Jan DeNapoli sent us these outstanding photos of every team at the start of the race on March 26, 2008, presented here in the original starting order:
The Honorary Team for Peter McManus
Connor Thomas
Fred “Moe” Napoka for Tuluksak School
Jim Lanier
Ed Iten
Aaron Burmeister
Hugh Neff
Cari Miller
Kirsten Bey
Jeff King
Jeff Darling
Mitch Seavey
Mike Santos
Ramy Brooks
Lance Mackey
Cim Smyth
Sonny Lindner
The historic race may be over and won, but there are some great new features at the All Alaska Sweepstakes website:
Audio clips from the Awards Banquet
A recap of the Awards Banquet by Race Marshall and Lead Judge Al Crane
A complete listing of all the awards given at the Sweepstakes Banquet
Lots of great photos from the race and all the final results and standings
An update on Lance Mackey’s injured dog, “Zorro” from KOMO TV in Seattle
A link to the terrific Sweepstakes memorabilia and merchandise
And much more!
Searching for something unrelated, I came across these two historic photos of the All Alaska Sweepstakes race:
Nome’s citizens awaiting the Finish at the Sixth All Alaska Sweepstakes Race, 1913
Team from the seventh All Alaska Sweepstakes Race, April 13, 1914
While not necessarily related to the All Alaska Sweepstakes race, these unidentified dog team photos were also very interesting:
More of Jan’s photos from Nome (and one by Mark):
Race Marshall and Lead Judge Al Crane and Sweepstakes Queen Janice Doherty under the burled arch in Nome. That’s the famed Board of Trade saloon behind them, where the Nome Kennel Club was founded and where it all began in 1908! Photo ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli
View of the frozen Bering Sea from our hotel room window at Nome’s Aurora Inn.
Photo ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli
Sundogs over the Bering Sea. Photo ©2008 by Mark Hegener
The finish of the 2008 All Alaska Sweepstakes race, on Front Street in Nome.
Photo ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli
Our photographer friend Jan DeNapoli shares a few more photos she took while we were covering the All Alaska Sweepstakes Awards Banquet in Nome:
Mitch Seavey and his lead dog, Payton. Photo ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli
The All Alaska Sweepstakes buckle. Photo ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli
The All Alaska Sweepstakes Finishers Certificates. Photo ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli
Mitch Seavey’s First Place Finisher’s Certificate. Photo ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli
Mitch Seavey’s official first place certification. Photo ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli
The All Alaska Sweepstakes Race Marshal and Lead Judge was Al Crane, a past president of the Nome Kennel Club and the Iditarod Trail Committee, a top 20 finisher in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and the 1983 All Alaska Sweepstakes lead judge.
Al is in the lower left position in the photo above. Around him are Nels Alexie from the Kuskokwim 300, Mark Nordman from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and Mike McCowan from the Yukon Quest & North American races. Sitting beside Al is Joe May, a past Iditarod race champion, who will act as an alternate race judge.
Not shown are Al Marple from the Copper Basin; Chuck Schaffer from the Kobuk 440; and Jerry Tokar from the Fur Rondy - the only other surviving race judge from the 1983 All Alaska Sweepstakes. Photo ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli.
Trail Air Transportation Coordinator Stan Morgan (in front, left) and several of the pilots working with the All Alaska Sweepstakes race.
The All Alaska Sweepstakes race veterinary team: Dr. Denise Albert and the Trail Veternarians (not all pictured here): Dennis Griffin, Tex Coady, Susan Whiton, Caroline Griffitts, Paul Pifer & Turner Lewis. Photo ©2008 Jan DeNapoli
Percy Blatchford was in the first All Alaska Sweepstakes race; his partner being the famed Alaskan dog driver Scotty Allen.
At her family weblog, Blatchford Herman Ningeulook, Ruby Hollembaek (daughter of Gloria Blatchford) wrote a wonderful description of the special Percy Blatchford Spirit of the Race Award she presented at the Awards Banquet. Ruby had each of the mushers rise and stand as she read the dedication:
“In memory of my grandfather, Percy Blatchford’s love of his dogs and loyalty to the sport of dog racing, we as a family, felt it was important to recognize a musher in his name during this great event. We would have loved to have given an award to every musher and their team, however, we are only able to give a single contribution of $1750 to one musher and dogteam. In his memory and with our love, the Blatchford family awards the ‘ Percy Blatchford Spirit of the Race Award’ and $1750 to cover entry fee costs for the 100th Anniversary of the All Alaska Sweepstakes in recognition of the dedication, love and determination and spirit of dog racing to musher Cari Miller.”
Ruby included marvelous descriptions and dozens of photos from her whirlwind overnight trip to Nome at her blog entry.
Percy Blatchford, Alaskan dog driver in the first All Alaska Sweepstakes race
Jon Van Zyle and his wife, Jona. Photo ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli.
Alaskan artist Jon Van Zyle’s beautiful All Alaska Sweepstakes posters added another dimension to the race; everywhere we went in Nome we saw images of the 1983 poster and the 2008 poster, both Jon’s work, used in announcing race events, advertising local businesses, notifying everyone of race news and updates. Race ID tags were emblazoned with the 2008 poster of a team of huskies plowing through a snowstorm. The Communications room had two copies of the 1983 poster taped to the wall, because it included a handy map of the race checkpoints they could refer to while on the radios! The two Sweepstakes posters became a premier prize for all to take home from the race.
Jon Van Zyle’s 2008 All Alaska Sweepstakes poster
Jon Van Zyle’s 1983 All Alaska Sweepstakes poster
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