Woody Fitton of First Financial Bank says, “Our team had a great time last year, so we’re really gearing up for this year’s race. We’ve had to turn folks away who wanted to join our team since every 2004 racer has enthusiastically returned for the 2005 race. Last year we bundled up to beat the cold, and we were awarded Best Team Spirit. This year, we plan to win and challenge other teams to beat us us.”

Teams consisting of 6 "dogs" -4 human pullers and 2 riders- travel in creative sleds through a course set in downtown Hamilton. Each team makes several mandatory stops and perform certain tasks at each stop such as eating a Klondike bar, drinking hot chocolate, or taking a rest stop that does not begin till all "dogs" are still. The 2005 Sled Race is scheduled for Saturday at 4:00 p.m. on Court Street between Monument and Third Streets.  The race is open to the public.  Dave Schirmer, chair of the sled race states, "We have worked to make this activity very creative for our sponsors and the annual IceFest celebration since it is a great opportunity for a new corporate challenge in Hamilton."  For more information on joining the Cannonball Run Sled Race in 2005, please contact Dave Schirmer at (513) 863-1145.  Sled race information packets may be picked up at The City of Sculpture office, One High Street; Hamilton Chamber of Commerce 201 Dayton Street; or Hamilton Parks and Recreation office, 345 High Street.  Information packets can also be distributed through calling Dave Schirmer at (513) 863-1145 or via the download of the following .pdf file. Sled Race Entry Form 2005.pdf Sled Race Registration 2005.pdf Sled Race Instructions 2005.pdf Sled Race Rules 2005.pdf  Entry deadline is Wednesday, January 12, 2005. 

IceFest Sled Race Winners 2005

1st Place - Morgue Mushers sponsored by Paul R. Young Funeral Home - Captain: Scott Arnold   Team: Ashley Marshall, Laura Hacker, Adam Klotzbach, Katie Barnes and Amy Arnold - Time: 11 min 43 sec

2nd Place TIE - First Financial Bank - Captain: Woody Fitton  Team: Margaret Baker, Alisa Miller, Brendan Burns, Dennis Dietz, Mary Beth Gallina and Joseph Gallina - Time: 12 min 58 sec

2nd Place TIE - Ladder 32 Degrees sponsored by the Hamilton Fire Department - Captain: Brian Ruhl  Team: Scott Baum, Heather Garcia and Matt Garland - Time: 12 min 58 sec

3rd Place - Mad Dogs sponsored by Fitton Family YMCA - Captain: Andrew French  Team: Shohreh Sloneker, Nick Kraft, Ryan Dotson and Dustin Marshall - Time: 13 min 54 sec

4th Place - Fab 5 sponsored by the Quinn Family - Time: 14 min 18 sec

5th Place - Polar Express sponsored by Fairfield YMCA - Time: 16 min 02 sec

6th Place - East Butler YMCA - Time: 16 min 31 sec

7th Place - Metro Express sponsored by the Metro Branch YMCA - Time: 16 min 45 sec

8th Place - 5 Dog Knights sponsored by Wilson Middle School - Time: 17 min 17 sec

9th Place - 5 Dog Nights II sponsored by Wilson Middle School -Time 21 min 02 sec

Coolest Sled - Ladder 32 Degrees sponsored by the Hamilton Fire Department

Best Dressed Team - Polar Express sponsored by Fairfield YMCA

Back to Top

First Financial Capital Advisors Legacy Funds Group

Friday Evening Spectacular ...

Fire and Ice "Lion' Den" Celebration:  Unique Community Gala 
Friday, January 21, 2005,  6:30 - 11:30 PM
The Hamiltonian Hotel ~ Cash Bar ~ Casual Atmosphere
$20

SOLD OUT!!!

With a themed circus atmosphere, this affair offers an opportunity to mingle throughout the evening. Luminaries light the way between the Lion’s Den and the Courthouse to view the spectacular light-enhanced ice sculptures sponsored by local businesses.

Wild and wacky surroundings will fire up conversation and camaraderie. Highlights of this special occasion will be the IceFest ringmaster, a circus tent atmosphere, food, fun, magic and mahem!  Come in from the cold for an informal evening with family, neighbors and friends and enjoy local entertainment. Acknowledgment of our talented ice carvers and generous sponsors will occur between sets.

Hosted by the Hamilton Junior Women’s League Auxiliary    

Each year, IceFest is given a theme by committee members so that carved ice on display tie together through a chosen highlighted idea. Previous themes have included “The Ohio Bicentennial” and “Around the World in Ice”. The 2005 IceFest theme “Circus in Ice” has allowed many Big Top opportunities to appear in ice at the downtown Hamilton event. This year’s special highlights include magnificent circus related sculptures brought about by corporate sponsors of IceFest. Kokosing, the company constructing the new High Main Street Bridge in downtown Hamilton, is sponsoring a 10-block ice sculpture bridge which holds a 2-block train engine with eight 1-block circus cars each sponsored by individual businesses. Aurgroup Financial Credit Union has sponsored a 15-block circus carousel beautifully carved with individual horses and ponies with poles running through them from top to bottom … like a real merry-go-round. Area residents and businesses purchased the 150 blocks of ice used to create the Big Top Wall of Ice, a colossal feature of IceFest. Imagine a Monkey juggling bananas and a peacock with full plumage each carved from a block of ice. Or see an ice sculpture of a bear balancing on all 4’s.  Other sculptures will include a ringmaster, a giant bathtub with a seal and its ball inside, skating penguins, LOTS OF CLOWNS, and much more!!! 

Approximately 115 Ice Sculptures - Over 200 Blocks - 40 Tons of Ice on Display

A Sample of 2005 "Circus in Ice" Sculptures ...

 Back to Top

2005 ICEFEST PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

All winning entries are on display at the Government Services Center Building,

345 High Street, Hamilton, OH, until April 11, 2005

 

 Click on thumbnails to view larger photo

FIRST PLACE $150 Greg Buening Cincinnati, OH Title: "Cold Clown, Hot Coffee"	SECOND PLACE $100 Sean A. Lawrence Middletown, OH Title: "Yellow Cat"	THIRD PLACE $50 Jamie Huff Hamilton, OH Title: "Electric Hands"
FOURTH PLACE $50 Andreas Heger Batavia, OH Title: "Angel of Light"	FIFTH PLACE $50 Char Schwab Hamilton, OH Title: "Frosty Business"	THE EDWARD KEZUR AWARD (Best Black and White Photograph) $100 Judy Pochard Hamilton, OH Title: "Cool Cat"
Honorable Mention David Costello Erlanger, KY Title: "Red Mustang - Lion Heart"	Honorable Mention Janet Eggleston Hamilton, OH Title: "Cool Cat"	Honorable Mention Sean A. Lawrence Middletown, OH Title: "Crystal Christ"
STUDENT AWARD (1st Place) $75 Kristin Price Hamilton, OH Title: "Frozen in Time"	STUDENT AWARD (Honorable Mention) Kory Gabel Hamilton, OH Title: "Lion Tamer"	STUDENT AWARD (Honorable Mention) Kim Pochard Hamilton, OH Title: "Red, White and Cool"

HONORABLE MENTION AWARDS (Alphabetical Order)

Click on thumbnails to view larger photo

Mary Babel Cincinnati, OH Title: "Jesus – The Light of the World"	Pat Dungan Hamilton, OH Title: "Liberty @ Night"	Donald W. Gillis Fairfield, OH Title: "The Harp with the Swan"	Donald W. Gillis Fairfield, OH Title: "Peace Around the World"
Judy Pochard Hamilton, OH Title: Hamilton’s Liberty"	Dawn F. Sergent Middletown, OH Title: "Mirror Image"	Christopher Staggs Middletown, OH Title: "Energy from the Wind"

Comments from Contest Chairs: Bill Hartford and John Moser: Last year we had 73 entries from all over the tri-state. The judging was particularly difficult, as the quality and artistic ability were outstanding. We chose 7 Honorable Mention Award winners instead of 6 due to the high quality mentioned previously. Each entry was excellent and well presented. The Winning 12 entries in 2005 will be on display in the lobby of the Government Services Center, One Renaissance Center, 345 High Street, Hamilton, OH, for one month after IceFest. We invite everyone to see this fine collection of art. 

 

2004 Contest Judges: Pat Brown, Professional Photographer and owner of Brown Studios, Hamilton, OH; Francis Grover, Professional Photographer and owner of Grover Photography, Hamilton, OH; David Moss, Professional Photographer and owner of Images Photography, Fairfield, OH; John Moser, Retired Common Pleas Court Judge and Supporter of the Arts and Contest Co-Chair;  Bill Hartford, Retired Banker and Amateur Photographer and Contest Co-Chair

Back to Top

Final Results of the 2003 ICEFEST Photography Contest Click on thumbnails to view larger photo FIRST PLACE: $150.00; Jim Dwyer, Harrison, Ohio Title of Photo: "The Turquoise Seahorse" SECOND PLACE: $100.00; David Burkart, Hamilton, Ohio Title of Photo: "Think There's Been Enough Winter?" THIRD PLACE: $50.00; Christopher Staggs, Middletown, Ohio Title of Photo: "Fire and Ice" FOURTH PLACE: $50.00; Rick Hogan, Hamilton, Ohio Title of Photo: "Steeple Spray" FIFTH PLACE: $50.00; Randall Stigall, Hamilton, Ohio Title of Photo: "Liberty Juxtaposed" THE EDWARD KEZUR AWARD: Best Black and White of Contest $100.00; Kim Sparks, Hamilton, Ohio Title of Photo: "Shining in the Night" HONORABLE MENTION: (Alphabetical Order)   1)  Bridget Burkart, Hamilton, Ohio; Title of Photo: "Just Winging It" 2)  Maureen Dwyer, Harrison, Ohio; Title of Photo: "The Archer" 3)  Kim Sparks, Hamilton, Ohio; Title of Photo: "Lady in Blue" 4)  Bob Stothfang, Cincinnati, Ohio; Title of Photo: "Frosty the Sculptor" 5)  Patricia F. Weisbrodt, Hamilton, Ohio; Title of Photo: "Let's Soar"

Back to Top

IceFest 2005 Soap Sculpture Competition and Winners

• Open to any Hamilton 8th or 9th grade student
• Categories include: “Circus in Ice", Animal/Bird, Sport/Game/University, Design/Abstract, People/Cartoon, Original & more!
• Division winning soap sculptures will be on display at Key Bank on High Street
• Entries Closed
• Questions? 513-896-9962 or soapcarvers@aol.com

  This competition, now in its 3rd year Is open to any 8th or 9th grade student and has continued to grow as more students participate and many art educators are using the soap sculpture as an element of curriculum. In 2004, more than 450 students participated from area schools including Badin, Garfield, George Washington, Queen of Peace, St. Joseph, St. Peter in Chains, and Wilson. This number of students is more than double the number of participating students in 2003. The Icefest committee distributed 900 bars of soaps to students.

  With the 2005 highlighted category of “Circus in Ice", other categories include Animal/Bird, Sport/Game/University, Design/Abstract, People/Cartoon, Original & more! “The students are becoming increasing creative with this project. Last year we had a student carve a computer complete with its mouse. This year, a student has fabricated an amazingly intricate tea service set.” stated Kathi Hunter, chair of this Icefest activity. “For Icefest 2004, more than 200 entries were received from Garfield Jr. High alone. Shannon Frey, art teacher at Garfield, along with other area educators are to be commended by our committee for the enthusiasm put towards this project.”

  Division winning soap sculptures were on display at Key Bank on High Street through the Icefest event weekend. Winners of this student project were announced at noon on Saturday, January 22 during Icefest 2005.