Paw power showcased at Flathead Classic
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 3 months AGO
Heidi Desch is features editor and covers Flathead County for the Daily Inter Lake. She previously served as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, spending 10 years at the newspaper and earning honors as best weekly newspaper in Montana. She was a reporter for the Hungry Horse News and has served as interim editor for The Western News and Bigfork Eagle. She is a graduate of the University of Montana. She can be reached at hdesch@dailyinterlake.com or 406-758-4421. | March 1, 2017 9:04 AM
Whitefish musher Sara Parr took first place in the four-dog adult class race at the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race last weekend.
Parr finished the 5.5 mile course around the Dog Creek Lodge with a time of 54:45. She was followed closely by Kim Stanley of Canada with a time of 56:35. Third place was taken by Canadian Margie Leopold and Nancy Harland took fourth.
The Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race finished on Sunday after two days of racing staged at the Dog Creek Lodge near Olney. Teams from Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Canada raced for prize money of $2,500.
In the 12-dog class race 82-mile race, Jerry Bath of Lander, Wyoming, took first place. Bath crossed the finish line at 12:06 p.m. on Sunday with an overall race time of 6 hours, 55 minutes and 45 seconds.
Teams left Olney on Saturday raced to Polebridge, where they camped for the night, and then returned to Olney on Sunday to finish the 82-mile race.
Second place went to Brett Bruggeman, third to Laura Daugereau, fourth to Laurie Warren, and fifth to Clayton Perry.
In the eight-dog class race to Polebridge and back, Maeva Waterman of Bozeman finished in first place followed closely by Roy Etnire of Montana. Etnire was 32 seconds behind in total race time behind Waterman.
Third place went to Olney resident Steve Riggs and fourth place went to Adam Buch of Canada.
The six-dog class included two teenagers from Oregon. First place went to Charlotte Burkhardt and second went to Morgan Anderson.
Two days of racing also included a two-dog junior race and a one- and two-dog skijoring event.
In both skijoring events, Dan Hanks of Idaho took first place finishing the 5.5-mile course. In second place in the two-dog skijoring, was Teresa Petterson following by local Philip McGrady of Columbia Falls in third.
In the one-dog class, second went to Teresa Petterson and Georgia Hall took third.
The last race of the day was the two dog junior with 6-year-old Harleigh Dutton as the only contender.
Best Cared For Team Award was presented by Whitefish veterinarian Dr. Laura Thiele to Brett Bruggeman of Great Falls.
MORE FEATURES STORIES
ARTICLES BY HEIDI DESCH

Flathead County board calls for pay increase
Seemingly striking a compromise, the Flathead County Compensation Board on Tuesday voted to recommend a 2.5% cost of living increase in county wages.

Whitefish works on upgrades to Armory Park
Whitefish City Council meets at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall, 418 E. Second St.

Cost increases driving Whitefish’s proposed budget
Personnel and overall operating costs are driving an increase in the proposed Whitefish city budget, which in turn is expected to bump property taxes.