."

The Tok Race of Champions is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday on the Tok Dog Mushers Association Trails.

Streeper, who also won the North American in 2003, praised his lead dogs Dee and Myia for their performances during the three-day race that featured 20-mile heats on Friday and Saturday and Sunday's 27.5-mile jaunt.

"Dee is the best leader we've ever raised," Streeper said. "She won here as a 2-year-old in 2003 and she has three sons in the team.

"Myia got quite tired on the third day last year, but she was the best one I had on the trail today," he added.

After racing in the Tok Race of Champions, Streeper said he plans on heading out to Kotzebue and Noorvik for more racing before he returns home to begin preparations for next season.

"Most of these dogs are 2- and 3-year-olds and a dog usually doesn't peak until 5 or 6 so we could be stronger next year," he said. "There's always ways to improve and strategies to work out."

Despite smashing the course record, Ellis saw his three-year winning streak snapped.

"We did our best today, but it was just a little bit too much to overcome," the Willow musher said. "I couldn't have asked any more from this dog team."

Prior to the race, Ellis said that three good runs was all he wanted from this year's race after his team had to be treated for giardiasis following the Fur Rendezvous.

"I had three good runs and a track record so I'm happy," Ellis said. "In retrospect, I may have held them back too much on the first day, but then if I would have let them go on Friday they might not have been able to do what they did today. You have to stick with your decisions."

Salcha veterinarian Arleigh Reynolds took the third, with Willow's Bill Kornmuller fourth.

GCI Open North American Championships

Final Results

1) Buddy Streeper, 3:24:47.1; 2) Egil Ellis, 3:26:08.8; 3) Arleigh Reynolds, 3:34:14.4; 4) Bill Kornmuller, 3:35:10.6; 5) Eddy Streeper, 3:35:33.0; 6) Mark Hartum, 3:38:04.0; 7) Aaron Campbell*, 3:40:41.3; 8) Rob Peebles, 3:43:23.9; 9) Neal Johnson, 3:43:37.8; 10) Michael Tetzner, 3:46:15.9; 11) Don Cousins, 3:49:47.6; 12) Jason Dunlap 3:49:55.6; 13) Lester Erhart*, 3:52:21.5; 14) Mike Cox*, 3:53:13.1; 15) Heather Hardy*, 3:58:18.8; 16) Andi Hutten, 3:59:35.0; 17) Josh Cadzow*, 3:59:37.4; 18) Stewart Attla*, 4:00:47.0; 19) Mike Sanford*, 4:06:45.3; 20) Mari Wood 4:07:00.6; 21) Danny Beck*, 4:11:48.8; 22) J.P. Norris, 4:21:29.3; 23) Bob Chlupach, 4:22:19.0.

Scratched -- Ken Chezik, Gary Markley*, Mari Hoe-Raitto.

Disqualified -- Shane Goosen*

* -- Rookie