Herron Equestrian Park and old one-room school house.

Butte's bargain rate Cup-bus along side Helena's streamliner.

View of course from parking lot.

Jacquie Maillet photo

A small crowd gathers on the knoll overlooking the course.

Runners milling around start area.

Jacquie Maillet photo

Lineup forming for men's race.

Males milling around before start.

Men's race about to get underway with Butte's green-clad runners in the foreground.

Men ready to start.

Men ready to start.

Jacquie Maillet photo

Men's race underway with rare beam of sunshine gracing the moment.

Kid Rowell photo

Men tromp away from the start creating a rumble in the meadow.

More runners away from the start.

Course view.

Casey Jermyn of Missoula leads the men over the first log jump.

Men's field over the first log and racing up the first tiny hill.

More men up the first hill.

Men running away to ~700m.

Missoula's Casey Jermyn flying past ~700m with only Kalispell's Jeb Myers still in contact.

Helena's Greg Wirth leads Kalispell's Russ Skelton past 700m.

Also pictured is Kalispells' Tom Myers (back leg only at front edge of photo).

Trailing are Thomas Jodoin (Msla), rick Judge (Hlna), Ray Hunt & Ryan Kearney of Butte, Brian Suttle (Kspl), Zac Barrett (Butte)

Missoula's Brendan Halpin and Anders Brooker sandwich John Babcock of Butte at 700m.

Also pictured Matt Shryock (Msla), Don Sundberg (Butte), Brian Walsh (Hlna), Tony Banovich (Blngs), Peter Dan Sullivan (Hlna), Ray Matteson (Butte), Jeff Thomas (Hlna).

Kalispell's Ted Burnham races past 700m.

Also pictured Steve Bullock (Hlna), Unknown (Kspl), John Kirtley (Butte), Mark Tarr (Kspl), Elton Kirtley (Butte), Brian Merseal (Kspl), Unknown (Hlna), Jeffery Flury (Msla).

Bozeman's David Gregory leads a group past 700m.

Also included Dave Rowell (Butte), Ozzie Rosenleaf (Hlna), Unknown (Hlna)Mark Burke (Msla), Rande Farrow (Butte), Unknown (Hlna), Jeff Braun (Butte), Jim Cameron (Butte), Cyle Wold (Msla).

A trio of Kalispell racers allow Race Director Kent Hoffmeyer to ride in their slipstream.

The race's youngest runner, Daniel Kirtley of Butte, also tagging along.

Butte's Jim Ryan leads a group past 700m.

Cliff Kindt of Butte passing 700m.

Missoula's Casey Jermyn cruises past 1.5K with big lead.

Jacquie Maillet photo

Jeb Myers of Kalispell races past 1.5K in second place.

Jacquie Maillet photo

Butte pack of Ray Hunt, Ryan Kearney, and Zac Barrett (front to back) paces past 1.5K.

Jacquie Maillet photo

Jeff Thomas of Helena pulling away from Butte's Don Sundberg and John Babcock at 1.5K.

Jacquie Maillet photo

Runners prepare to jump second of three log jumps.

Leading is an Unknown Helena runner followed by Zac Barrett (Butte), rick Judge (Hlna), Thomas Jodoin (Msla), Andrew Graham (Kspl)

Just past the second log jump, approaching 2K, Missoula's Thomas Jodoin starts up the first BIG hill.

Following Jodoin are Tony Banovich (Blngs), Brian Wieck (Hlna), Anders Brooker (Msla), Brian Walsh (Hlna), Ray Matteson (Butte), Peter Dan Sullivan (Hlna), & Missoula's Brendan Halpin over log.

Missoula's Thomas Jodoin lead his group up the first big hill.

Course monitor directs runners up the hill.

Missoula's Jeffery Flury has cleared the log jump and Kalispell's Ted Burnham is next over.

Butte's Dave Rowell lifting over log jump. Missoula's Mark Burke and Jeff Braun of Butte preparing for launch.

Kid Rowell photo

Steve Bullock of Helena is the first in the group to negotiate the log jump.

Also pictured are Helena's Alan Peura, Mike Roberts, & Mike Fanning, along with Dave Rowell & Jeff Braun of Butte and Mark Burke (Msla). And if you look carefully in the background, you will see Race Director Kent Hoffmeyer of Kalispell demonstrating powerful 'steepling' form over the log.

Butte's Gary Gurtler passes over the log.

Butte's Jim Ryan approaching the Log Jump.

Missoula's Casey Jermyn leading by a large large margin with 3K left to run.

Jeb Myers of Kalispell pictured with one lap left to race.

Kelly Fulton of Billings and Michael Fisher of Kalispell race past the start/finish area with one lap left to run.

Ray Hunt of Butte leads teammate Ryan Kearney, and Kalispell's Brian Suttle into the last loop of the race.

Butte's Ray Hunt running ahead of teammate Ryan Kearney and Kalispell's Brian Suttle.

Also pictured is Kalispell's Tom Myers.

Tom Myers of Kalispell dashing ahead with one 3K lap left to run.

Helena's rick Judge leading Tony Banovich of Billings with one lap left to race.

Tony Banovich of Billings trying to keep pace with Helena's rick Judge with 3K left to race.

Greg Wirth of Helena leading Missoula's Thomas Jodoin with one 3K loop left to race.

Missoula's Anders Brooker cruises into the last 3K loop.

With 3K left to run, Missoula's Brendan Halpin leads a big pack.

Also pictured Russ Skelton (Kspl), Jeff Thomas (Hlna), Andrew Graham (Kspl), Zac Barrett (Butte), Peter Dan Sullivan (Hlna), Brian Wieck (Hlna).

With one lap to go Missoula's Brendan Halpin leads Russ Skelton of Kalispell, Jeff Thomas of Helena, and Andrew Graham of Kalispell.

Kalispell teammates Brian Merseal and Mark Tarr (near) finish the second loop together.

With one 3K loop left to race, teammates Shane Donaldson and Jacob Naegeli lead Butte's John Babcock.

John Kirtley of Butte leads Kalispell's Ryan Sol with two laps down and one to go.

Helena's Steve Bullock leads Mark Burk (Msla) and Race Director Kent Hoffmeyer.

Also pictured is Dave Rowell (Butte).

With 3K left to run this was a battle for the Masters' Cup.

Helena masters Alan Peura, Mike Roberts, and Mike Fanning run ahead of masters Dave Rowell (Butte), Mark Burke (Msla), and Jeff Braun (Butte).

Butte's Jim Cameron clicks a split on his watch as teammate Daniel Kirtley trails.

Ozzie Rosenleaf of Butte flying along with ~3K left to run.

Gary Gurtler of Butte leading a Kalispell runner with 3K left to run.

Runners entering the last 3K lap.

Course View

Missoula's Casey Jermyn easily over the final log barrier on his way to the last big hill.

Teammates Michael Fisher and Jeb Myers lead Kalispell's fast team. They are pictured here running side-by-side in second place with 2.5K left to race.

Billings' Kelly Fulton lurks behind.

Course view

Butte Teammates Rande Farrow, Daniel Kirtley, and Jim Cameron.

Having cleared the final log jump, they look at the long file of runners on the hill ahead.

Cliff Kindt of Butte approaches the course's final ascent.

Kalispell's Shane Donaldson and Jacob Naegeli racing for the finish line.

Missoula's Casey Jermyn jogging what amounts to a victory lap on the course.

Course view.

Women preparing to race.

Women's start as seen from across the park.

Butte (green) and Missoula (maroon) women blast off the starting line.

The women race for early position.

Women rushing away from the start.

A crowd gathers at the first log jump before the women arive.

Nicole Hunt swings wide at the first jump to use the hay-bail-step.

Nicole Hunt of Butte and Kelly Rice of Missoula lead the pack over the first log jump.

The trailing mob of women ready to negotiate the jump.

Women surging over the first log jump.

Women just past log jump number one of three.

Women charging up first hill.

Women racing into a stunningly beautiful fall dackdrop.

Nicole Hunt of Butte leads past 700m with the Helena (blue) and Missoula (maroon) teams battling for position in the pack.

Michelle Richardson (Hlna) and Vonda Garcia (Kspl) take the inside route past the cones.

Jenny Hunt (Butte), and Laura Morin (Hlna) hold inside position around the bend early in the race.

Anna Kirtley of Butte runs together with Helena's Demaris Taylor at 700m.

Samantha Campbell of Missoula leads Kalispell's Charlene Myers at 700m.

Speedy gal from Kalispell races past 700m with a group close behind.

Trio of Kalispell gals including Beca Gunderson, Mariah Naegeli, and Ciara Normandeau racing past 700m.

A Kalispell runner leads Butte's Eddi Walker.

Helena's happy Rachel Peura passes 700 meters.

Cheryl Peterslie of Butte running 700m into the race.

Toni Broadbent of Helena and Georgia Cunningham of Butte pacing the early part of the race.

Butte's Sheila Franey cruises past 700m.

A group passes 700m together.

View of Herron Park.

Race Director Kent Hoffmeyer gets in the picture (blue over red coat) as Missoula's speedy foursome controls the team race at the end of lap one.

Missoula's Kelly Rice, Linsey Pickell, Emily Herndon, and Julie Ham have Helena's Jessica Sargent sandwiched.

Butte's Kathy Peterson and Helena's Michelle Richardson lead this group into the start of the second loop at 1.5K.

Ann Seifert of Helena runs at the head of a small group.

Also pictured Molly Zeliff (Msla), Jacquie Maillet & Stacy Huser of Great Falls, Sarah Slanger (Hlna), and Jenny Hunt (Butte). Missoula's Campbell sisters are in the background.

Missoula-team sisters Lindsy and Samantha Campbell cruising along with two 3K loops left to run.

Kalispell teammates Beca Gunderson,Mariah Naegeli, Ciara Normandeau, & Kimberly Buls run with Helena's Elaine Dahl at 1.5K.

Runners with two big laps left to race.

Butte runners Georgia Cunningham, Cheryl Peterslie, and Sheila Franey finish the first loop together.

Nicole Hunt of Butte skys over log jump.

Dave Rowell photo

Helena's Michele Bazzanella surges up the first big hill with Missoula's strong quartette following closely.

Butte teammates Susan Kaluza and Kathy Peterson lead Helena's Alyssa Bossler and Michelle Richardson at the start of the first big hill.

Butte's Jamie Schuster also pictured.

Great Falls teammates Stacy Huser & Jacquie Maillet lead Helenans Sarah Slanger and Ann Seifert up the hill.

Anna Kirtley of Butte leads Helena's Demaris Taylor up th first hill.

Also pictured are Janet Robinson (Hlna), and Kalispell teammates Camie Stolte & Charlene Myers.

Lindsy and Samantha Campbell attack the hill.

Eddi Walker of Butte races among a trio of Kalispell women as they approach the hill.

Helena's Elaine Dahl nearly tears out the turf under her shoes as she rushes, without fear, toward the last big hill.

Helena teammate Toni Broadbent coming up strong.

Butte's Nicole Hunt fires out of the forest trail and turns sharply while stretching her lead at 3.5K.

Dave Rowell photo

Butte's Georgia Cunningham pictured running with one 3K lap remaining in the race.

Helena's Rachel Peura and Toni Broadbent racing through the start/finish area for the start of the final loop.

Herron Park.

Kalispell runner with one lap left to run.

Kalispell runner cruising along with one lap to go.

View of course.

Beca Gunderson leads Kalispell teammates Mariah Naegeli, Ciara Normandeau, & Kimberly Buls up the first pitch of the final hill.

Course View.

Nicole Hunt of Butte hits top speed just before crossing the finish line.

Nicole Hunt eases off the gas as she wins her 5th individual Montana Cup title.

Dave Rowell photo

Butte's Susan Kaluza flashes across the finish line in 10th place.

Dave Rowell photo

Butte team racers Jamie Schuster and 'Bekah Kirtley finish 12th and 13th, respectively.

Dave Rowell photo

Butte's Anna Kirtley is followed across the finish by teammate, Alexis DiGiovine.

Dave Rowell photo

Nicole & Ray Hunt at awards ceremony.

Jacquie Maillet photo

Jeff Thomas of Helena proudly dons his 4th place master's award ... the hat. Evan Eck gaurds Thomas' back.

Jacquie Maillet photo

Billings' Tony Banovich sports his new "Over The Hill" hat that he won by finishing 2nd among masters.

Jacquie Maillet photo

The setting:  Helena's Post-Cup Party (with only one Cup to drink out of this year -- at least it was a big one!)

The costumes:  Ann Seifert, women's masters team captain posing as witch (without pointy hat) and displaying first-ever womens' Masters Cup, and rick Judge posing as "Ray Hunt, Team Dork" (an honorary title bestowed by Jeb Myers at Camp Waterloo in August).  Unfortunately, this photo does not show the hockey pants and bright red Nike Zoom X2 spikes which completed the dork costume.