News release, 31 January 2004
For more information, contact the Alaska
Dog Mushers Association, (907) 457-6874.
Annamaet Challenge Series 2004 points championships to be decided Sunday
The Annamaet Challenge Series concludes Sunday, February 1st, with the fifth and final race at the Jeff Studdert Racegrounds. Some of the 2004 points championships have already been decided, while others will come down to the final day of racing.
Competitors in the Annamaet Challenge Series are awarded points in each race as follows: 1st place - 5 points; 2nd place - 4 points; 3rd place - 3 points; 4th place - 2 points; 5th place and all finishers - 1 point. For each class, the dog driver with the most cumulative points from all the Challenge Series races is awarded the Points Champion trophy at the Alaska Dog Mushers Association Annual Meeting in March.
Carol Kleckner of Ester has already landed herself two points championships, locking up the 3-dog skijor class with 19 points in the first four races, a commanding 13 point lead over Fairbanks' Cindy Salmon and Rick Reznak, who are tied for second with 6 points each. In the 4-dog class, Kleckner also holds an uncatchable 6 point lead over Salcha's Kelley Wemark, 20 points to 14.
The closest competition is in the one-dog skijor class, with three competitors within 2 points of each other. Mike Malvick currently hold the lead with 15 points, with Andy Seitz one point back at 14, and Jim Herriges, who beat both of his competitors in Challenge Series race #4, is just two points back at 13.
Arleigh Reynolds of Salcha has successfully defended his title as the Open class points champion with eighteen points, an eight point lead over second place Eric Lanser, also of Salcha.
The two dog skijor title is still up for grabs, with Kriya Dunlap, who last year held a share of the 1-dog skijor points championship, holding a mere two point lead over Brian Charleton, 15 points to 13.
In the 8-dog class, Rob Downey of Sellersville, Pennsylvania, has 19 points and has clinched the championship with one race remaining, over Salcha's Ivana Nolke, 11 points.
Bonnie Borba of Fairbanks has clinched at least a tie of the popular 6-dog class. Borba, with 18 points, holds a five point lead over Fairbanks' Carol Kaynor. Borba needs only to successfully complete the course on Sunday to secure the final point needed for an outright points championship victory.
The defending 2003 Challenge Series points champions are Arleigh Reynolds in the Open class, Lynn Orbison of Two Rivers in the 8-dog class, Carol Kleckner in the 6-dog class, Scott Campbell in the 4-dog class, Cindy Salmon in 3-dog skijoring, Steven Sheehy in 2-dog skijoring, and Kriya Dunlap and Chris Terzi (tie) in the 1-dog skijoring class.
Post entries for the final race in the Challenge Series, Sunday, February 1st, will close at 10:00 a.m. for skijoring, 10:30 for 4-dog, 11:00 for 6-dog, and 11:30 a.m. for 8-dog and Open. Race day entries fees are:
Skijoring: $11.00
4-dog: $11.00
6-dog: $13.00
8-dog: $17.00
Open: $21.00
All entrants must have or purchase a 2003–2004 ADMA membership. The annual membership fee is $25. Annual trail use passes, for use outside of races, are also available for $50.
For more information on the schedule, and for current race rules and procedures, visit the ADMA website at <http://www.sleddog.org>.
Related websites
ADMA race rules and procedures
Annamaet Challenge Series
Points Championship standings
2003–2004 ADMA race
schedule and results
Information on race entry by phone