Sports by David Nelson Sports Editor SALT LAKE CITY — Utah AIDS Foundation leaders announced their plan for the 16th Annual Walk for Life, a five-kilometer pledge walk, on June 19 to raise money for people affected by HIV/AIDS. The walk is associated with the Gallivan Center Folk and Bluegrass Festival, and will begin at the center at 2:00 p.m. with sameday participant registration. Registration will cost $15 for adults, $5 for pets, and free for kids 12 and under. Preregistration isn’t available as planned at Madstone Theatres because of its closure. The festival music performances will begin at 2:30 p.m. and offers the best in local and regional folk and bluegrass music in a full day of live performances, and food, beer, soda and water. Performers from across the intermountain region will grace the stage until 10:00 p.m. The craft marketplace offers unique items while the kids can amuse themselves at the just-for-them activities center.
Mayor Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson will welcome walk and festival participants with a walk Quilt Ceremony at 6:00 p.m. on the Center Main Stage. Walkers will step off at 6:30 p.m. and return to the festival before its end at 8:00 p.m. Participants are encouraged to walk alone, or with family, friends, coworkers or their dogs. Walkers may also request to be introduced to other “Walk Buddies.” All registered participants receive complimentary festival tickets and have special permission to bring their dogs inside the festival grounds. Incentives include a Walk for Life pin for those participants who fund-raise at least $100, a pin and hat for at least $250, and a pin, hat and admission to the foundation “500 Club Party” at Squatters Brew Pub on July 13, including a club polo shirt for those who raise at least $500. For more information about the walk, contact organizers by visiting the group web site at www.UtahAIDS.org or by telephoning 487-2323 or toll free at (800) 865-5004.
IAN BRITTON
AIDS Walk Turns ‘Sweet 16’ at Folk Fest
‘Drag Dash’ New to Pride Race by David Nelson Sports Editor SALT LAKE CITY — Frontrunners-Frontwalkers of Utah leaders announced their plan to include a 100-yard Drag Dash as part of their hosting on June 12 of the annual Utah Pride Run-Walk-Roll at Memory Grove Park. Describing the dash as “anything goes,” organizers explained that “Taffeta and polyester, high heels and Doc Martins, colorful cosmetics, and butch al naturale ... this event promises to answer the alluring question: If it’s fashionable, how fast can you run in it?”
The humorous fun run is expected to give some — maybe plushy-furry — levity to the traditional five-kilometer timed wheelchair race at 8:15 a.m., and timed run and untimed fun-walk at 8:30 a.m. that has earned a permanent spot among the weeklong kick-off activities for the Sunday Pride celebration. The Drag Dash will begin at 9:15 a.m. Registration will cost $20 through June 11, and $25 for same-day registration. Incentives include race bags for registered participants, as well as prizes and awards. For more information about the competition, contact organizers by visiting the group web site at www.frontrunnersutah.org.
S.F. ‘Fog’ Score Bingham Cup by David Nelson Sports Editor LONDON — Players for the San Francisco Fog rugby football club took the title at the Bingham Cup RFC tournament on May 29 and 30 by a score of 26-7 over the Village Spartans in the cup finals. Founded in 2000 by Derrick Mickle, the Fog RFC was the first rugby club in the western United States geared primarily toward gay men and men of color. The club’s inaugural year was nothing if not typical: the first practice, the first match, acceptance into the local union, and a great deal of fun — but it had an unexpected and unfortunate ending. Four days before the Fog’s preseason training was to begin in 2001, the team was thrust onto the international spotlight when one of its members, Mark Bingham, was killed aboard one of the airliners hijacked on Sept. 11. Nine months later, in consultation with Mark’s mother, Alice Hoglan, and the other IGRAB member clubs, the Fog once again stepped onto the world stage as organizers (and eventual winners) of the first international gay rugby tournament, whose trophy is named in Mark’s honor. 38
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In the season just ended, the Fog experienced tremendous growth as a team, averaging 17 points a game in league play, and as a club, reaching new membership, sponsorship and fund-raising milestones. As defending Bingham Cup champions, the Fog’s first side is thrilled to be bringing the tournament trophy to the birthplace of rugby, where it can be displayed for the pleasure of the other IGRAB clubs as well as rugby supporters from all over — at least until it’s time to load it back into its carrying case for the long journey back to San Francisco. Fog players arrived at the finals by beating the Washington Renegades by a score of 32-3 in the quarterfinals and the Sydney Convicts by a score of 6-3 in the semifinals. Spartans players earned their finals spot after beating the Gotham Knights by a score of 32-0 in the quarterfinals and the Kings Cross Steelers by a score of 3-0 in the semifinals. Other teams in the cup lineup included the Atlanta Bucks, Boston Ironsides, Caledonian Thebans, Dallas Diablos, Emerald Warriors, IGRAB Barbarians, LA Rebellion and Seattle Quake.