May 21, 2006 8:02 pm US/Pacific
Frogs Compete At Calaveras County Fair
ANGELS CAMP, Calif. (AP) ―
Veteran and rookie frog jockeys faced off Sunday in the Calaveras County Fair and Frog Jump Jubilee, an annual gathering in California's gold country that honors a short story by Mark Twain and some spry amphibians.
A leggy California bull frog named Claussen's Cruiser sprang out 19-feet, 7 3/4-inches, earning top honors for itself and $750 for veteran frog jockey Mike Nash. The crowd erupted with whoops when Claussen's Cruiser took three long leaps from the 8-inch starting pad in the winning jump.
When he took the stage after the final results were tallied, Nash got a bucket of frog water over his head from his chuckling teammates on the Calaveras Frog Jockeys, a clutch of local frog fanatics who swept all three top spots in the open competition.
"We crave it. We look forward to it every year," Nash said, wiping a little frog water from his brow.
These days, there are few "uncommon lucky" fellows like Jim Smiley, the protagonist of Twain's famed fable, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." The quaint quotient of the frog jump event, a decades-old staple in Angels Camp, wears off a little each year — with every team of frog jockeys who increase their odds of winning by entering numerous times in the qualifying rounds.
Frog jumping has become a bit of a racket — but a fun racket, most agree.
So-called "frogmeister" Stephen Date, who spent the weekend monitoring the volunteer frogs — rounded up by contest officials to jump for contestants too lazy or slow to catch their own — said other things have changed at the event over the years.
The California red-legged frog, thought to be the one Twain was referencing in his celebrated tale, is now a no-go for entry into the contest. Its population is closely guarded by state wildlife officials.
"Last year we were monitored by the California Department of Fish and Game," Date said.
Chandler Nettles, of Springfield, S.C., won his state's annual frog jump earlier this year, and with it a sponsored trip west to compete in Sunday's competition. His frog jumped 16-feet-1 inch — no threat to the eventual champ.
"He had done got cold," Nettles mused after the jump. It rained steadily on fairgoers throughout the day — weather most frog jump experts said hampered the amphibian's desire to spring forth with much gusto.
Jon Kitchell, of Angels Camp, won second place and $350 after his frog jumped 18-feet, 6 3/4 inches. Breanna Ziehike and Alma Fasano split $300 in a tie for third. Their frogs jumped 17-feet, 8 inches.
The 1986 world record jump of 21-feet, 5 3/4 inches by Rosie the Ribiter remains safe for another year.
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