Wow......I was hoping that would happen....Jessie Royer got the Leonard Seppala Award!!! This award is a compilation of scores by the Vets at each checkpoint and then at the Nome dog yard....it is one of the most prestigious awards of the race and I was SO hoping Jessie would get it bringing all 16 from Fairbanks to Nome....AND, just weeks before 12 of these dogs also finished the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest! Not only did Jessie get this award....but she also was voted Most Inspirational Musher by fellow finishers for this years race too!! Wow....well done Jessie.....well done!!!!
Michelle Phillips was awarded the Herbie Nayokpuk Award!! This award is voted on by checkers along the coast who picks a Musher who most mimics Herbie "The Shishmaref Cannon Ball" in attitude along the trail! Michelle scored some nifty native made slippers and a Parka with $1,049 stuffed into all the pockets! She also gets free freight allotment on Northern Air Cargo and a trophy!
The Sportsman Award is another award that is voted on by the Mushers...and I was SO happy to see our own Allen Moore from SPK get recognized for all he does on the trail Mentoring less experienced Mushers....always willing to lend a hand and drop everything to help out! For all his good deeds, Allen gets to go home with $3,000 and a commemorative trophy! May I remind you all our boy Chemo was on Allens Team this year....well done Allen finishing with 14 SPK Team Mates!
Oh yes, there was also a few awards given to Mitch Seavey, who not only broke a speed record this year, but also is now the oldest Musher to win the Iditarod!! This was Mitch's 3rd championship and he doesn't sound like he is going to retire any time soon!
Lets hope for LOTS of snow next year for a race up and over the Alaska Range....putting some more technical challenges into the race. Although this race was FAST....it was, well....a little....mmm....lets just say not exciting. Don't get me wrong...I love the race but without the Dalzell Gorge, Buffalo Tunnels, Farewell Burn and Happy River Steps its just for the most part a race on the Yukon River...at least for the first half of the race. The ITC did the best they could given the circumstances, but more snow please for next year!
That's all from IditaDacks....Happy Spring to everyone today, I for one am already looking forward to SNOW!!!
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