Hudson Bay Quest - Churchill to Nunalla

 John Stetson Departs Churchill in HBQ7

FINAL RESULTS FOR 2010 HUDSON BAY QUEST

  1. John Stetson - arrive in Churchill at 8:02pm - 34 hours 50 minutes
  2. Dave Daley – arrive in Churchill at 12:55am March 28 – 39 hours 51 minutes
  3. Charlie Lundie – arrive in Churchill at 11:36pm March 28 – 44 hours 30 minutes *
  4. Ed Obrecht – arrive in Churchill at 12:48pm March 29 – 51 hours 34 minutes
  5. Quincy Miller – arrive in Churchill at 2:43pm March 29 – 53 hours 43 minutes
  6. Darryl Baker – arrive in Churchill at 2:50pm March 29 – 53 hours 48 minutes
  7. Steve Hartman – arrive in Churchill at 3:20pm March 29 - 54 hours 14 minutes
* Charlie Lundie issued six hour penalty for dropping dog at unauthorized checkpoint.

2010 marks a new era for the Hudson Bay Quest. Starting this year, the race start and finish in Churchill, Manitoba. The race route will run 400 kilometres from Churchill to the border of Manitoba and Nunavut and back. Nunalla, a former Hudson Bay trading post, sits at the mid-way point of the race where mushers will have a six hour layover.

For seven years, the HBQ has brought together mushers and sled dogs from Canada's Polar Bear Capital of the World, some of the finest Inuit mushers in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut and more than a few teams from 'outside'.

Designed as a self-sufficient dog sledding adventure, racers carry their own supplies and dog food for the duration of the race. Only one emergency food drop is available at the mid-way checkpoint, Nunalla.

It is a traditional race built on the history of the fur trade, the Hudson's Bay Company and the early days of Churchill, Manitoba. It harkens back to a time when 'There ain't no law of God nor man goes north of 53°’ was a common saying.

The Hudson Bay Quest is set for March 27th and invites racers from across North America to join in this celebration of arctic life and sled dog culture.

This year nine teams are registered for the Hudson Bay Quest. Starting bibs were drawn at the racers' banquet in Churchill and are as follows:

  1. Quincy Miller, Potato Lake, Saskatchewan
  2. Daryl Baker, Arviat, Nunavut
  3. Dave Daley, Churchill, Manitoba
  4. Steve Hartman, Rankin Inlet, NWT
  5. Charlie Lundie, Churchill, Manitoba
  6. Harry Towtoongie, Rankin Inlet, Nunavut
  7. Peter Mamgark Sr., Arviat, Nunavut
  8. Ed Obrecht, Ladysmith, Quebec
  9. John Stetson, Ely, Minnesota

Race will begin at 9am in Churchill on March 27th. This year, the Hudson Bay Quest welcomes trail coordinator Claude Daudet as the new race marshall with Kelsey Eliasson serving as Deputy marshall for the race start. Teams will leave from the Churchill River Flats starting at 9am in two minute intervals.

Temperatures are hovering around -20C and the skies are clear, good conditions for the race start. With normal season conditions forecast for the first two days, it could be a fast race this year, with the lead teams expected to arrive in Churchill late Sunday night. By day three of the race, Monday March 29th, the daily high is expected to climb to -1 with periods of snow, and then +3C by Tuesday, making for a slow finish for the back of the pack.

The 2010 Hudson Bay Quest runs in a 400 kilometre loop from Churchill to Nunalla, starting at 9:00am, March 27, 2010. Trail logistics and support will be provided by the Canadian Rangers. Special thanks to race sponsors Calm Air, Gardewine North, Churchill Mitigation Trust Fund and Canada Goose.


HUDSON BAY QUEST APPLICATION FORMS

  • HBQ 2010 Application (PDF)
  • HBQ 2010 Application (DOC)

Download race application forms here for the 2010 Hudson Bay Quest. Race is limited to twenty teams, registration opens November 15, 2009. Registration deadline is March 15, 2010.

HUDSON BAY QUEST - 2010 RULES
HUDSON BAY QUEST - 2010 TRAIL PROCEDURE