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Park City, Utah—February 2, 2008—Melanie Shirilla of Lincoln, Mont., won the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) with an overall time of 24:41:05. Shirilla gained the lead in Stage Five and maintained it throughout the final days of the race. Shirilla was the first woman to win the IPSSSDR in 2002 and won again in 2006 before winning today’s race to become a three-time winner.

Wendy Davis of Lander, Wyo., placed second in this year’s race with 25:03:25 and Jacques Philip of Nenana, Alaska, was third with 25:39:06.

Shirilla began her professional mushing career in 2000. In addition to her IPSSSDR victories, her race resume includes a 2003 win of the Atta Boy 300. The IPSSSDR is an eight-day race, traveling through 10 Wyoming towns including Jackson, Lander, Pinedale, Big Piney/Marbleton, Alpine, Kemmerer/Diamondville, Evanston and Mountain View before finishing in Park City, Utah.

With its unique “stage stop” racing format, the IPSSSDR stops in a different community each night, allowing Wyoming’s host towns to show their hospitality: Festivities on offer for mushers and spectators alike include pancake feeds, dog parades, banquets, carnivals and snowshoe softball.

The Pedigree® brand actively supports a wide range of programs that promote responsible pet ownership and highlight the contributions dogs make to society.

The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, the largest sled dog race in the lower 48 states, was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. For a complete schedule, visit the race Website at http://www.wyomingstagestop.org, contact the race via e-mail at [email protected], or telephone at 307.734.1163.

Media Contact: Darla Worden, WordenGroup Strategic Public Relations, 307.734.5335, [email protected]