Ellis dominates field at the Exxon Open

Anchorage Daily News
sports@adn.com

Published: February 9th, 2010 11:02 PM
Last Modified: February 9th, 2010 11:03 PM

Rounding into form before the Fur Rendezvous World Championship Sled Dog Race, four-time Rondy champion Egil Ellis of Willow tamed a 21-musher field to win the $22,000 Exxon Open that concluded Sunday at the Tudor Track. Ellis won both days of racing to earn about $2,772 of the $22,000 purse. He opened with a blistering 55 minutes, 52 seconds time over 16 miles on Saturday, despite 6 inches of fresh snow. Overall, Ellis beat Arleigh Reynolds of Salcha by 90 seconds. Only three mushers could break the one-hour barrier in either of legs.

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Michael Tetzner, a professional musher from Hamburg, Germany, who's trying to make a dent in the top tier of sprint mushers, was third, nearly four minutes behind Reynolds.

Ellis has not captured a Rondy title since 2005, and this was his best showing of the season.

He's among a big field of 30 sprint mushers who have already signed up for the three-day world championship race that boasts a minimum purse of $80,000, a Rondy record.

"We got a great shake down for the upcoming Rondy race," he said on his Web site. "Trail conditions were tough both days and the team had to really come together to keep the speed up. Heavy snowfall had made the trail soft and punchy."

A big male named Casper was a co-leader both days, teaming with Ruby the first day and Email the second day.

Exxon Open

ASDRA Two-Day Race, Combined Time

Open (16-mile legs) -- 1) Egil Ellis, 1:53:50; 2) Arleigh Reynolds, 1:55:20; 3) Michael Tetzner, 1:59:25; 4) Jason Dunlap, 2:00:48; 5) Marvin Kokrine, 2:01:25; 6) Bill Kornmuller, 2:01:48; 7) Ken Chezik, 2:03:19; 8) Heather Hardy, 2:04:59; 9) Joee Redington, 2:06:29; 10) Erik Renneberg, 2:08:16; 11) Jack Berry, 2:08:48; 12) Daryl Hollingsworth, 2:09:10; 13) Eddie Dayton, 2:10:51; 14) Courtney Moore, 2:11:05; 15) Mike Stephens, 2:12:52; 16) Jeff Conn, 2:13:16; 17) Will Kornmuller, 2:14:08; 18) Nathan Sterling, 2:14:32; 19) Gary Markley, 2:16:08; 20) Nils Hahn, 2:16:52; 21) John Wood, 2:25:29.

8-Dog (10-mile legs) -- 1) Jennifer Probert, 1:00:16; 2) Greg Sellentin, 1:01:07; 3) Helen Lundburg, 1:01:38; 4) Christian Taveau, 1:01:48; 5) Micheal Tetzner, 1:02:10; 6) Amanda Byrd, 1:02:55; 7) Wendy Callis, 1:03:31; 8) Jennifer Sterling, 1:03:32; 9) Kathie Barnhart, 1:04:02; 10) Mari Hoe-Raitto, 1:04:50; 11) Eveyln Beeter, 1:07:01; 12) Hilary Schwafel, 1:09:35; 13) Gail Hoekman, 1:11:40.

6-Dog (8-mile legs) -- 1) Christian Taveau, 52:43; 2) Jennifer Sterling, 53:48; 3) Bev Stevens, 54:08; 4) Kris Rasey, 54:34; 5) Jennifer Probert, 55:50; 6) Forrest Seibold, 57:46; 7) Melissa Ghosh, 58:04; 8) Susan Anderson, 1:00:37; 9) Rick Cavens, 1:03:48; 10) Ryan Redington, 1:07:46; 11) James Castro, 1:09:06; 12) Ron Adler, 1:36:33.

4-Dog (6-mile legs) -- 1) Norm Hayashi, 40:01; 2) Kim Wells, 40:06; 3) Mari Hoe-Raitto, 40:40; 4) Stacy Lancer, 41:24; 5) Jennifer Sterling, 42:02; 6) Yvette O'Connor, 44:12; 7) Evelyn Beeter, 44:28; 8) Deborah Summers, 44:44; 9) Deb Baines, 45:11; 10) Hillary Schwafel, 46:43; 11) Lois Rockcastle, 50:30; 12) Kitty Wellman, 53:18; 13) Debra Castro, 69:40.