Streeper Wins 2004 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race

January 30, 2004—Jackson, Wyoming--World champion sled dog sprinter, Blaine "Buddy" Streeper, won the 2004 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race with a time of 18:46:44. Streeper, from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, has won more than 50 first place titles during his five-year professional career. This was the first time Streeper has raced in the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race.

Melanie Shirilla from Lincoln, Montana, came in second with a time of 19:16:00.  Shirilla was the 2002 IPSSSDR Champion, and the first woman to win the IPSSSDR.  Sam Perrino from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, was third with a time of 19:31:09.

Previous IPSSSDR champions include Rick Swenson, Alaska, 1996; Hans Gatt, Austria, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001; Jeff King, Alaska, 1999; Melanie Shirilla, Montana, 2002; and Gwen Holdmann, Alaska, 2003.

Streeper won today’s 9.5 mile leg, Stage Six, with a time of 0:34:35. Jacques Philip from Nenana, Alaska, was second with a time of 0:35:13, and  Shirilla was third with a time of 0:35:23.

The 2004 IPSSSDR  took place from January 24-January 30, stopping in a different Wyoming community each night.  Stage stops included Jackson, Kemmerer/Diamondville, Evanston, Mountain View/Lyman, Alpine, Pinedale and Lander. 

         Pedigree® Food for Dogs is the title sponsor of the IPSSSDR. During the 2004 IPSSSDR, Pedigree hosted a daily web cast on its web site, www.pedigree.com, that features video footage of the race. To support local pet adoption efforts, Pedigree makes a donation to animal shelters nationwide for each visitor to the site during the race.
            The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. For more information, visit the race Website at www.wyomingstagestop.org hosted by Jackson Hole Net, or contact the race via e-mail at wystagestop@blissnet.com or telephone at (307) 734-1163.