Jamaican Sets His Sights on Dog Sled Championship

Musher Newton Marshall is teaming with Lance Mackey for a run at the 2010 Iditarod. They appeared together on “Canada AM” Thursday morning.

Marshall is one of the best up-and-coming young mushers in the sport. Lance Mackey is a legend in the sport with three Itidarod wins before throat cancer forced him to retire. He recovered and came back to open Lance Mackey Comeback Kennels. Despite the highs and lows of Mackey's story, Marshall has followed an even more complicated path to his position. He was born in March, 1983 in Chukka Cove, Jamaica and worked at a local resort in a variety of positions. Eventually, he was asked to start caring for the dogs the resort owner wanted to provide to the Jamaican Dogsled Team (JDT). Marshall was eventually given the chance to ride and the rest is history. He had never seen snow until he came to Minnesota to train in 2006. Yet, beginning March 6, 2010 Marshall intends to spend 10-17 days and nights in the Arctic wilderness competing in the Iditarod, a 1,161 mile race. He completed the Yukon Quest last winter. Under the tutelage of Hans Gatt out of Whitehorse he finished seventh in a field of 15. Every winter he leaves the tropical beauty of Chukka Cove and heads for snow. He's trained in Minnesota, the Yukon and now Alaska. When snow is not available, the team trains on dog carts (a dogsled with wheels) in the Jamaican heat. This keeps the dogs and the rider in shape. Most importantly, he permits the dogs to learn the teamwork essential to long distance dog sled racing. Today, Newton Marshall is in Toronto en route from Chukka Cove, Jamaica to Fairbanks, Alaska. The day started with the appearance on Canada AM. However, the biggest part of the visit is tonight. The documentary "Underdogs," which is about Marshall and the JDT, will be screened tonight at The Berkeley Church, 315 Queen St E in Toronto. The screening will be followed by a party. Founder Danny Melville and JDT mushers Newton Marshall and Damion Robb, will be in attendance.

JDT

Newton Marshall training his dogs on a dogsled cart.

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One of the largest sponsors and biggest fan of the JDT is musician Jimmy Buffett. The last word is his: “What is it about this island's infatuation with the cold. I missed out on the bobsled years. I don’t intend to miss out of this one. Besides, “I can’t wait to yell 'Mush Mon' in support of our team”