Big Lake musher tops in new race

BIG LAKE — Big Lake musher Cim Smyth won the inaugural Alaska Excursions 120 on Sunday.

Smyth, who finished fifth in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race last March, finished with a total time of 7 hours, 27 minutes and 27 seconds to grab first place and a $2,210 prize.

Smyth earned nearly half of the $5,000 pot with his finish.

Paul Gebhardt, of Kasilof, finished second with a time of 7:30:24, and received $1,547 of the final purse.

Ray Redington Jr finished third at 7:47:40, and scored $884.

Dean Osmar, a past Iditarod champion, was fourth, with a time of 7:56:35, and earned $607.75.

Race organizer Ryan Redington finished fifth, with a time of 7:58:40, and held on to $276.25 of the pot.

Forty mushers started the event, which was split into two days of racing, and 37 finished.

The Aurora Dog Mushers Club hosted both the start and finish at its headquarters outside of Big Lake. Mushers worked through 47 miles worth of trail each day, The course took participants down the Iditarod Trail and up the Susitna River eight miles before mushers turned around and headed back for the starting chute.

Alaska Excursions 120

Saturday-Sunday, Big Lake

Final standings:

1. C. Smyth 7 hours, 27 minutes, 27 seconds; 2. P. Gebhardt 7:30:24; 3. R. Redington Jr 7:47:40; 4. D. Osmar 7:56:35; 5. R. Redington 7:58:40; 6. M. Buser 8:06:17; 7. J. Mackey 8:07:46; 8. S. Seipke 8:11:45; 9. D. Moderow 8:23:30; 10. K. Berington 8:25:32; 11. Ra. Redington 8:37:31; 12. B. Linton 8:50:35; 13. M. Kaltenborn 8:51:59; 14. B. Norden 8:54:03; 15. S. Williams 8:54:35; 16. J. Thompson 8:58:25; 17. M. Osmar 9:04:35; 18. K. Hendrickson 9:05:12; 19. J. Deeter 9:05:30; 20. B. Johnson 9:05:52; 21. B. Moore 9:06:40; 22. M. Mapes 9:12:32; 23. W. Faulkner 9:15:36; 24. J. Baldwin 9:26:39; 25. K. Trickett 9:27:08; 26. J. Faulkner 9:39:10; 27. G. Katsian 9:44:00; 28. V. Hoyt 9:44:33; 29. T. Osmar 9:48:14; 30. R. Mackey 9:50:17; 31. A. Miller 9:54:05; 32. K. Frederick 10:05:59; 33. C. Hathaway 10:09:53; 34. J. Steves 10:22:44; 35. C. Roalofs 10:25:13; 36. R. Hum 10:29:01; 37. P. Solmonson 10:45:41.