Iditarod Special Awards
Wally Robinson received the Humanitarian Award. He finished with 14 dogs in harness, more than any other musher. But the winner is also determined by votes from trail veterinarians and an assessment of the dogs’ hydration, attitude, body weight and gait. He was given a paid entry fee for the next Iditarod.
Rookie of the Year Award
Josi Thyr who handled dogs for Burmeister and Royer completed her first Iditarod in 10 days, 6 hours, 43 minutes and 37 seconds, faster than any of the other rookies.
Donlin Award Gold Sportsmanship
Matthew Failor received the coveted sportsmanship award.
When Nicolas Petit got to Nome, his 11 dogs were speeding down Front Street. Once they stopped under the arch, they were barking and jumping, eager to keep pulling. They had covered those last 22 miles in 2 hours and 18 minutes. Petit’s team was nine minutes short of breaking his own record from Safety to Nome, but he still took home the Nome Kennel Club’s award for the 5th time. “I guess that’s one thing I got figured out,” said Petit, who placed 12th overall. He took home a check for $500.
The Nome Kennel Club created a new award this year to honor perseverance on the trail. From an All Alaska Sweepstakes hat, president
Jessica Burr Lemaire and board member Sara Richards drew the name of one the nine mushers who didn’t finish in the top 20. They picked Lara Kittelson, a rookie musher who for several years has been working for Mitch Seavey, the father of Dallas and himself a threetime Iditarod champion.
Most Improved Musher Award
Musher Josh McNeal, was set to run the Iditarod this year, but he hurt his shoulder in the Kuskokwim 300, so he called in Wally Robinson to run his team instead. Robinson is the father of three-time Junior Iditarod champion Emily Robinson, but he hadn’t run the Iditarod since 2001, when he placed 40th. As he placed 11th this time around, he was considered improved since his last race. He won $2,000.
Northern Air Cargo Nayokpuk Award Spirit of Iditarod Award GCI Dorothy Award:
Nic Petit
Page
Dallas Seavey
Herbie
In addition to the Sportsmanship Award, Matthew Failor was also chosen for this award which honors a musher who emulates “Herbie” the Shishmaref Cannon Ball in their attitude on the trial. His NAC jacket came with $1,049 dollars in prize money.
Handed to the first musher to reach Nikolai. The award went to Mille Porsild.
Dallas Seavey