Ever Smiling Zirkle take 5th in Nome

The ever smiling Aliy Zirkle finished the 2015 Iditarod in 5th place.  A very large crowd turned out on Front Street to greet and cheer for the Queen of Hearts.  Aliy has had a string of 2nd places finishes in the past three years.  Mushing fans who remember back to when Libby Riddles and Susan Butcher dominated the sport from 1985 to 1990, would be happy to sport the t-shirt that reads “Alaska where men are men and women win the Iditarod.”  Aliy gave it her best as she always does and Jessie Royer gave it her best, but it was not be in 2015.  The shirts will be ready next year.

Chief Vet, Stu Nelson Gives Zirkle Dogs an A+

Zirkle stomped her snow hook into the snow under the arch and moved through her dog team thanking each and every one of her canine athletes, especially Quito her spectacular leader.  The checker accounted for all of her mandatory gear.  When Aliy handed over the trail mail, a picture of her Mom came out too.  Zirkle was emotional during the interview held under the burled arch but very quickly her ever-present smile prevailed.

When Aliy’s husband Allen Moore hit Unalakleet later yesterday, his first question was about the race and Aliy’s position.  He received some preliminary info while he was tending to his dogs.  When he cam into the checkpoint, the comms folks had a printout of the current stats ready to hand to him.  He looked it over carefully then went to take a nap.  There was another current printout ready for Moore before he left.  He was running the SP Kennel “B” team for Iditarod while Aliy was running the “A” team.  It flips around for the Yukon Quest, Allen has the “A” dogs for the Quest marathon while Aliy runs the younger dogs in the 300 mile Quest race. 

School’s out in Nome right now for spring break.  I was delighted to see one of the Junior Iditarod mushers front and center, right up next to the fence to greet Aliy.  Janelle Trowbridge was the top female finisher in the 2014 Junior Iditarod as well as the 2015 Junior Iditarod.  Jangle placed 5th this year, improving one place from last year’s Junior Iditarod.  Libby Riddles, the first woman to win Iditarod, has for a few years now hand sewn a fur hat to present to the top female finisher of the junior race.  This afternoon, Janelle was wearing the hat created by Riddles.  Riddles is an ever-present figure in the Nome chute congratulating and welcoming each musher to the finish line.  Janelle was pleased to have her photo taken with Riddles while wearing the beautiful hat.  

From what I see on the trail and also here in Nome, there’s a great similarity between Aliy’s smile and Janelle’s smile.  Trowbridge is a senior at Nome-Beltz High School and plans to apply to the US Coast Guard Academy.