Saturday officially marked the end of the 23rd Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race with dinner and celebration.

The $50-a-head banquet, held at the Yukon Convention Centre, attracted a packed room of about 425 people.

Mushers congratulated each other for completing the trail and children sought autographs.

This year's champion, Lance Mackey, took the Dawson Award four ounces of gold given to the first person to arrive into the halfway checkpoint and then go on to complete the race.

Mackey's lead dogs, Larry and Hobo Jim ,received the Golden Harness Award and a steak dinner for their loyalty, endurance and perseverance throughout the race.

The dogs led Mackey to a record win of 10 days, seven hours and 47 minutes, ending last Tuesday night in Dawson City.

Larry had attempted to keep Mackey on trail, though wasn't listened to, when the musher took the team down an unmarked road and over three hours off-course.

Richie Beattie won the Rookie of the Year Award for being the first rookie to cross the finish line.

Beattie placed ninth, arriving at the Dawson City finish line at 2:48 p.m. last Thursday. It took Beattie 12 days, two hours and six minutes to complete the approximately 1,600-kilometre trail, in what was a race shortened by 88 km because of trail conditions.

Not dwelling on the accomplishment, Beattie simply told the crowd, 'Ah, thank you,' after accepting the burl bowl.

Red Lantern winner Regina Wycoff also took the Challenge of the North Award. That's given to the musher who race officials feel most exemplifies the spirit of the Yukon Quest.

'This is an honour for me and I'm very happy and proud to take this award,' said Wycoff.

She was the last musher to complete the Quest, arriving in 11th position at 6:39 a.m. Saturday. It took the Alaskan 13 days, 17 hours and 57 minutes to complete the race.

'When I came into this race, I just wanted to finish it. I'm very happy to walk away with (the Red Lantern), because at least I did complete it,' she said. 'The Red Lantern is most excellent for my first time out there.'

It was 2002 Red Lantern winner Wayne Hall who took the Sportsmanship Award, which is given to the musher chosen by his competitors to have shown the most sportsmanlike behaviour on the trail.

Hall was noticeably nervous on stage, dropping the microphone and telling the attendees he was 'totally unprepared' for having to make a speech.

'My fellow mushers voted for me for this, so I'm really proud to be among that camaraderie of people and they think that much of me,' said Hall.

Hall finished this year's race in 10th place at 7:04 a.m. Friday. It took the veteran 12 days, 18 hours and 22 minutes to run the trail.

On William Kleedehn's 10th race, he was awarded the Veterinarian's Choice Award, which is given to the musher, as selected by the trail's vets, to have demonstrated outstanding dog care during the entire race.

'This is a surprise for me,' said Kleedehn. 'I know there's a lot of mushers who I visit during all the races to get all kinds of tips. For me, I know, that I actually have to learn lots more, but I try, so it's an honour to get this award.'

Last year, Kleedehn won the Challenge of the North Award.

The veteran musher placed third in this year's race, finishing only six minutes behind second-place Hans Gatt.

The Quest's $125,000 US purse will be shared among all the finishers, with $30,000 US going to first place, $24,000 to second and $18,000 to third.

The prize money is usually awarded to the top 15 teams to finish the race.

This year, with 11 scratches and 11 finishers, the remaining $7,900 US from the four unclaimed spots will be shared equally among the finishing teams.

Gatt told the crowd this year's Quest was one of the 'craziest' races he'd ever run.

'You can't even begin to imagine how much work it is,' said Michelle Phillips, who placed eighth.

Veteran musher Gerry Willomitzer agreed. 'It was a wild ride for a lot of us,' he said.

Willomitzer joked that his sled had broke a runner in 2005, but 'This year my sled should have broken, but didn't.'

Sebastian Schnuelle asked race officials to be aware of the mushers' concerns that arose from this year's rough trail.

'I hope you will listen to us somewhat, but I also hope you will continue to organize this race for us,' he said.

Schnuelle had been so shaken by the trail conditions from Angel Creek and over Eagle Summit into Central that had he wanted to drop out of the race.

He thanked race judge and former Quest musher Thomas Tetz for convincing him to stick it out.

Schnuelle finished the Quest in sixth place after 11 days, two hours and 31 minutes.

But despite all the problems on this year's trail, from the airlift off Eagle Summit to the change of the finish line, 16-year race vet Dave Dalton said it was 'absolutely unbelievable' the officials were able to pull it all off in the end.

Kleedehn thanked the checkpoint volunteers who welcomed the mushers and those following the race into their homes and towns.

He also apologized to the communities of McCabe Creek, Carmacks, Braeburn and Whitehorse that fell victim to the changed finish line.

All fans of the race deserve the gratitude of the mushers, agreed Mackey, for 'supporting our madness.'

Mackey said all the teams who competed on this year's rough route are winners.

'It's been absolutely amazing, and I'm just honoured to have been a part of it,' he said.