Frontiersman staff

NOME — Ray Redington Jr. and the Smyth brothers cleaned up Saturday night in Nome.

Redington, who placed 18th in this year’s Iditarod for his fifth career top-20 finish, was awarded the Fred Meyer Sportsmanship Award at the annual post-race banquet. Redington, of Wasilla, was cited at the banquet for helping several mushers along the trail, as well as picking up downed trail markers along the way. Willow’s Ramey Smyth, whose career-best third-place finish this year was tops among Mat-Su drivers, wasn’t himself honored, though his top dog was. Smyth’s 11-year-old lead dog, Babe, received the City of Nome Lolly Medley Golden Harness Award, which is named for Smyth’s late mother, herself a legendary musher who came up with the award.

Though one of the oldest dogs on the trail, Babe made it to Nome for the ninth time this year — eight of those with her in lead. During that time, Smyth has averaged an 11th-place finish and has cleared roughly $250,000 in prize money.

Smyth’s brother, Cim, of Big Lake, also picked up an award at Saturday night’s banquet. With a run time of just 2 hours, 11 minutes, Smyth, who finished in 12th place overall, was the fastest musher over the final 22 miles from Safety to Nome, picking up the Nome Kennel Club’s $500 award.

It was Smyth’s third consecutive Safety to Nome award and fourth overall. Ramey Smyth has also won the award six times.

One award not handed out at the banquet went to rookie Deborah Bicknell, who arrived in Nome Monday to claim the Red Lantern award as the final finisher into Nome. Bicknell was the 78th musher across the finish line in this year’s race. 22 mushers from the Valley completed the race, which began March 2 on Willow Lake.

    

2008 Iditarod

Top-5

1. Lance Mackey, Fairbanks, 9 days, 46 minutes, 48 seconds; 2. Jeff King, Denali Park, 9:13:5.2; 3. Ramey Smyth, Willow, 9:18:52.6; 4. Ken Anderson, Fox, 9:19:11.6; 5. Martin Buser, Big Lake, 9:19:11.50

Other Mat-Su finishers

11. Zack Steer, Sheep Mountain, 9:22:15.6; 12. Cim Smyth, Big Lake, 9:22:24.19; 15. DeeDee Jonrowe, Willow, 10:1:7.46; 18. Ray Redington, Jr., Wasilla, 10:5:38.16; 22. Silvia Willis, Wasilla, 10:9:4.50; 28. Matt Hayashida, Willow, 10:14:7.3; 31. Gerald Sousa, Talkeetna, 10:22:0.26; 32. Rick Casillo, Willow, 11:2:33.55; 34. Scott Smith, Willow, 11:4:10.36; 36. Sven Haltmann, Willow, 11:6:37.50; 37. Rohn Buser, Big Lake, 11:6:58.25; 45. Kelley Griffin, Wasilla, 11:19:19.36; 55. Matt Calore, Trapper Creek, 12:2:12.43; 57. Joe Gans, Willow, 12:8:26.15; 58. Rick Holt, Willow, 12:11:49.38; 59. Jeff Deeter, Wasilla, 12:13:11.45; 69. Richard Savoyski, Palmer, 13:21:26.20; 70. Sue Allen, Wasilla, 13:21:57.40; 71. Wayne Curtis, Wasilla, 13:23:25.26; 74. Heather Siirtola, Talkeetna, 14:1:29.12

Scratched: Peter Bartlett, Wasilla; Art Church, Jr., Willow; G.B. Jones, Knik