ASPA Fun Run #6 Results
Jeff Studdert Trail System
March 23, 2002  (34º F)
Submitted by Lisa Stuby

The final 2001-2002 season skijor fun race was held at the Mushers' Hall under sunny skies and warm weather.  Nineteen people and 31 dogs participated. Numerous friends, family members, and a busload of Japanese tourists watched the event.  Channel 11 was also there to record the race.  Excitement ensued at the finish line as Mike Malvick came in with Greg Taylor's 18-dog sprint team right on his heels, with volunteers and bystanders yelling, "Hurry Mike, HURRY!!!"  Turns out, he played cat and mouse with this team the last three miles of his run having been passed twice and passing them back twice and knew the mushers well.  At least 6 tired souls (and soles) had competed in the Sonot Kkaazoot ski race earlier in the day.

There were a total of seven classes. The only 3-dog class was for the 7.7 mile distance.  The fastest overall time for the 7.7 mile class was Mike Malvick (Corky, Ingrid, Jack) with a time of 28:58. George Salmon was the only person to complete the 7.7 mile class with two dogs (Sockeye, Stella) in 48:43. For the 7.7 mile, 1-dog class, Chris Terzi (Jaeger) had the fastest time with 37.25.  The fastest overall time for the 4.5 mile distance was Alina Evans with her dogs Chinook and Condor with a time of 16:40. The fastest time for the 4.5 mile, 1-dog class was Hillary McCullough (Tex) with a time of 18:09.  The fastest overall time for the 3.7 mile distance was Janet Smith (Stormy, Lucy) with a time of 15:19.  The fastest team for the 3.7 mile, 1-dog class was Diann Darnall (Nikki) with a time of 22:40.

Following the main race was a fun LeMans type mass start. Skis and poles were placed together at a starting location and racers and their one dog waited near the fence posts. At the call, the teams had to run for their skis, put them on, and race around the 1.0 mile loop.  Pandemonium ensued for a few brief few minutes as people struggled into their skis and anxious dogs lunged forward. The top three finishers of this truly fun and funny race were Mike Malvick (4:26), Alina Evans (5:18), and Kiersten Lippmann (5:19).

Following the awards presentation was a terrific barbecue. Congratulations to Jim Altherr for winning the tile of a skijorer and dog that was expertly created by Nancy Hausle Johnson.  The $74 raised from the drawing for the tile will be donated to the Friends of Creamer's Field.

A special thanks goes out to the many volunteers. Pat DeRuyter helped mark the trails and purchased food and accessories for the barbecue.  Chris DuBois and Charles Deehr brought their barbecues and expertly cooked burgers and sausages.  Toni DeRuyter helped with timing and sign-up. Sara Elzey also helped with signing racers. Tone Deehr, Jamie Hollingsworth, and numerous others who heeded the call for help, helped handle dogs at the start. Mike Malvick reported trail conditions before the race and set up the PA system at the Musher's Hall.  Lastly, a very BIG "thank you" to all the people (Chris DuBois, Jim Logan, Mike Malvick, Jim Herriges, Jess Ryan, Chuck and Tone Deehr) I abandoned at the Mushers' Hall after the barbecue because I had to get race times to Channel 11 by 6 PM.  Surprised faces looked at me as I exclaimed, "I have to run now and get these numbers to Channel 11, please clean up the mess, lock up and do anything else that needs to be done, BYE!!!"

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Last updated March 23, 2002