NWSDA Awards
Every year, we honor one of our club members with one of five awards in recognition of their dedication to mushing and our club mission. Click below to see award details and all past awardees.
2024-2025 Awardees
Carl Bowman Best Kept Team Award
Margaret Black
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Thompson/Seppala Sportsmanship Memorial Award
Rick Katucki
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Marshall/Hatfield Best
Volunteer Award
Karla Boyle
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Best Kept Small Team Award
Victoria Alexander
Carl Bowman Best Kept Team Award
Carl Bowman (1959-1996) was an avid recreational musher who loved training and running his Siberian Huskies. Although having grown up with dogs, it was really only when after he got his first Siberian, Olaf, in 1982 that his interest in mushing started.
When he moved to Oregon in the late 1980’s, that spark was ignited by the Oregon Dune Mushers Mail Run where dog teams ran from Coos Bay to Florence over a three day period culminating in a grand parade in old town Florence. Soon after watching the parade for the first time, Carl obtained his first cart (a kit he assembled) and shortly thereafter he and the dogs enthusiastically headed down many trails.
In 1991 he moved to Washington and became involved in NWSDA and participated in various races in the northwest. In addition to running dogs, he also was a fine craftsman and started a small business (Snowdance Sled Works), named after his kennel (Snowdance Siberians), making dogcarts of his own design and beautiful handcrafted miniature dogsleds. Throughout this time, Carl’s attention to dog care and concern for the dogs’ well being was exceptional.
Sadly Carl was diagnosed with cancer in early 1996, ran his last Mail Run (his 5th) that March, and passed away that September. In his memory NWSDA members, friends and family generously donated to establish the Carl Bowman Best Kept Team Award. This coveted award is given annually to a NWSDA member, couple or family who exhibits outstanding dog care.
2024-2025 - Margaret Black
2023-2024 - Terri Frolick
​2022-2023 -Rory Frolick
2019-2020 - Shelby Morang
2018-2019 - Shelby Morang
2017-2018 - Christina Gibson
2016-2017 - Rodney Whaley
2015-2016 - Becky Loveless
2014-2015 - Mikki Douglass
2013-2014 - Connie Starr
2012-2013 - Judy and Von Martin
2011-2012 - Judy and Von Martin
2010-2011 - Larry Roxby
2009-2010 - Becky and Joe Loveless
2008-2009 - Carole Parsons
2007-2008 Von and Judy Martin
2006-2007 Don Duncan
2005-2006 Von and Judy Martin
2004-2005 Dave and Tracy Ford
2003-2004 The Minor Family
2002-2003 Dave and Tracy Ford
2001-2002 Steve Loper
2000-2001 The Minor Family
1999-2000 The Loveless Family
1998-1999 Lance and Jill Christensen
1997-1998 Margaret Black
Best Kept Small Team Award
This coveted award is given annually to a NWSDA member, couple or family who exhibits outstanding dog care to a small team of 1-3 dogs.
2024-2025 - Victoria Alexander
2023-2024 - Lucy Bottcher
2022-2023 - Athena Hamel
2019-2020 - Bruce Crawford
2019 - Matt Hamel
Thompson/Seppala Memorial Sportsmanship Award
For exceptional contribution to the club and the sport of dog mushing.
2024-2025 - Rick Katucki
2023-2024 - Mikki Douglass
2022-2023 - Don Duncan
2019-2020 - Mikki Douglass
2018-2019 - Connie Starr
2017-2018 - Susan Scofield
2016-2017 - Ingrid Earle
2015-2016 - Captain Larry and Jeanne Roxby
2014-2015 - Michael Johnston
2013-2014 - Michael Johnston
2012-2013 - Ingrid Earle
2011-2012 - Mikki Douglass
2010-2011 - Dina Lund
2009-2010 - Joe and Becky Loveless
2008-2009 - Don Duncan
2007-2008 - Laura Deaugerau
2006-2007 - Elaine Hamilton
2005-2006 - Don Duncan
2004-2005 - Dave Ford
2003-2004 - Lee Eberle
2002-2003 - Kristen Lacie & Mary Hamilton
2001-2002 - Lance Christensen & Kevin Casey
2000-2001 - Dave Ford
1999-2000 - Tom and Sylvia Palmer
1998-1999 - Bill Brink & Lance Christensen
1997-1998 - Peter Watson
1996-1997 - Dave Ford
1995-1996 - Diana Minor
1994-1995 - Ruth Semler & Karen Rook
1993-1994 - Becky Loveless
1992-1993 – Charles and Sandy Dietrich
1991-1992 – Joe & Becky Loveless
1990-1991 – Joe & Becky Loveless
1989-1990 – Mark Klein
1988-1989 – Joe & Becky Loveless
1987-1988 – Merlene Sloan
1986-1987 – Sid Bathhurst
1985-1986 – Ken Reinersten
1984-1985 - Merlene Sloan
1983-1984 - Maxine Ramey
1982-1983 - Brian Emerick
1981-1982 - Chris & Gary Sacha
1980-1981 - Steve Chandler
1979-1980 - Merlene Sloan
1978-1979 - Charles & Sandra Diedrich
1976-1977 - Larry Wade
1975-1976 - Steve Chandler
1974-1975 - Charles Diedrich
1973-1974 - Edward Waller
1972-1973 - Paul Carney
1971-1972 - John & Maxine Ramey
1970-1971 - Dick & Dianne Ross
1969-1970 - Mary Brickey
1968-1969 - Francis Sinrud
1967-1968 - Clyde Waller, Ed Waller's son
1966-1967 - Ray & Ruby Thompson (originator)
Marshall/Hatfield Best Volunteer Award
Marshall Alexander Anderson Hatfield loved the people and dogs of Northwest Sled Dog Association. She had dreams of becoming a musher with her own team of sled dogs, running and racing with her friends, but death took her unexpectedly in August of 2012.In the short time that Marshall had been involved with NWSDA, she was a kind and generous volunteer to all, stepping up to help wherever and whenever help was needed. This Memorial Award was created in her honor and given to those individuals who reflect Marshall’s values of service.
2024-2025 - Karla Boyle
2023-2024 - Rory Frolick
2022-2023 - Lucy Bottcher
2019-2020 - Larry Roxby
2019 - John Conrard
2017-2018 - Michael Johnston
2016-2017 - Michael Johnston
2015-2016 - Ingrid Earle & Jeff Oxborough
2014-2015 - Susan Scofield
2013-2014 - Michael Johnston
2012-2013 - Karen Behm
Registered Northern Breed Recognition & Awards
In recognition of historic Registered Northern Breeds (RNB), the Northwest Sled Dog Association (NWSDA) celebrates their continued use as working dogs through this program. Each RNB team to complete all days of the NWSDA event (dryland or sled, pointed and non-pointed classes) will be recognized at the race awards ceremony. The top placing RNB team from each pointed class shall receive a special award provided there are two or more RNB teams that begin the first heat in that class. RNB teams shall be acknowledged in published race results. To be eligible, the musher must note RNB teams (all dogs in team must be RNB) on race entry forms with proof of registration (document/pedigree) to be reviewed by the race marshal prior to the race when requested. NWSDA membership is encouraged but is not required for event awards.
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In classes where there are at least two RNB entrants, NWSDA members completing an event shall also be eligible for an annual award. These awards are based on the placement determination using the scoring system noted in the NWSDA Championship Points System and Race Rules. Annual awardees must be current NWSDA members.
This program is also intended to support applications for working dog certificates offered by specific breed clubs (please see below). Eligibility, individual race paperwork and application submission are the sole responsibility of the team owner. Please notify NWSDA prior to the first day of each race (preferably on the race entry form) of any official race paperwork that requires validation by the NWSDA race marshal.
Registered Northern Breeds include dogs of the acknowledged sled dog breeds (Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed, Seppala Siberian Sleddog, and Greenland Dog) that hold a document/pedigree issued by the AKC (American Kennel Club) or Continental Kennel Club (ConKC). Any foreign registered northern breed dogs that are eligible for AKC registration as well as AKC’s PAL (Purebred Alternate Listing) northern breed registrants are also eligible.
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This program will begin in the 2025-2026 NWSDA Race Season.
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Sponsored by Margaret Black, Snowdance Siberians.
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Breed club working dog certificate programs (for informational purposes only):
SHCA Sled Dog Title
SHCA Dryland Working Certificate
Alaskan Malamute Club of America Working Dog Program
Samoyed Club of America Working Titles