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Fun Race #3, -8 degrees F
Results March 12, 2003

Braving an eight degree below zero temperature and a bitter wind blowing across Creamer's Field, 30 Skijorers and their dogs participated in ASPA Fun Race #4 on Wednesday evening. A hard fast trail led to new course records in 6 of the 7 events. The timers and starter had a difficult time keeping themselves and the watches warm, but Andy Seitz's dogs, Ed and Mabel, were warm in their matching jackets.

Racers were presented with a new challenge by the newly groomed Open North American Sled Dog Race trail which crossed the Creamer's trails in four places. Janet didn't follow her dogs who tried to lead her, so she took a detour onto the Open North American trail. Susan took the inbound trail for a short distance before meeting two other teams head-on, realizing her error and taking a connecting trail to the correct race course. Mike Malvick remarked, "It's a Fun Race, meeting head on was good practice".

Mike Malvick with Jack and Mons set a new course record in the 2-dog 3.6 mile race with a time of 11:26.

Gail Davidson's dog, Tobi, broke the snap on his lead at the start of the 3.6 mile 1-dog race. Showing the other competitors the advantage of a well trained Labrador Retriever, Gail called his name and he returned to the starting line to be hooked up with a temporary line. Gail and Tobi went on to place first in the one dog 3.6 mile class with a time of 13:23, beating the old course record by 44 seconds.

Sara Elzey with Ayla and Myst won the 2.8 mile 2-dog class with a time of 9:51, breaking the old course record by 77 seconds. Mike Malvick (with his second win and record for the evening) and Billie set a new course record in winning the 2.8 mile one-dog class with a time of 10:45, an amazing 3 minutes and 5 seconds faster than the old record.

Andy Seitz with Ed and Mabel won the 2-dog 1.4 mile event with a time of 5:01 bettering the old course record by 1 minute 18 seconds. Gail Davidson and Tobi were the second winners with two course records with at time of 5:08 in the 1-dog 1.4 mile event.

Jessica Larsen and Pancho won the 0.5 mile event with a time of 4:38.

Many thanks to Pat DeRuyter, Toni DeRuyter, Clarice Dukeminier, and Amy Carroll for making the unique Wednesday evening race happen.

The next ASPA event is an IFSS Qualifier and Fun Race to be held on March 23 on the Birch Hill Nordic Ski Trails. ASPA's Spring General Meeting/BBQ/ Fun Race will be held on March 30. Call the ASPA hotline, 457-5456 for time and place for those two events.

                                            *Denotes Course Record

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Fun Race #4, 20 degrees F, 1" new snow on trail
Results March 26, 2003

The Alaska Skijoring and Pulk Association took advantage of the fresh snow and wonderful trails at Creamer's Field to hold Fun Race #5 on Wednesday evening. Fans out on the course cheered as thirty-one participants and dogs raced around the trails.

In the hotly contested 1-dog, 1.4 mile race Mike Malvick and Corky won setting a new course record of 5:04, just 4 seconds faster than the old record. Jim Herriges and his young dog, Ole were second just 6 seconds back. Gail Davidson and Tobi were third at 5:34. In the closest race of the day, Carol Kleckner with Chanel edged Patricia Baer and Troll by 1 second for fourth place.

In the 2 dog, 1.4 mile race Chuck Deehr with Tort and Aven won with a time of 5:58. Clarice Dukeminier with the senior citizen dogs, Yukon, 13 years and Kanuti, 9 years finished second in a time of 8:28.

In the 1-dog, 2.8 mile class Diann Darnall and Nikki ran a personal best and won with a time of 15:34.

In the 2-dog, 2.8 mile class Mike Malvick (Jack, Ingrid) set his second course record of the night with a time of 9:23. Sara Elzey (Shadow, Myst) were second at 10:33 and Chuck Deehr (Hobbs, Plato) were third with a time of 12:00.

In the 1-dog 3.6 mile class Gail Davidson and Tobi won with a time of 14:30. Tobi had no trouble at the start this race, but she didn't want to cross the finish line. Gail had to count down 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 go to get Tobi to run across the finish line. Wendy Davis and Mya were second with a time of 15:06 and Chris DuBois and George were third with a time of 18:26.

Jim Herriges with Vinnie and Lily set a new course record by 1 second finishing in 11:25 in the 3.6 mile, two dog class. Carol Kleckner (Robin, Daikon) were second with a time of 11:53. Mike Malvick, racing in his third event of the night with Billie and Mons came in third at 12:04.

Thank you to the volunteers who made Wednesday night's race happen. Pat DeRuyter for grooming and registration, Toni DeRuyter for timing and results. Clarice Dukeminier for timing. George Salmon for starting and Jamie Hollingsworth, Tone Deehr, Chris DuBois for dog handling.

                                                    *Denotes Course Record

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