Planning Ahead: 2008 Patch Sprint Rules

Willsboro, NY, March 24-  Exactly two months away from the start of the 2008 Patch Sprint and with registrations pouring in to event headquarters- along with many more on the way- event officials have released the rules, regulations and policies for the 2008 race.      "We want to make sure that everyone is on the same page regarding age and eligibility requirements," stated Sandy Rolfe, who is entering her sixth year as event director.  "With our rising numbers and all of the different divisions, people can understandably be confused."      Hopefully, this will clear some things up:

AGE REQUIREMENTS: 10 and under:  Must be chaperoned and may enter the Kindersprint, or trek the course. 11-17:  May race or trek the course with a guardian, chaperone or "buddy". 18-39:  May trek; or race in the open or clydesdale division. 40 and over:  May take part in any division (except KinderSprint) (See breakdown of all DIVISIONS here)                   Emily Lounsbury, 13, trekked the entire course in 2007

CHAMPIONSHIP REQUIREMENTS: - Victory in the OPEN MALE division and/or OVERALL CHAMPION (“The Janny”)     will be recognized from the 10:00am start only . - Victory in the OPEN FEMALE division and/or OVERALL WOMENS CHAMPION    (MacCready Fitness Trophy) will be recognized from the 9:00 or 10:00am start only . - MASTERS and CLYDESDALE champions may come from any start (8, 9, 10).

In 2006, Deborah Nordyke came within six seconds of becoming the first woman to win the "Janny".

Rolfe asks "that all registrants please keep the above regulations in mind when deciding on your respective division and start time."  For more information, please see the link for Patch Sprint EVENT INFORMATION.

THE EARLY LINE      Still two months out and with only about one third of the expected field registered, Danny Sheridan has set early odds on the 2008 race.       Sheridan says, "This is just a sampling, based on those already entered, and projected registrants.  My detailed picks won't come out until May 20." OPEN MALE: Stanley:  2-1... Kobak:  5-2... Gittler:  4-1 OPEN FEMALE: Mercado:  5-1... Dubuss:  5-1... E. Disney:  6-1 MEN'S MASTERS:  Ross:  3-2... E. Anderson:  8-1... Lynch:  10-1 WOMEN'S MASTERS: Leone:  3-1... Livsey:  4-1... Lounsbury:  7-1 CLYDESDALE: Herz:  even...  Ryba:  6-1... Bornt:  7-1 KINDERSPRINT: Zimmerman:  2-1... Zimmerman:  3-1... Zimmerman:  4-1

"Not to put any pressure on him, but 2008 will be Stanley's year."

WINTER CHAMPIONS      With the official arrival of the vernal equinox, the winter Patch Sprint season has come to a conclusion.      The only recorded completion of the course was done by Jason Fiegl, Matt Moscatto and Jim Kobak.  Their time of five hours, nineteen minutes- in extreme conditions- is the slowest winning time in four years.  (See a full report on their victory HERE)

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