SOUTH FORK – For the first time since the Alder Ass Race came to South Fork, the burro race was dubbed the largest in Colorado over the weekend. Over 130 racers and their burros descended on the small mountain town filling Brown Memorial Park.
The park was packed to the brim with food vendors and tents set up for games, activities and more on Saturday, Aug. 31, and though the day began with a touch of autumn chill, it warmed as racers took to County Road 15 and lined up for the start of the race.
The pavement was chalked to mark locations for the annual Dumping for Dollars where people can purchase squares to guess where the first donkey may defecate, making fun out of the inevitable.
Other games that took place throughout the day was the annual Alder Ass Duck Race where participants purchased rubber duckies to send down the soft currents of the Rio Grande. The day was a success and everyone who attended had a wonderful time, according to organizers.
Team winners for the standard three-mile race were Yukon Pack Burro and Shad came in first, Team Sugar Ray and Bob came in second and Team Jake the Trail Running Burro and Joe came in third.
The top three female winners for the mini race were team Bruno and Alexis in first, team Bella and Shoshana came in second and team Mr. T and Barbara came in third.
The Legacy award went to Barbara at 82 years young and the Rising Star award went to Genna who ran at the wonderful age of 7.
For the overall race Shad Mika of Broomfield, who ran with Yukon came in first, Bob Sweeny of Leadville, who ran with Sugar Ray came in second and Joe Polonsky from Palmer Lake, running with Jake the Trail Running Burro came in third. All the race results can be found online at www.adventuresignup.com/Race/CO/SouthFork/SouthForkAlderAssRace.
The South Fork Friends Foundation created and sponsored the event with plenty of help from the Town of South Fork and the South Fork Visitor Center.
Next up for South Fork will be the annual South Fork Chili Cookoff on Oct. 24. For more information or a full schedule of events, visit www.southfork.org.
