'Bozos' sweep Calaveras County frog jumps

Despite intense heat and a lower-than-normal turnout following a carnival accident at the 2008 Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee, fair officials and frog jockeys stuck to tradition by deciding one thing: The jump must go on.

For 80 years, young and old frog aficionados have been pitted against each other, jockeying California bullfrogs to the International Frog Jump Finals. And while Lee Giudici can rest easy one more year knowing that his record jump of 21 feet, 5¾ inches is secure, Jacob Smith went home with a trophy, $750 and the title of 2008 Frog Jump Champion.

Coming in second place this year was Lisa Fasano of team Gustine, jockeying “Warped” 19 feet, 2 inches. She took home a trophy and $350. Brandon Brooks, another member of the Bozos, jockeyed “Greg Crome Dome” 19 feet, 1 inch, earning him a third-place trophy and $200.

Marcia Thompson, who jockeyed her frog, “Alldegrees,” 14 feet, 5 inches in the Angels Camp Booster’s Original Jumping Frog Jubilee, held at Utica Park Saturday. Thompson, of Murphys, is also a member of the Bozos.

For more on this story, see Tuesday’s edition of the Calaveras Enterprise or our e-edition.