Mitch Seavey honored as the oldest, fastest winner

Mushers and a lead dog named Pilot get special honors at finishers banquet

Aliy Zirkle, of Two Rivers, gets a hug from one of her team before the start of Iditarod 2017. Zirkle and her husband, Allen Moore, run Skunk’s Place Kennel in Two Rivers, outside of Fairbanks. Photo by Margaret Bauman

Fifty-seven-year-old Mitch Seavey, the oldest and fastest winner ever of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, claimed $71,250 in prize money and a $40,000 Dodge truck two during the finishers banquet on March 19 in Nome.

His five-year-old lead dog, Pilot, who led the team to that record-breaking finish in eight days, three hours, 40 minutes and 13 seconds, was awarded the City of Nome Lolly Medley Memorial Golden Harness Award, as the most outstanding lead dog.

Seavey arrived in Nome at 3:40 p.m. on March 14.

“Fifty-seven used to be old and it’s not anymore,” Seavey said, during a news conference after arriving in Nome. “I’m just letting you know that.

“I felt great. I’m in a better space … I actually got a lot of sleep on the race this year, which is a new thing for me,” he said. “This is about enjoying it and loving the dogs and the people.”

Seavey also claimed the Bristol Bay Native Corp.’s Fish First Award of $2,000 and a certificate for 25 pounds of fresh Bristol Bay salmon for being the first musher to reach the Kaltag checkpoint, and the GCI Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award of $3,000 in gold nuggets and a trophy, for being the first musher to arrive in Huslia.

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It was the third Iditarod championship for Seavey, of Seward, the son of Iditarod veteran Dan Seavey, and father of Dallas Seavey, 29, of Willow, who crossed the finish line at Nome in second place less than three hours later, to earn $59,637 in prize money.

The younger Seavey, who won the Iditarod in 2016, in 2012 became the youngest musher ever to win Iditarod champion.

Third place finisher Nicolas Petit, of Girdwood, claimed $54,862 in prize money. Petit also won the Lakefront Anchorage First Musher to the Yukon Award of $3,500 and a five course gourmet meal at the Tanana checkpoint, plus $500 and a trophy for the fastest time from the Safety checkpoint to the finish line at Nome.

Rounding out the top 10 were Joar Leifseth Ulsom, of Mo I Rana, Norway, 4th, $49,234; Jessie Royer, Fairbanks, 5th, $45,100; Wade Marrs, Wilow, 6th, $38,190; Ray Redington, Knik, 7th, $235,910; Aliy Zirkle, Two Rivers, 8th, $33,700; Peter Kaiser, Bethel, 9th, $31,564; and Paul Gebhardt, Kasilof, 10th, $29,498.

Marrs also was awarded the Wells Fargo Gold Coast award of $3,500 in gold nuggets and a trophy for being the first musher into Unalakleet. and the PenAir Spirit of Alaska Award as the first musher into McGrath.

Sebasten Vergnaud, of Rioux, France, who finished in 23rd place, took home $9,191 in prize money, plus the Rookie of the Year award, of $2,000, and a trophy.

Ryan Redington, of Knik, one of three grandsons of Iditarod founder Joe Redington Sr. , placed  14nd, winning $22,088 in prize money, plus $2,000 and a trophy as the most improved musher, for moving from 36th place in 2009.  His younger brother, rookie Robert Redington, also of Knik, won $10,403 in 22nd place.

Allen Moore, of Two Rivers, ready to hook up his team before the ceremonial start of Iditarod 2017 in Anchorage. Photo by Margaret Bauman

Allen Moore, Zirkle’s husband, who placed 39th, running their second team, took home the Sportsmanship Award, $3,000 and a trophy, and Royer, named the Most Inspirational Musher, will receive the price of the entry fee for Iditarod 2018.

Michelle Phillips, of Tagish, Yukon Territory, who placed 13th, winning $23,798, also was awarded $1,049 and Northern Air Cargo’s Herbie Nayokpuk Memorial Award, as the person who emulates “Herbie: The Shishmaref Cannon Ball” in their attitude on the trail.

The Golden Clipboard for the most outstanding checkpoint, chosen by the competing mushers, was awarded to Manley.

A total of 64 of 72 mushers who started the race completed it this year, with Cindy Abbott, of Willow, picking up the Red Lantern after arriving in Nome on March 18.

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