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Turtle Race Winners
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August 13, 2008
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| The registration line for Longville’s Turtle races begins to form, on most Wednesdays, at about 12:15, nearly 20 minutes before the registration kiosk opens. While the waiting is hard, the joy of racing makes it all worth while. On this mid-August Wednesday, 310 racers jammed main street of Longville for the opportunity to experience “Olympic” style turtle racing.
While racing is fun, winning is also enjoyable. The grand champion racers came from opposite ends of the country. The Grand Winner was four year old Jack Barth of Minnetonka, MN while the Grand Slowpoke Winner was eleven year old Ian Bukski of Houston, Texas.
The event began by celebrating nearly 20 birthdays. Those celebrating donned birthday hats while the crowd sang happy birthday. Nearly 10 couples came forward to announce their anniversary while the crowd cheered them on for many more years. All received free ice cream cones or fudge.
Following the hula-hoop contests, the dance contests take center stage. While the young people enjoy leading each of the dances, it is the Chicken Dance and YMCA dances that illicit special enthusiasm. Leading the Chicken Dance and singing the Chicken Dance song were five young people from various parts of the Midwest. They included Mia from George IA, Kayla from Clearwater MN, Michelle from Coon Rapids, MN, and Ashley from So St. Paul. The YMCA dance leaders were Travis of Grimes, IA; Caitlyn of Longville; Spencer of Northfield, MN; and Emma from Houston, TX.
Eighteen resorts and their representative participated in the Resort Turtle Race. They were Riley and Sophie of Minne Teepee Resort, Phyllis of Woman Lake Lodge, Ben of Austin’s Swamp, Austin of Pine Ridge Resort, Kristine of Idle-A-While Resort, Braycen of Little Boy Resort, Cyrus of Kee-Nee-Moo-Sha Resort, Kyle of Thunder Lake Lodge, Kylie of Sugar Point Resort, Sarah of Broadwater Lodge, Mia of Hide Away Bay Resort, Jayne of Cedar Point Resort, Kate of Evergreen Lodge, Mason of Camp O’ My Dreams Resort, Amy of Rainbow Bay Resort, Ethan of Balsam Bay Resort, and Andrew of Timber Trails Resort.
The winner was sixty-five year old Phyllis Ehlers of Fridley, MN who with her family was vacationing at Woman Lake Lodge.
Justin Wicks, Caitlyn Stagnaro and Amy Motz helped Mary Lou Austin judge dancers and racers. Anne Broshar, Rose Franta, Geri Staley and Stan Johnson registered racers. Terri Felegy and Sue Meyer sold tickets, and Marge McDonald, Kathy Froehlig and Dodee Colberg worked at the prize center. Game operators included Tom Staley, Terry Rose, Elsie Hagen, Chuck Colberg, Mike Froehlig, Jim Hager and Dillon and Jordan Loren from Little Boy Resort. Herman Hohlen and Dave Wodrich were street monitors. Gordon Atzen pumped out many bags of popcorn for hungry racers. Set-up and teardown was done by Gerry Broshar, Tony Ozark, game volunteers and helpers from YMCA Camp Olson. John and Sandy Weins and Gerry Broshar announced the races.
The last race of the season is Wednesday, August 20. | |
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| Resort Turtle Race Winner: Phyllis Ehlers, Age 65 from Fridley, MN; Representing Woman Lake Lodge
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| Chicken Dance Singers: Left to Right:
Mia, George, IA
Kayla, Clearwater, MN
Ashley, So. St. Paul, MN
Hunter, Lino Lakes, MN
Michelle, Coon Rapids, MN | |
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| Turtle Race Winners and Judges
Front Row, L to R:
Grand Slowpoke Winner: Ian Bukski, Age 11 from Houston, TX
Grand Winner: Jack Barth, Age 4 from Minnetonka, MN
Back Row, L to R:
Justin Wicks, Judge
John Weins, Announcer
Mary Lou Austin, Chief Judge
Caitlin Stagnaro, Judge | |
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YMCA Dancers
Left to Right:
Travis, Grimes, IA
Caitlin, Longville, MN
Spencer, Northfield, MN
Emma, Houston, TX |
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