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Turtle Race Winners
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August 1, 2007
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| A perfect day for turtles also turned out to be a perfect day for racing as 398 racers competed for the coveted prize as Grand Champion and Grand Slowpoke Champion. The cooler, sunless day attracted an estimated 1200 racers, parents, relatives and friends to mainstreet of Longville for the weekly event. The turtles had a grin on their face a mile long as they marched up to the starting line, ready to make the world proud of their racing skills. Longville prides itself on being the “World Series” “Super Bowl”, and “Nascar” of turtle racing.
Before the racing began, however, there were the hula-hoop contests, dance contests, and games that were played by kids of all ages. The kids had a great time trying to be among the winners of the hula-hoop contest. However, it was the grandmas,grandpas, moms, and dads where the hula hoop competition was fiercest. All were happy when, in spite of their less than stellar performance, they received a packet of great prizes just for competing.
With the dance contest, the mood is a little different. Non of the kids or adults who danced had been declared winners on the popular Television program “ So you Think You Can Dance”. They were there to just have fun dancing. Kids come up onto the Turtle Mobile stage to lead each of the dances. A group who claimed to know the words of the Chicken Dance agreed to sing the song while everyone else danced.
The group included Jonas Broccard of Bloomington, Alyssa Wilhelm of Little Canada, Emme Dietrich of Manly, Iowa, and Morgan Swenson of Stillwater, MN. They were so good that they talked about producing their own CD of their version of the Chicken Dance Song.
The YMCA Dance contest also had a group of leaders. Their energetic style entertained the audience as well as helped the less knowledgeable follow the dance. They were Sara Spartz of Longville, Paul Moores of Duluth, Paula Miller, of Stacy MN and Brandon Ahrenholtz of Dennison, IA.
The battle of the resorts, the contest that determines which of the resorts has the best turtle racers was won on this day by a guest at Balsam Bay Resort. Eight year old Haley Fredrick of Darien, IL was the winner.
There were eleven resorts that participated in the race. They were Minne Teepee Resort, Timber Trails Resort, Pine Ridge Resort, All Seasons Resort, Thunder Lake Lodge, Little Ponderosa Resort, Rainbow Bay Resort, Balsam Bay Resort, Little Boy Resort, Woman Lake Lodge, and Borde du Lac Resort.
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| Resort Turtle Race Winner: Haley Fredrick from Darien, IL, Age 8-1/2
Representing Balsam Bay Resort | |
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| Chicken Dance Singers: Left to Right; Jonas Broccard from Bloomington, MN; Alyssa Wilhelm from Little Canada, MN; Emme Dietrich from Manly, IA; Morgan Swenson from Stillwater, MN
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| Turtle Race Winners and Workers:
Left to Right: Ryan Skajewski, Judge
Jake Hilbrands from George, IA - Grand Winner
John Weins, Announcer
Gabby Reid from Maple Grove, MN - Grand Slowpoke
Mary Lou Austin, Chief Judge and Marisa Skajewski, Judge | |
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| "SPAM Brothers" - Longville Turtle Races aren't just for Kids!
Left to Right: Jim, Tony, John
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| YMCA Dancers
Left to Right: Sara Spartz from Longville, MN; Paul Moores from Duluth, MN;
Brandon Ahrenholtz from Denison, IA; Paula Miller from Stacy, MN
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