We have so, so many thank yous to make this year.
First and foremost, always – thank you to Amber, Bill, Bruno, Chevie, Chipper, Cloud, Commando, Decaf, Driver, Five, Gravy, Jefe, Mismo, Nacho, Nomex, Peach, Perky, QT, Razz, Rodney, Scooby, Scout, Spark, Violet, Wu and Ziptie. They are why we even do this and even though only 14 started the race, all of them contributed in some way to getting the team to the start line… yes, even Ziptie!
Doug, Kaz and Sam – THANKS. Thanks also to our SP Kennel village of Padee, Wendy, Wes, Lisa, Karolyn, Mark, Bridgett, Barbara, Linda and Moira who all helped in one capacity or another through the season. Thank you all, we couldn’t do it without you.
Matson are our super sponsor and heart. We have loved being part of the Matson Alaska family and can’t begin to describe how much your support has meant to us all. We appreciate that you have been with us in good times and not so good. We missed seeing you before the race and stopping for hotdogs during the Ceremonial Start.
North Pole Veterinary Hospital and Dr Rouge made sure our athletes were in tip-top shape for the race. Your care and expertise are much appreciated. Howling Dog Alaska’s harness system is the best there is, and we are so pleased to be representing you. Thanks to Joanna and the team at Headlites for the light-up collars all our athletes wore on the race and during training. Christmas trees and leprechauns all the way! Bob and Jeanne Huston are always on board – thank you.
Extra thanks to Mark Nordman, Rob Urbach, and all the race organisers and staff for even putting on a race! It was a real challenge and you executed it brilliantly under trying and changing conditions. Your care and consideration of everyone involved was appreciated. The race sponsors (click link to Iditarod page) deserve special mention and if you feel inclined, please drop them a line of thanks – it’s not easy being an Iditarod sponsors these days.
So many race volunteers to thank. Every one of you made the staging of this race possible and we thank you from even further than the bottom of our hearts! The sacrifices you made to volunteer during a pandemic for the love of the race was inspiring.
Thanks to all the other competitors – well done and congratulations for even making the start line. Congratulations to Dallas Seavey – number five looks good on you. To Aaron, Brent, Wade and Mille – congrats on your top five finishes. To Dakota and Victoria – nice job! And to everyone in between – congratulations. To those that didn’t quite make the finish – we feel your pain but we hope you know that your dogs are still the best dogs. As are ours.
This year we have some new people to thank for a new reason. To the race officials and volunteers in Rohn – a sincere and heartfelt thank you for caring for Aliy and the team as you did. And to the volunteers at McGrath for taking over the care of the team until they made it home. To the ARCC, as well as the Alaska State Troopers for coordinating and, of course, the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th Rescue Squadron for flying to Rohn during the middle of the night to pick up Aliy, the field treatment you administered and for safely bringing her to Anchorage. Also thanks to the team at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage for their excellent medical assistance and communication. It will be a long recovery but all of your actions on the night meant so much to us kept the injuries from being worse.
Special thanks to all our SPK Team Members for 2020-21 season – Dawn B, Lisa Barricella, Becky & Alex, Mirjam Bolengo, Karen Boyko, Arin Melissa Brenner, Karolyn & John Bristol, Kris Callahan, Metta Canez, Cathy & Laurie, Timothy Clark, Cole Elementary School, COL (ret) Dan Collins, Ashley Conner, Carolyn Davis, Marilynn Davis, Nancy Diersen, Phil Dietrich & Rebecca Ferns, Dorothy & Girlee, Rebecca Emerson, Dana & Jerry Evans, Kethy Ferrell, Alice Fitzgerald – Timber Creek Kennel, Bethany Fletcher, Tonia Freeman & Herb Hughes, Erica Giuliani, Denise D. Glass, Karin Gobbel, Jill Graff, Helen Gross, Marti Guarin, Deb Gunter, Mark L Gum, Sandra Hawkins, Chica Hopwood-Dean, Joanne & Denali, Lisa C Hutto, Jenn King, In Memory of Lynn Knowlden, Stephanie Kuhns, Ron & Julie LaPoint, Helen Looker, Kari Longshore, Val Lycette, Lyn MacDougall, Sonny Tocho Machak, Dorothy M McCain, Lisa McDonald, Karen McGillvray, Cathy McGrath, The McIntosh Family, Gaye Morgan-Walton, Bob & Jane Nelson, Nessmuk & Shanti, Lezlee Pardo, Klaus-Dieter Paull, Juleen Payne, Cindi Perdue, Heidi Phillips, Stephanne Pleshette, Tommy Poelker, Louise Rathswohl, Kay Richardson, Debi Riley, Dana Robertson, David Robertson, Ruth Robertson, MaryLynn Roush, Donna Scarlett, Cindy Schaus, Steve Slocum, Jeanne Seward Wallberg, Ann Shillington, In Memory of Tom Shillington, “Doc” Spencer, Kay Spencer, Midnight Steiner, The Straw Ladies – Charlene & Lisa, The Stuarts, Barbara Swenson, Toni Tadolini, Tammy, Susan, Willow & Palmer, Sue Thelen, Barbara Thompson, Tim, Holly, Sissy and Scooter, Tatum Trivyzas, Team Trzaskos, Tuff, Bismarck & Tart, Cindy Udarbe, Nina Watson, Suzie Weiss, Harry & Diana Workmon, Maryellen Wright, Bill & Sue Wyman & ‘The Pack’, Ashley & Courtney Zirkle, Carolyn & John Zmyewski.
Thanks also to our individual dog sponsors, VIPs, SP Kennel Champions, Dog Fan Club members and other supporters.
To everyone reading this blog – for your comments, likes, views and shares – thank you. We enjoy bringing you into the SP Kennel world.
