Snow joy for sled dog race mushers

Jan 25 2013

Blizzards have created the perfect racing conditions for this year's Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain Aviemore Sled Dog Race, according to organisers.

More than 200 husky teams have joined skiers and sledgers in Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park, where they will put the dogs through their paces on Saturday and Sunday.

It is rare that there is enough snow - and not too much ice - to race the dogs in the traditional way. Wheeled carriages are often used instead of the sled and members of the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain, who have been training in the town since earlier this week, said they are hopeful about the conditions so far.

Spokeswoman Judy Wakker said: "We've been coming up here since 1984 when we had just 12 teams. We've got over 200 teams this year and looking at the forecast and the conditions we've got at the moment, it looks as if we're going to have a snow race, which would be absolutely fantastic.

"It would be only the second time in 20 years that we've actually been able to run the race on snow using sleds. The conditions at the moment are looking perfect - lots of really good snow and maybe more fresh snow to top up the base. I'm really looking forward to it."

Pete Jones, 40, has travelled from near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, with his partner Karen to compete with his dogs. He is hoping to retain the title for the six-dog event, which he has won the last three years.

Mr Jones said: "It's such an unbelievable sport. It's so addictive and so enjoyable. You don't have to spend thousands and thousands of pounds to take part, you can get second-hand equipment. You can just do it for fun and come to the odd race, or you can do it competitively like we do and enter races all over the UK."

The race features teams of between two and eight dogs pulling their musher on a sled around a four to seven-mile trail.

Along with the Siberian Huskies, race dogs include Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds, Greenland Dogs and Canadian Eskimo Dogs.

Mushers range from just eight years old to over 60.