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Veterinary team and fellow mushers Recognize Sebastian Schnuelle

February 26, 2007
Editor and/or Contributors

Musher Sebastian Schnuelle took home two of the 2007 Yukon Quest top honors at the Finishing Banquet on Saturday.Head Veterinarian Vern Starks announced Sebastian Schnuelle as the winner of the 2007 Veterinarian’s Choice Award.Dr. Starks commented that many of the mushers on the trail this year could have won the award, but that Sebastian went the extra mile to ensure his dogs thrived in the frigid temperatures on the trail. ‘Sebastian was the musher that spent the least time inside the actual checkpoint because he was out with his dogs, massaging them and giving them extra care in the cold weather,’ announced Starks. ‘He maintained their weight in the cold temperatures and finished with a great looking dog team.’Sebastian was awarded an etched burl bowl depicting a musher and his dog and a gift certificate for $1,000 in veterinary care from a veterinarian of his choosing generously sponsored by Uncommon Journeys and Alpine Veterinary Medical Centre Ltd. both of Whitehorse, Yukon.Dr. Starks went on to report that the dog care on the trail was some of the best he had ever seen. ‘These musher do an amazing job of caring for their dogs. Our team was impressed with what we saw out there on the trail.’Dr. Starks assembled a team of top- notch veterinarians from around the world. ‘I am very proud of this team,’ said Starks of his colleagues. ‘This group represents some of the most experienced and brightest veterinarians out there.’Sportsmanship AwardFellow mushers voted to award Sebastian the 2007 Sportsmanship Award for his selfless behavior helping fellow mushers up Eagle Summit. Sebastian aided 3 other mushers up the final steep pitch of the summit after getting his dogs safely to the top. ‘I shouldn’t be the only one receiving this award,’ said Schnuelle. ‘There were 3 other mushers up there and I don’t know if any of us would have made it up there if not for the others.’ But the other mushers tell a different story. ‘Sebastian was an animal,’ said Rookie of the Year Aaron Burmeister. ‘He just kept going up that steep pitch and coming back down for more.’ Sebastian was reportedly sweat-drenched after the endeavor and was forced to stop at Mile 101 Dog Drop to dry out his clothing while the other mushers continued on to Chena Hot Springs. Sebastian humbly joked with reporters at the finish line, ‘I was just soaking. It must have been all of those cheeseburgers I ate this summer.’Sebastian received a pair of Beaver Mitts donated by the Alaska Trappers Association. The Sportsmanship Award was voted on by fellow mushers at the Post Race Mushers Meeting on Saturday and presented by Alaska Trappers Association President, Randy Zarnke.