Jeff King, four-time Iditarod winner, has been named as the speaker for the Beargrease Gala Dinner in January 2011.

The event is held two days before the start of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, which begins on January 30th.

Organisers noted that King took first place in the 1993, 1996, 1998 and 2006 Iditarod races, as well as having more than 24 first-place finishes in races across Alaska during his career.

In addition to the Gala Dinner, there will also be a silent auction to mark the start of the 28th John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.

There are already 26 mushers signed up for the marathon race, while a further 40 entrants have put their names down for the mid-distance race.

Two of the racers to finish in the top five of the 2010 marathon event are set to compete again in 2011 – Rick Larson and Peter McClelland.

Meanwhile, last year's winner of the mid-distance race Don Galloway is set to dust off his dog harnesses and enter the competition again this year.