Newton Marshall facts for kids
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Newton Marshall (born March 2, 1983) is a professional dogsled musher from Jamaica. A musher is a person who drives a team of sled dogs. Newton is famous for being the first Jamaican to finish the very challenging Iditarod in Alaska.
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Newton's Journey to Dogsledding
Newton Marshall joined Chukka Caribbean Adventures in 2002. He had always dreamed of working with horses there. His hard work paid off, and he moved from being a gardener to other jobs. He later became a tour guide at the River Valley Mountain Horseback Ride.
Chukka Caribbean Adventures helped its employees learn more. Newton was one of the most eager students. He grew up in a nearby village and had to work to support his family. This meant he could not continue his education at school.
Discovering a New Path
In 2005, Devon Anderson, who loved animals and managed operations at Chukka Cove, saw something special in Newton. He chose Newton to care for three new dogs at Chukka Cove Farm. This farm was known for polo, but it also became home to the Jamaica Dogsled Team.
Newton met his future sled dogs, Marbles and Jimmy, there. He also met his instructors, Rick and Anette Johnson. They owned Ah-Regah Kennel & Equipment in Minnesota. Newton remembers Rick talking about dogsledding. He did not know what it was at first. He watched them work with the dogs and wondered what they were doing. Rick once asked him to run ahead and call to the dogs in a special way. Newton was surprised when the dogs responded.
By 2006, the dogsled team was real. Newton's energy and his way with animals helped him train with huskies in Minnesota. He said he did not know what to expect. He was excited to work with experienced dogs and see lots of snow. He knew it would be cold, but he thought it would be like a rainy day in Jamaica. On his first day, they pulled him on a snowmobile. It was his first time in the snow, and it was freezing! He was amazed to see how fast the dogs could move.
After returning to Jamaica, Newton faced a challenge. He found himself without a job or a place on the team. He worked hard in 2007 to earn back trust. He was finally welcomed back to Chukka Caribbean Adventures and the Jamaica Dogsled Team. He trained and helped visitors on the company's sled dog tours.
Later that year, Devon Anderson was supposed to train for the 2009 Yukon Quest race. But Devon decided he did not want to be away from Jamaica for so long. So, it was decided that Newton would step in to train and qualify for the Yukon Quest.
Newton left sunny Jamaica and arrived in freezing Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, in November 2007. He began his long-distance training with Hans Gatt, a three-time Yukon Quest winner. His new life included very cold temperatures and 100-mile runs with the sled dog team. Hans Gatt's experience helped Newton and his team survive in harsh conditions. Newton learned how to mush a dogsled team over long distances. He also learned basic dog care and camping skills. These skills were important for surviving and caring for fourteen dogs for many days in the sub-arctic winter.
Newton's Dogsled Races
Newton was ready for the challenge. On March 27–28, 2008, he competed in the 210-mile Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race. This race went from Dawson City, Yukon Territory, to Eagle, Alaska, and back. He finished in 7th place out of 15 racers. He also received the Sportsmanship Award from his fellow mushers. This award is given to someone who shows great sportsmanship.
Newton successfully completed Alaska's Copper Basin 300 race in January 2009. He placed 13th out of 27 starters. This made him the first Jamaican ever to qualify for the Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race. On February 26, 2009, he finished the Yukon Quest. He placed 13th out of 29 racers and brought 10 dogs to the finish line. He also won the Challenge of the North Award. Race officials chose Newton because he showed the "Spirit of the Quest." This spirit means mushers challenge themselves and never give up. His bright smile and positive attitude made him a favorite among fans.
In 2010, Newton Marshall made international news. He became the first Caribbean musher ever to finish the famous Iditarod. This is a very important 1100-mile race from Willow to Nome, Alaska. He finished the race in 47th place out of 71 mushers. He trained for this race with Lance Mackey, who had won the Iditarod four times.
2010 Iditarod Race
Newton Marshall was one of the new mushers in the 2010 Iditarod race. He was the first Jamaican to ever compete in this event. His team received financial support from Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville cafes. He used sled dogs borrowed from Lance Mackey's Comeback Kennel. Newton had trained with Mackey for this big race. Newton finished in 47th place.
2011 Iditarod Race
Newton returned to compete in the Iditarod the next year. However, he had to withdraw from the race on February 12. He had taken his required rest stops and then stopped at the Anvik checkpoint. He had 11 dogs with him when he withdrew.
2013 Iditarod Race
After taking a year off, Newton Marshall returned to compete in the 2013 Iditarod. He did not have a major sponsor this time. He ran a team of dogs that he leased and borrowed. He had to withdraw from the race again. This happened when his famous dog, "Wrong Way May," got free from the team. Newton was helping another competitor who was having trouble. May ran the trail backwards and was found seven days later. She was alive and well, near the race starting point, almost 300 miles from where she had gotten away!
2014 Iditarod Race
Newton Marshall returned to Alaska one more time. Again, he did not have a major sponsor. He funded his team with help from local businesses and donations from people online. He had a small team of volunteers and a borrowed team of dogs. Newton Marshall finished the race in 43rd place out of 69 mushers. This race was called the toughest in its 42-year history. Many experienced mushers and past champions did not finish. Newton finished the race in 12 days, 1 hour, and 5 minutes. He had 13 dogs with him.
He was given the "Herbie Nayokpuk Award." This award goes to the musher who best shows the spirit of Herbie Nayokpuk with their attitude on the trail. Newton also made headlines during the race for helping another musher, Scott Janssen. Scott had broken his ankle on the trail and could not get back to his sled. Scott was lying in the icy water until Newton arrived to help him.
