Spokane, WA—With a little over a month before the 42nd Bloomsday, a panel of Bloomsday sponsors and organizers met over lunch to deliberate and develop a list of which Bloomsday Corporate Cup teams registered with the best team names.
For 2018, the panel chose from a pool of nearly 350 teams, and 25 finalists (see list below) were selected for their creativity and witty word play. From puns that reflect a company’s business to references to popular culture, the list extends from Anesthesia Associates’ “I’m a Gasser” to Wood PLC’s “Wood—the Competition’s Stiff.”
“Our judges take this light-hearted competition very seriously,” said Corporate Cup Director Carol Hunter. “It takes the better part of a lunch hour to come up with a few finalists that we think stand out from the rest.”
The battle each year for the top team name is almost as competitive as the actual Corporate Cup itself, and the prizes are just as coveted. The first, second, and third place winners will be announced in the results after Bloomsday, and the first place team will receive a plaque and will be honored guests at the annual awards luncheon. Last year’s winner was BDO USA’s “We’d Depreciate an Uber,” which topped Franz Bakery’s “Gluten for Punishment” (second place) and Potlatch Corporation’s “Loggin’ and Joggin’” (third place).
This year’s panel of judges included Bloomsday Race Director and Founder Don Kardong, Lilac Bloomsday Association President Mark Starr, Bloomsday Board Member Jon Neill, Kelly Risse of Physical Therapy Associates, Inlander Publisher Ted McGregor, KXLY meteorologist Kris Crocker, Quinanna Robins of Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists, Hoopfest Executive Director Matt Santangelo, Callie Bendickson of Itron, and Spokane Mayor David Condon.
Although registration is now closed for the Corporate Cup, runners still have time to register for Bloomsday. Mailed entries for the low $20 entry fee must be postmarked by midnight, April 17th, while online entrants have until Sunday, April 22nd to do so. Late entries for the $40.00 fee will be accepted online from April 23rd through the 29th, and at the Bloomsday Trade Show the weekend of May 4-5. No entries will be accepted on Sunday, May 6th.
Business - Team Name
Anesthesia Associates - I’m a Gasser
BDO USA - Let’s Get Fiscal
Career Path Services - Resting Run Face
Center for Pediatric Therapy - Just Born to Run
CHAS Health - I-B-Pro-Fun
City of Spokane - Municipal Milers
Drywall Specialties, Inc. - Smooth Finishers
Franz Bakery - Flour Power
Gonzaga University - Easier Said Than Run
Idaho Forest Group - Dreadmill Trainers
INB - Dye Pack
Inland Empire Paper Co - Run of the Mill
J-U-B Engineers, Inc. - Pothole Avengers
Kaiser Aluminum - Aluminumb to the Pain
Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists - Bone to Run
PotlatchDeltic - Eat My Sawdust
Purcell Systems - Worst Pace Scenario
Spokane Symphony - Running Against the Winds
SRM Development LLC - Measure Twice, Run Once
U-District PT - Rapid Thigh Movement
Umpqua Bank - Chafing the Dream
US Bank - Easier Said Than Run
Valley Gastroenterology - All Gassed Up and Ready to Blow
Western States Asphalt - Paving the Way
Western States Equipment Company - Cat Me If You Can
Wood PLC - Wood –The Competition’s Stiff
# # #