Skrevet av: Niels Westphal
Dato: 13.03.2016 10:52
The traditional banquet was held at Scandic Saturday evening. With dressed-up mushers, handlers, volunteers, partners and other friends of the Finnmark Race, as well as delicious food and great entertainment, the evening turned out to be a party and an experience to everyone
Best care
One of the most important happenings at the banquet is the handing over of different prizes. The most prestigious prize is probably the one given out for the best dog care. This prize is handed out by the Finnmark Race vet team, and is given to the musher who has taken the best care of his or her dogs during this year’s race.
Chief vet Arild Jøssund praised all the mushers and said this year's Finnmark Race was the best ever, in terms of the health of dogs. Many mushers had been nominated for the prize, but in the end if was Arnt Ola Skjerve who received the most votes and was given the prize for best dog care.
The prize consists of a picture made by Roland Pantze and a perpetual trophy from Strand Camping, dog equipment and a check of 7000 Norwegian kroner. In the photo, Arnt Ola Skjerve receives the prize from chief vet Arild Jøssund.
Good sportsmanship
Ronny Frydenlund got the «Sportsmanship award.» It is awarded a musher who has stood out in terms of showing particular good sportsmanship during this year’s race. The participating mushers choose the winner. Arne Karlstrøm gave out the award.
– With so many extremely polite and well-behaved mushers, it was hard to decide on a winner. But there was one musher who was number three in the competition. When other teams caught up with him, he offered his competitors candy and asked politely if it was okay that he followed them. That makes him deserve this year’s award. The winner is Ronny Frydenlund.
- I though Arnt Ola looked a bit tired, and needed some sugar for the road, said Ronny smilingly, when he accepted the award.
Unlucky musher award
The Finnmark Race has luckily not had any serious accidents, but several mushers have been unlucky. Vidar Dahle, who traveled over two miles the wrong way going out to Neiden 1, praised the track marking and continued the race. For this, he received the prize for the unluckiest musher. Early Sunday morning it became clear that Dahle had to scratch on his way from Karasjok to Jotka.
Volunteer of the year
It takes over 650 volunteers to make the Finnmark Race happen every single year. Many have showed up year after year, and everybody does a fantastic job. Every year, one of the volunteers is given the prize for the volunteer of the year. This year, the award went to, Magli Sofie Økland, responsible for check-point Jotka. Over the last 11 years Magli has spent vacation and her own money to go to Alta and work as a volunteer, most of the years at Jotka. A worthy winner and a great representative for the many volunteers.
Check-points of the year
In order to be chosen as a check-point of the year, the check-points are evaluated based on level of service, information and the overall impression. This year, the award for the best check-point in FL-500 went to Check-point Skoganvarre, while Check-point Tana bru, got the award for best check-point in FL-1000. In the picture, Mitika Pedersen accepts the award for Skoganvarre. 
Handler award
A jury from UIT The Arctic University of Norway chose the handler of the year for the Finnmark Race 2016. The jury says that this year’s handler team is seen as positive, happy, visible and friendly toward people around them, especially other volunteers. The prize was given to Høyby husky, the handler team for Jon Sigmundstad, with Helene Gram Øverli in charge. In the photo, the team receives the award from vice rector Sveinung Eikeland at UIT The Arctic University of Norway.