Iditarod Musher Profile

Twenty-six year old Jamaican, Oswald "Newton" Marshall began mushing in 2005 after an operations manager at Chukka Cove, saw something special in Newton and handpicked him to look after a trio of new dogs at Chukka Cove Farm.

Newton's exuberance and special way with animals propelled him on a journey to the snow and great outdoors to train with huskies. In November 2007, it was decided that Newton would train and race to qualify for the Yukon Quest. Marshall left sunny Jamaica and arrived in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada to begin his long distance training with three-time Yukon Quest winner Hans Gatt.

Marshall was up to the task and March 27-28, 2008 he finished 7^th in a field of 15 in the 210-mile Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race and received the Sportsmanship Award from his fellow mushers. Marshall then successfully completed Alaska's Copper Basin 300 (Jan 10 to 13, 2009) placing 13^th in a field of 27 starts.

On February 26, 2009, Marshall became the first Jamaican ever to finish the Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race. He did so finishing 13^th out of a field of 29 mushers. For his perseverance despite the odds against him, race officials selected Marshall as the recipient of the Challenge of the North Award.

For 2010, Newton has set his sights on the Iditarod and will be training with 3-time champion Lance Mackey as he prepares for this race.