A glorious Sunday graced the Animal Shelter’s 25th Annual “Silver Anniversary” Paw n’ Pole celebration March 7th. We had a nice turn-out, and the warm, sunny weather inspired some very creative costumes, both dog and human! Not intended as a major fundraiser, the Paw n' Pole is promoted as an affordable family “funraiser.” There's some real racing (... at least to the extent you can call X-C and Snowshowing with a dog on a leash racing), but it's really almost a spoof on racing... a great way to finish off the weekend after three days of the Janss. Costume contests and Pet Tricks run while the results are being tallied. Lunch is included (and BTW Atkinsons' freshly made chili is fabulous!). The Animal Shelter shows off some of it's star dogs... beautiful, social dogs with enough brains, personality and good looks to make the top breeders weep!
Paw n' Poles generally break even, because race registration prices are deliberately kept low , but this year we raised more than $1,400 in profit, thanks to some nice donations and the sale of raffle tickets for a Blaine County Nordic Trail Pass. Best of all, a Shelter Dog named “Odin,” (the black lab mix with the shiney coat who won the 2K X-C), went home with a wonderful new family .
Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate the extra-special 25th Paw n’ Pole. We had a fantastic, fun-loving crowd this year, and the dazzling sunshine made for a truly ideal Silver Anniversary.
The 2010 Paw and Pole race results are:
Open Long 2K X-C:
Robin Potts with Shelter Dog, Odin
Sue Englemann with her dog, Calvin
Dawn Peterson with her dog, Kody
Open Short 1 K X-C:
Doran Key with her dogs, Buddy & Daisy
Kelly Allison with her dog, Bella
Mary Crofts with her dog, Jake
Kids 1K X-C:
Laine Allison with her dog, Bella
Kai Nelson with Banjo
Jamie Graninger with Obo
Open Showshoe
Buck Drew with Tucker
(OK. Buck actually won the 2K. Or was it the Men’s Halfpipe. Might have been Ballroom dancing.)
Zach with Maggie
Becky Klassen with Annie
Grand Prize Raffle Winner: Beth Byerley of Sun Valley won the raffle for the Blaine County Nordic Trails 2010-2011 Season Pass.
Costume and Special Category Contests:
BEST FAMILY THEME: Anne-Marie, Fisher, West and Ruby Gardner with their Dog, Quigley.
FUNNIEST GROUP COSTUME: Sue Engelmann and Kelly Bird, aka “The Silver Bullets,” with their dogs Pyper and Calvin
BEST KID COSTUME: Jamie Graninger with her dog Obo
MC’s CHOICE KID’S COSTUME: Layne Allison with her dog Bella
CUTEST TOT COSTUME: West and Ruby Gardner (twin brother and sister) with their dog Quigley
BEST DOG COSTUME: Joy Knoespel with her dog Queenie
FUNNIEST DOG COSTUME: Doran Key with her dog Buddy
MC’s CHOICE OVERALL: Cindy Phelan and her pugs Lily and Sparky
BIG OL’ DOG: Ted Stout ‘s dog, Sponge Bob
LITTLE SWEETHEART: Emily Siegel’s dog Abby
MIGHT AS WELL BE A CAT: Peter Johnson’s dog Lula
THE ITIDEROD RED LANTERN (slowest dog): Joy Knoespel’s dog Queenie
Silly Pet Trick Winners
Cindy Phelan and Lily
Hilary Hayward and Abby
Kathy Clark and Roger
Becky Classen and Abby
James Buchanan and Paddinton