ASPA Race Across the Valley Results
February 4-6, 2005

Click to go to specific results:  Stage 1    Stage 2    Stage 3    Overall

Stage 1, February 4, 2005

Stage 2, February 5, 2005
Two Rivers Ski Trails
(-15ºF)

It was a brisk -15 degrees at the Two Rivers trails but there was plenty of excitement to keep everyone warm. Amanda Byrd (nicknamed the "Moose Magnet" because of her recent encounters with multiple moose on the trails) led the distance class out of the starting chute. A premonition, we believe, caused Amanda to take the wrong turn, allowing number 2 bib, Kryia Dunlap (with Oban and Brahma), now leading the field, to run into the moose near the 7.5K turn. Kriya said, "I came around a blind corner and there was the moose! I fell down and slid under the legs of the moose as it jumped across the trail." Kriya jumped up and continued on to win the distance class with a time of 32:16.

Participants in the distance class had some confusion concerning the trail direction after the road crossing on the 7.5 K loop. Despite some head-on tangles on blind corners, all dogs and skijorers came out unscathed with Jim Herriges finishing second at 32:22, just 6 seconds out of first place.

Cindy Salmon with her appropriately named dogs, Chinook, Sockeye and Coho, were in third with a time of 35:14. Andy Seitz had a momentary lapse and took the 1 K turn by mistake and then completed the 12. 5K as well and is still only 8 seconds out of third place.

Even the volunteers had excitement. The road crossing volunteer wielded a shovel to fend off the private vehicle with a plow that was destroying the trail at the road crossing in the middle of the race.

The 5K Fun Class missed all the excitement at the road crossing and all participants had clean runs. Peggy Raybeck with Smokey and Bandit came in first with a time of 14:23. Sara Elzey with Shadow and Ayla were second at 15:10. Marya Lewanski, Blaze and Nellie rounded out the top three at 18:24.

Amanda Byrd and Iris Wood made a new 7.5K class. Amanda was first at 27:33 with Iris second at 28:45.

The Race Across the Valley continues tomorrow with Stage three. The distance class will compete in the ADMA Challenge Series #5 at the ADMA trails. Participants must be registered at the Mushers Hall before 10 am and racing starts at 10:30am. Temperature cut off is -25 degrees at 9am at 452-3553.

Thanks to the following volunteers for making this race possible. Race coordinators - Sara Elzey and Pat DeRuyter ; Registration -Andy and Susan Seitz; Timers, Dan Failoni, Melanie Cook and Clarice Dukeminier; Handlers - Andy Warwick, Kimberlee Beckmen, AJ Sutton; Starter - Pat DeRuyter; Road Crossing - Toni Hawkins and Trail sweep Dave Elzey. Thank you also to Kay Kindt for grooming and warming hut and Cindy Salmon for the use of her heated camper for registration.

Stage 3, February 5, 2005
Distance Class ADMA
Fun Class Creamer's Field
(?  º F)

2005 RACE ACROSS THE VALLEY

Warmer temperatures and hard, fast trails greeted skijorers and dogs for the final day of The Alaska Skijoring and Pulk Association’ s Race Across the Valley. What was supposed to be a three day race became only two after the first day was canceled due to cold temperatures. Competitors turned out in force to compete in the second day of racing. The Distance class was held at The Alaska Dog Mushers Association race track in conjunction with their Challenge Series #5 which was postponed from last weekend. The Fun or “short” Class was held at Creamers Field. All competitors met after racing at the Farm House at Creamers Field for awards, food and socializing. All had tales to tell of their time out on the trail.

A young bull moose wandered through the parking area and checked out race director Pat DeRuyter’s subaru at Creamer’s Field but fortunately was nowhere to be found once the race started. However, it was apparent from the large divits running down the center of the race trail for a quarter mile or more, that he had tried out the trail before deciding not to enter the race!

Five skijorers completed two days of racing and just over 13.5 miles of trails in the Distance Class. Jim Herriges with his dogs Lily and Lena, edged out Kriya Dunlap with Oban and Brahma by 7 seconds to capture the first place finish over 2 days of racing. Their cumulative times were 50:56 and 51:03 respectively. Cindy Salmon with Chinook, Humpy and Sockeye finished third in 55:18. Andy Seitz with Yeller and Simba and Mike Malvick with Corky, Billie and Mons rounded out the two day competitors in 55:52 and 59:33 respectively.

The Fun class drew four competitors over 2 days of racing and almost 6 miles of trails. Sara Elzey with Ayla and Myst came from behind to capture first place in 26:24 over Peggy Raybeck with Bandit and Smokey, 26:38. Marya Lewanski with Blaze and Nellie finished third in 30:01, Ted Wu with Ty and Lucy finished fourth in 33:37.

An additional five skijorers competed in the Distance Class and 11 competed in the Fun Class as day racers in Sunday’s leg of the Race Across the Valley only. Andy Warwick and his dogs Zip and Licorice were the top finishers in the Distance 1-Day Only Class with a time of 21:36. Sara Elzey with Pippi, Casper and Blackberry finished second. Cindy Salmon with Tex and Solo had the best time of the day in the Fun Class finishing in 11:03. Kimberlee Beckmen with Terri and Iris finished second in 11:56.

Thanks to Race Directors; Pat DeRuyter and Sara Elzey, Timers; Clarice Dukeminier and Dan Failoni, Handlers; Lisa Baroff and AJ Sutton, Trail Groomers; Mike Supkis and Jim Altherr, Farm House use; Kimberlee Beckmen.

Overall Race Across the Valley Stage Race Results

Click to go to specific results:  Stage 1    Stage 2    Stage 3   Overall

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