Neff leads Yukon Quest, but hit with penalty

Yukon musher Hugh Neff had the lead in the final days of the Yukon Quest on Monday, but his lead could be hampered by a time penalty issued against him Sunday night.

Neff, who was the first to pass through the Mile 101 dog drop point in Alaska at 9 a.m. Monday, was assessed a two-hour penalty for veering off the Quest trail.

Race marshal Doug Grilliot told Alaskan media that Neff's team ran on the road for about nine kilometres, in an attempt to enhance his position, until he was spotted by some people and he pulled his sled back onto the actual trail.

Neff will have to serve that penalty at the next checkpoint in Two Rivers, about 130 kilometres farther along the trail from Mile 101. Two Rivers is the last stop for mushers before the finish line in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Neff was followed by Alaskan musher Jon Little, who passed through Mile 101 within the same hour Neff did. Following in third place was Sebastian Schnuelle of Whitehorse.

Currently in fourth place is Brent Sass of Fairbanks, who left Mile 101 at 12:15 p.m. In fifth place William Kleedehn of Carcross, Yukon.

A total of 23 mushers were still in the running in the 26th annual Yukon Quest, which began Feb. 14 from Whitehorse.

Six mushers have scratched from the race, most recently Didier Moggia of Whitehorse, who dropped out Friday from the checkpoint in Dawson City, Yukon.