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The Mayor, Dallas Seavey, and the best dog in the world
Reef, Dallas Seavey’s 4 year-old lead dog, “trotted” away with the Iditarod Lolly Medley Memorial Golden Harness award for the second year in a row! The mayor of Nome, Richard Beneville, did the honors at the 2016 Iditarod Finisher’s Banquet. “Reef is my hero,” Dallas said as he took the stage.
Reef needed a little coaxing to come to the stage, but the special yellow monogrammed harness was a perfect fit. This award is voted upon by the mushers, and is given to the most outstanding lead dog in the race.
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Reef basking in the glory of the golden harness
Lolly Medley was one of the first women to mush in the Iditarod, along with Mary Shields, in 1974. She was a gifted harness maker from Wasilla, who convinced the Iditarod that they needed a special award for the best lead dog each year. In the early years, she created the harnesses herself.
I honestly think this is one of everyone’s favorite awards of the evening. Dallas spoke about how much his dogs mean to him, and I am sure every musher felt the same way about their teams.
Below is a list of all past winners of the Lolly Medley Memorial Golden Harness Award. Here are some suggested activities for the classroom:
- Research the musher – were they the winner that year? If not, why do you think their lead dog was awarded the Golden Harness?
- Look at the names of the dogs – what do you think the puppy litter “theme” was?
- Make a line plot or graph of the mushers using data such as: veteran or rookie? Alaska resident? Lower 48 resident? Other country?
Golden Harness (Outstanding Lead Dogs)
Year
|
Lead Dog
|
Musher
|
---|---|---|
2015 | Reef | Seavey, Dallas |
2014 | Beatle | Seavey, Dallas |
2013 | Tanner | Seavey, Mitch |
2012 | Guiness | Seavey, Dallas |
2011 | Snickers & Velvet | Baker, John |
2010 | Maple | Mackey, Lance |
2009 | Kuling | Royer, Jessie |
2008 | Babe | Smith, Ramey |
2007 | Larry | Mackey, Lance |
2006 | Salem | Jeff King |
2005 | Kvitsokk (Whitesock) | Sørlie, Robert |
2004 | Tread | Seavey, Mitch |
2003 | Tipp | Sørlie, Robert |
2002 | Bronson | Buser, Martin |
2001 | Pepi | Swingley, Doug |
2000 | Red Dog | Gebhardt, Paul |
1999 | Elmer | Swingley, Doug |
1998 | Red | King, Jeff |
1997 | Blondie and Fearless | Buser, Martin |
1996 | Blondie | Buser, Martin |
1995 | Vic | Swingley, Doug |
1994 | D2 and Dave | Buser, Martin |
1993 | Herbie and Kitty | King, Jeff |
1992 | Dusty | Garnie, Joe |
1991 | Goose and Major | Swenson, Rick |
1990 | Tip | Barve, Lavon |
1989 | Ferlin | Runyan, Joe |
1988 | Granite | Butcher, Susan |
1987 | Blackie | Nayokpuk, Herbie |
1986 | Sister | Garnie, Joe |
1985 | Axle and Dugan | Riddles, Libby |
1984 | Red and Bullet | Osmar, Dean |
1983 | Preacher and Jody | Mackey, Rick |
1982 | Brandy | Baumgartner, Ernie |
1981 | Silver | Smith, Larry |
1980 | Trooper | Nayokpuk, Herbie |
1979 | Digger | Peters, Emmitt |
1978 | Nuggett and Blackie | Anderson, Ralph |
1977 | Pilot | Chase, Ken |
1976 | Puppy and Sugar | Riley, Gerald |