Ivakkak's new champion and gold medalists, Novalinga Novalinga and his partner Aibilie Moses (in the center), from Puvirnituq; silver medalists Willie Cain Jr. and his cousin Joseph Cain (right), from Tasiujaq; and bronze medalists Harry Okpik and his partner Junior Tukkiapik (on the left), from Quaqtaq. (Photo: Isabelle Dubois / Makivik) After 12 days out on the land and sea ice of the eastern Hudson Bay coast since the start of Ivakkak 2009 in Inukjuak on March 25, the eighth edition of the dog team race ended today in Ivujivik, over 500 kilometres (300 miles) further up North. The excitement was at its peak on the sea ice in front of this northernmost community of Nunavik, and the province of Quebec, where the finish line was set up. The population of Ivujivik must have doubled this weekend, as people from all over Nunavik flew in or came by snowmobile to come and see the dog teams arrive from their great journey. It is not every day that Ivujivimmiut see dog teams pull in their community, as they have no dog team since the passing of their local legend, Nutaraaluk Iyaituk, a musher who used to participate in Ivakkak cheerfully every year. Emotions were therefore running high when the crowd saw the first dog team approach. Novalinga Novalinga of Puvirnituq was the first to cross the finish line, making him the new Ivakkak champion. Willie Cain Jr. of Tasiujaq, who was in the lead for the greater part of the race, came in second place overall, after losing ground to Novalinga in the past couple of days. The one-legged musher, Harry Okpik, of Quaqtaq, came in third place overall, and was greeted like the hero that he is when he arrived in Ivujivik. The fourth place was taken by another team from Puvirnituq, Peter Boy Ittukallak's, who had the time of his life during this race. Also from Puvirnituq, Johnny Sivuaraapik, came in fifth place overall. His father, the late Tamusi Sivuraapik, who was Ivakkak's first champion in 2001 and was probably watching over him during the race, would have been proud. With three teams from Puvirnituq in the top five, Puvirnitumiut definitely have something to be proud of! Within the lunch hour, most teams had made it to Ivujivik to cross the finish line (see results below). The last two teams to pull in, were those of Juusipi Qisiiq and Matthew Arngak, both from Kangiqsujuaq. With very tired dogs, the two mushers decided to put their dogs together and crossed the finish line as one, both on the same sled pulled by their 21 dogs, sharing their efforts and helping each other, as it is the tradition for Inuit. After some time to rest in the afternoon, the racers were treated to a community feast of country food, after which the Ivakkak 2009 closing ceremony was held (see details in full story). Congratulations to all of the dog teams that took part in another great edition of the Ivakkak dog team race! See full story

RESULTS AS OF: April 5, 2009

Rank Racer Community Today's time (h:m:s) Total Time (h:m:s) 1st Novalinga Novalinga & Aibilie Moses (#13) Puvirnituq 2:23:08 47:56:04 2nd Willie Cain Jr. & Joseph Cain (#9) Tasiujaq 2:36:12 48:15:39 3rd Harry Okpik & Junior Tukkiapik (#1) Quaqtaq 2:25:18 49:29:34 4th Peter Boy Ittukallak & Juani Nutaraaluk (#7) Puvirnituq 2:44:29 51:46:47 5th Johnny Sivuaraapik & Tommy Sallualuk (#2) Puvirnituq 2:52:14 54:17:43 6th Johnny Arnatuk & Paul Dumont (#10) Quaqtaq 2:45:54 55:26:21 7th Juusipi Qisiiq & Paulie Qisiiq (#11) Kangiqsujuaq 4:00:14 56:40:29 8th Simeonie Elijassiapik & his son Arthur (#5) Inukjuak 2:46:08 57:22:10 9th Adamie Inukpuk & Lizzie-Ann Kasudluak (#8) Inukjuak 2:54:25 58:29:21 10th Johnny Aakutaaq Angnatuk & his son Sammy (#12) Tasiujaq 2:56:24 59:12:40 11th Matthew Arngak & Tuniq Koneak (#3) Kangiqsujuaq 4:00:14 60:14:00 DNF Peter Kiatainaq & Peter Qisiiq Jr. (#4) Kangiqsujuaq DNF Junior May & Aqikki Kooktook (#6) Kuujjuaq