LACONIA, N.H. (AP) – This weekend’s World Championship Sled Dog Derby has been canceled for lack of snow – notwithstanding the storm in the forecast.

The Lakes Region Sled Dog Club said Tuesday the 76th derby, scheduled for Friday through Sunday, was canceled because of a long stretch of balmy temperatures and a lack of snow.

Club officials Jim Lyman and Russ Armstrong said a snowstorm forecast for today into Friday would come too late to shape an acceptable course.

“We have world-class drivers here and we have to put out a world-class trail,” said Lyman, who said canceling the race gives competitors time to enter other races in the Northeast that might have better conditions.

Lyman said unseasonably warm weather has led to the cancellation of races this winter even in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The city’s Winterfest event on Saturday will be held regardless, said Deb Oetinger, executive director of Laconia Main Street. Events include a wood-carving exhibition, a yellow-snow eating contest and frozen turkey bowling.

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Information from: Citizen, http://www.fosters.com/citizen

AP-ES-02-09-05 0923EST