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12- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 16, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Langmaid places ninth in 300-mile dog sled race By Chris Hall Port Perry Star After months of training, a Blackstock man was rewarded with a top 10 finish at an international sled dog race in Minnesota last month. Bruce Langmaid, a 15-year veteran of the sport, finished ninth in a 41-team field Jan. 24 at Grand Portage, Minnesota. He was also the top Canadian in the 300-mile marathon event. Mr. Langmaid's trek began around noon on Jan. 24, when he and his team of 12 Alaskan Huskies took off from the start line. Each team had to pass through four check-points, and was required to take 16 hours of rest during the trek. "We started off and did 60 miles before coming to the first checkpoint and resting for four and a half hours," he recalled last week. "Then, at 10:30 p.m., we took off and did 100 miles to the next check- point and rested for another five-and-a- half hours. "From there we did another 60 miles, rested for six hours, and did the remain- ing 60 miles to the finish line." The purse for the inaugural event was $66,000 US. "Many of the top teams in the world came for this one," said Mr. Langmaid, noting that teams from Alaska, Wyoming, Quebec, Maine, Minnesota, and Northern Ontario were registered. While his dogs were used to shorter distances, they were quick to pick up the knack for longer trips, he said. "I did a 250-mile race last year, but most of them I do are.shorter, one-day events," Mr. Langmaid said. "This was completely different; we started off slowly to gradually build their endurance. We did two days of con- ditioning, and one day of rest. We had a strict schedule for two-and-a-half months. "They did about 30 or 40 miles a day and when the race came, they were in goud condition. And, while the marathon sounds rigorous, they were in good spirits and had good weight and were healthy when it was over." Mr. Langmaid credits a large part of his success goes to his sponsors. "There's no way I couldn't have doné it without them. I couldn't have financed something like this; you just can't jump in the truck and go do this. They were 100 per cent behind me." His sponsors included XL Pet Foods, The Mississaugas First Nations of Scugog Island, The Great Blue Heron Charitable Casino and Bingo, and Overridge Fireplaces. As a special thank-you to his sponsors and to the community for generally sup- porting him, Mr. Langmaid will hold free dog-sled rides during the upcoming March Break for area youths. Anyone interested can call him at 986-1707. IR TE ra Tax Shelters When people take shel- ter, it's usually because something exciting is happening with the weather, like a tornado or hurricane. But people take shelter for other rea- sons too. For some, paying taxes can be like a torna- do ripping through their gross income. 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Other quali- fied investments can include real estate and hobby farms. It is also important to recognize that a tax shel- ter is not a tax exemption, 'but a tax referral. There will be a tax bill when the investment is sold and also for any income that it generates. Not All Tax Shelters Are Created Equal Kelly, Greenway, Bruce, Korb BARRISTER AND SOLICITORS Motor Vehicle - Criminal - Personal Injury Wills - Real Estate - Family Law Corporate & Commercial Evenings and Weekends by Appointment 114 King St. E., Oshawa 723-2278 [\ L SCUGOG FINANCIAL _ The tax deduction received from a tax shel- ter is, of course, its main selling point. But it's also important to consider the quality of the investment, and not just the potential write-off. Factors to be consid- ered include the risk involved with the venture (you could lose money) and whether or not the investment will provide cash flow. Another factor to con- sider is the structure of the tax shelter. 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Another pos- sible drawback of a tax shelter is that an investor may be subject to Alternative Minimum Tax. This tax is targeted at people with higher incomes who have signif- icant write-offs from tax shelters. The calculations for this tax are usually complicated, and your tax advisor should be con- sulted. This article is for infor- mation purposes only. Before taking any action based on information in this article, please consult with a professional finan- cial advisor. This article was supplied by RBC Dominion Securities Investment Advisor Robert Gow. For more information, please call (905) 434-7156. RBC Dominion Securities is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. -