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MARQUETTE -- Sunday's UP 200 Sled Dog finish held a happy ending for musher Ryan Anderson from Ray, Minnesota.

Arriving at 10:37 a.m., he proved that practice makes perfect when he finished first place.

"I worked all season for it," said Anderson.

After seven years of competing in the race and placing second last year, Anderson finally fulfilled his goal.

"(I've been trying to do this) for quite a while; it's like being on the podium without a gold medal," Anderson said.

When asked what he was going to do now that he finally reached his goal, Anderson said he'll just try to do it again next year.  He celebrated his achievement with his 11-dog team, giving them all the credit for his success.  Judges said that Anderson's dogs were in such great shape at the finish that they'd be ready to run yet another race.

"Finishing with a dog team that looked the way his did is a real win," said head judge, Stan Passananti.

But the dogs will need their rest.  Many of the mushers plan to compete in the Can Am race in Kent, Maine the first week of March, like second place winner Nathan Schroeder of Chisholm, MN. Experts say his dogs were less rested after winning the Beargrease race earlier this month, but he says Anderson's team was a tough act to beat.

"Ryan just had a better dog team," said Schroeder.

Spectators were loving the warm sunny weather and so did the dogs.  Mushers said that slush from the sun froze into a slick, quick track this morning.

While last year's first musher arrived at 2:14 because of white-out conditions, the clear sky helped Anderson glide in early.