Mattson sweeps Ironman trapshoot; Harrington clinches Northern Trails title

Published Wednesday, August 27, 2008

FAIRBANKS — Jared Mattson of Fairbanks pulled off a rare sweep of all three events at the 2008 Ironman Doubles Trapshoot Saturday and Sunday in Wasilla.

With a score of 932 of 1,000, Mattson won the featured Ironman doubles event for the second straight year. He also took the 16-yard event (194 of 200) and handicap event (95 of 100).

Mattson’s high overall score of 1,221 of 1,300 was 31 points better than runner-up Jeff Pokorny of Eagle River.

In the doubles event, Mattson came the closest to hitting all 50 targets on one field as he connected on 49 three different times and only once tallied fewer than 44.

Mattson was challenged in the handicap event, as he was pushed to a shoot-off against Greg Cordes of Wasilla. Mattson won the shoot-off 25-24 to keep his perfect tournament intact.

Thomas Faulkenberry of Fairbanks also participated and won the Class B division in the 16-yard event by shooting 191 of 200. He also shot 25 straight once in the handicap event.

In all, 31 trapshooters fired at 23,500 targets throughout the weekend.

Mount Healy Challenge

Drew Harrington claimed the inaugural Mount Healy Challenge on Sunday and with the result also clinched the Northern Trails Running Series overall title.

Harrington, 28, climbed about 2,100 vertical feet over 1.75 miles in 30 minutes, 1 second, just missing the half-hour mark as the race director implored a gasping Harrington to push harder to the finish.

Chris Garber-Slaght was runner-up in 32:23 and took second in the overall series; he began the race tied for the series lead with Harrington.

Andy Sterns took third place in 39:40.

Robbin Garber-Slaght was the first woman in 40:44, followed by Oralee Nudson in 46:11 and Karen Nanseth in 46:48. Roxane Rigo (48:15) may have challenged for the top female spot had she not gotten started seven minutes after the others following the road trip down the Parks Highway.

The ascent-only course began at the Bison Gulch parking area just south of Healy and followed a ridge to a scenic overlook almost halfway up Mount Healy. Participants were treated to panoramic mountain views on the partly sunny and nearly windless day. From the finish, several participants continued hiking higher while others descended at their leisure.

Twelve people took part. Other finishers were Bob Vitale (40:35), Pete Hjellen (40:40), Jo Kovach (50:45), Jon Kuntz (52:04) and Ethan Graham (62:04). Kuntz, age 11, and Graham, 12, are both from Healy.

Five of the participants — both Garber-Slaghts, Nudson, Vitale and Hjellen — completed all six races in the new Northern Trails Running Series.

Heather Best won the women’s overall title with Robbin Garber-Slaght second.

The top overall and age-groups finishers will be recognized at the Running Club North awards social on Oct. 18 at Birch Hill.

Complete series standings are in the Scoreboard on page C2.

Women’s hockey camp

A women’s hockey camp endorsed by the Fairbanks Women’s Hockey Association will begin Sept. 9 at the Polar Ice Rink.

Wayne Sawchuck will teach skating, puck control, passing, shooting and goaltending fundamentals in eight 8-9 p.m. sessions from Sept. 9 to Oct. 2.

The camp is open for 36 participants from the beginner to advanced level. The camp costs $170 for skaters and $95 for goaltenders. After Sept. 5 the prices rise to $185 for skaters and $110 for goaltenders.

Visit www.fairbankswomenshockey.com for more information or contact Sawchuck at 452-3683 or sawchuck@mosquitonet.com.

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