Brief by Central Staff
Pack-Burro Racing – September 1998 – Colorado Central Magazine
Pack-burro racing celebrated its 50th year this summer, and Colorado Central columnist Hal Walter, along with his burro Spike, won two major events: the Fairplay World Championship on July 26 and the Leadville International on Aug. 9.
Barb Dolan of Buena Vista won the women’s events in Fairplay and Leadville, and beat all contenders of any genders in Buena Vista on Aug. 2. This would give her the female triple crown, except that she didn’t run with the same burro in all the races. The association is trying to figure out how this fits into its rules and by-laws.
Hal’s Fairplay victory was his first in 18 years, six of them second-place finishes, with three of those were “heart-breakingly close.” This was his second victory in Leadville; the first was in 1996.
Fairplay and Leadville are the oldest races on the circuit — the first race, in 1949, went from Leadville over 13,187-foot Mosquito Pass to the Prunes Monument in Fairplay. Start and finish were alternated for several years, and eventually, each town came to organize its own race to the top of the pass and back.
Curtis Imrie of Buena Vista has been running for half the 50 years of organized pack-burro racing — this marks his 25th year of entering every race in the circuit, which concludes on Aug. 22 in Frisco.
Central Colorado’s only indigenous sport should be getting some big-time exposure. Outdoor Life Network filmed the Fairplay race for a one-hour show to be broadcast in October, and a Sports Illustrated photographer was on hand for the Leadville race.
And now, some results:
Fairplay World Championship Race 29 miles
1. Hal Walter 4:42:23.24
2. Rob Pedretti 4:42:23.28
3. Tom Sobal 4:49:20.8
4. Barbara Dolan 5:01:37.4
5. Curtis Imrie 5:31:19.7
6. Dave TenEyck 6:04:44
7. Ken Chlouber 6:38:40
8. Ralph Herzog 7:01:02
9. Bill Lee 7:27:04
Fairplay Short Course 15 miles
1. Mary Walter 2:17:21
2. Kendra Cowhey 2:31:21
3. Jennifer Sullivan 2:36:54
4. Nora Matthews 2:36:55
5. Sheila Robertson 2:36:56
6. Sean Herrin 2:37:00
7. Scott Taylor 2:37:29
8. Terry Hull 3:01:54
9. Dave Thompson 3:12:43
10. Ed Mighell 3:12:44
11. Melissa Clarkson 3:12:44
12. Rosemary Norby 3:14:15
Buena Vista Gold Rush Days Pack-Burro Race 11 miles
1. Barbara Dolan 1:24:48
2. Dave TenEyck 1:25:03
3. Hal Walter 1:25:50
4. Rob Pedretti 1:25:50
5. Curtis Imrie 1:32:51
6. Sean Herrin 1:49:09
7. Bill Lee 1:49:17
8. Diane Ridgeway 1:49:19
9. Neal McGowan 1:50:34
10. John O’Brien 1:55:06
11. Terry Hull 2:04:38
12. Melissa Clarkson 2:24:16
13. Rosemary Norby 2:34:48
14. Ed Mighell 2:34:52
15. Barbara Berge 3:16:00
16. Joseline Bristoe DNF
Leadville Boom Days International Race 22-mile mens course
1. Hal Walter 2:59
2. Curtis Imrie 3:12
3. Rob Pedretti 3:29
4. Ken Chlouber 3:52
5. Dave TenEyck*
6. Ralph Herzog*
7. Terry Hull*
8. Bill Lee*
*time unavailable
Leadville Women’s Course 14 miles
1. Barbara Dolan 1:24:48
2. Mary Walter 2:07:03
3. Sue Conroe 2:41:00
4. Diane Ridgeway 3:46:00
5. Rosemary Norby 3:46:05
