Canadian man wins UP 200 for first time

CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP — Denis Tremblay of Quebec, Canada fulfilled a dream of his Sunday morning, when he was the first musher to cross the finish line of the UP 200.

This was Tremblay’s fifth time participating in the event. He took the lead Sunday morning, passing a fellow Canadian, Martin Massicotte of Quebec, to win the race.

Jim Reevs, publisher of The Mining Journal, said the normal 230 mile race was cut down to about 220 miles due to a lack of snow. Because of that, race officials moved the finish line of the race Saturday night from Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette to Lakenenland in Chocolay Township.

Ward Wallin was the first American to cross the finish line. Wallin, from Two Harbors, Minnesota, finished in third place.

We will have much more on the UP 200 Monday at 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. on ABC 10.