The UP200 Awards Ceremony took place Monday morning at the Holiday Inn in Marquette. In addition to cash prizes awarded to all thirteen finishers and trophies awarded to the top three finishers, several other awards were given out.

First was the Tom Cooley award, “which is named after a veterinarian who previously worked this race and was lost too soon, tragically,” said Dr. Lizzy, one of the race veterinarians. “This award goes out to the best kept team and that the vet team votes on for their vet care and dog handling.

This award was given out to musher Erin Aili.

“Multiple other members of the vet team made comments to me about how good (Aili’s dogs) looked going into checkpoints, how good they looked going out of checkpoints, how excellent (Aili’s) dog care and dog handling was,” said Dr. Lizzy. “We saw that carry through all the way to the finish.”

Ryan Anderson, right, accepts his first place trophy. This is his 10th first place finish in the UP200. (Journal photo by Annie Lippert)

Then was the Dr. Tom Porn Award, which “is given by mushers themselves to a fellow musher displaying a positive attitude, fair play and compassion for their dog team during that team’s race,” said Ross Anthony, president of the UP200 Board of Directors. “Dr. Porn served on the UP200 board of directors and was the organization’s first official photographer. He passed away in 1995

The Dr. Tom Porn award was also given to musher Erin Aili.

“Thank you guys,” said Aili. “It was a fun race.”

Finally, the Red Lantern Award “is given to the musher that perseveres to the finish line,” said Anthony. “(They keep) us volunteers busy for the day and allow us to take full advantage of the outdoor weather by staying around at the checkpoint and waiting for them to come in. This year it was incredible that we were out of there before the sun went down, so the fact that the red lantern came in while the sun was up speaks to that this race was pretty tight.”

The last-place finisher and winner of the Red Lantern Award for this year’s UP200 was Quince Mountain of Wisconsin.

“Thanks to people along the trail who made it special,” said Mountain. “Like Tom from Lakenenland, who gave me my trail beer.”

Each finisher of the UP200 was allotted time to speak at the awards ceremony, thanking their dogs, their families, sponsors, event organizers, trail crews, veterinarians, other volunteers and more.

“This race was great,” said third-place finisher Matthew Schmidt. “Every year coming back I see Ross (Anthony) and friendly faces that remember you and care about you … I had a dream team out there, just flying down the trail.”

“It was a fun race out there this year,” said second-place finisher Erin Aili. “The trail crew — that was awesome. You guys at the race, your whole community, it’s amazing, it’s why it’s so much fun to come back here every year.”

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.