Sunny skies and near-perfect temperatures greeted participants and spectators for the ASPA end-of-the-season Fun Race and Barbeque on Sunday. More than 50 dogs convinced their humans to make the trip out to the Dog Mushers hall to take advantage of Tom McGrane's hard work and the resulting excellent trail conditions. The dogs worked hard and either alone, or in teams of two and three pulled skiers over what some dubbed "the best snow of the year".

With over half of the times under 4 minutes, the canines put forth their best in the 1 mile category. Hope with Lisa Baraff led the pack with a time of 3:39. Ten seconds later Pippi and Carol Kleckner crossed the line, followed closely by Mabel pulling Andy Seitz for a 3:53 third place finish.

After placing second in the 1 mile race, Pippi handed Carol Kleckner over to kennel-mates Chanel, Robin and Topaz who proceeded to win the 5.9 mile distance in 19:37. Kai brought Julie Morse across the finish line to win the 1 dog class with a time of 26:20. Star with Karen Clautice ended up walking the long hill up to the Mushers hall with a broken ski binding in hand.

A LeMans start was organized to finish the season with a bang. In this 1 mile, 1 dog event, the 19 skiers placed their skis on the ground in the center of a clearing. The skiers then move to stand 25-35 yards from their skis and hook up to their dog. When the start is announced all participants make a mad dash trying to remember which skis are theirs. Once the skis are on, skiers clamber toward the starting chute. As a safety consideration, poles were not allowed in this event. Jack pulled Mike Malvick out of the pack for an early lead. As the group began to spread out several unique pole-less nordic styles emerged as participants displayed their passing skills and vied for the first place position. Coming into the home stretch Galena with Carol Kleckner and Zampano with Patricia Baer were right on Mike Malvick's heels. With the crowd cheering Mike suffered an untimely fall and Zampano (Patricia Baer) streaked by to claim first place with a time of 4:06. Close behind was Galena (Carol Kleckner) posting 4:08 for second place. Mike's quick recovery earned him and Jack third with a time of 4:15. Timers struggled to place bib numbers with finish times as dogs and skiers came shooting across the line. When it all was over there were smiles all around and the food was waiting inside.

Pat DeRuyter was presented with a silver skijor pin by the ASPA membership in recognition of serving as ASPA President for the past two year.  Chris DuBois was presented with the Volunteer of the Year award for all the behind the scenes work he did this year moving one of the ADMA outbuildings to behind Alaska Feed for grooming equipment storage, setting up the booth at the ADMA International Sleddog Symposium, organizing the November Beginner's Clinic, organizing the Lee's Cabin Race, hauling barbecue grills to this year's Spring Barbecue, and many, many other activities.  Carol Kleckner was recognized for her volunteer efforts at the Fairbanks Borough Animal Shelter highlighted by her "test driving" many of the sled dogs brought into the shelter and providing an evaluation of their abilities via the ADMA and ASPA e-mail lists.  Matt Bray won the raffle for a custom tile by Nancy Hausle Johnson.  The proceeds of the raffle will be donated to the Friends of Creamer's Field.  Bob Marschner who won the drawing for brunch for two at Pike's Landing, and Christian Rixen won a large box of dog biscuits

Photos by Dave Partee:  (Top) Tex, Chinook, and Sockeye pull Cindy Salmon around the corner near the bottom of the hill leading from Dog Mushers' Hall enroute to knocking nearly two minutes off the old 3-dog, 7.7 mile record.  (Bottom) Chad Carroll (30), Patricia Baer (31), Christian Rixen (10), Amanda Byrd (3), Gail Davidson (28), Sara Elzey (12), Sonja Wipt (11), and Cindy Salmon (far right)  leave the holding area during the start of the LeMans style 1-mile race.  Baer won the mass-start race by one second over Carol Kleckner.