Beginning of December saw a trip for us all to Sherwood Forest for the third / fourth race of the British Siberian Husky Racing Association season. Saturday saw rainy runs and muddy 2.7 trails, the dogs, Zinny, Mars and Kara Muffin had a blast and overtook a team ending in 6th place from 18 teams and an average miles per hour of 14.04, second day the trail was reduced to 2 miles due to humidity, not such a clear run, resulting in a tangle, but we ended in 7th place from 17 teams with an average mile per hour of 12.58 so a bit slower but a great experience, we loved the trails and every race enables us to learn and bring what we learn to training for the future. Tonrar ran on the bike the first day and came 6th, because of seeding on the second day the start timings between the 3 dog class and bikejor were a bit close so decided not to run the bike on the Sunday. Full race results for the weekend her​e

​The Sibes have had a mid season maintenance visit to Helen Lightfoot Chiropractor, after Mars' leg strain last season we are keeping a close eye on him and all the dogs, making sure they are happy and healthy enabling them to do what they enjoy most! Sadly the next planned race with BSHRA in Norfolk was cancelled so our next race (paws crossed) will be after Christmas at Rendlesham in Suffolk. We are really enjoying training and bringing in some afternoon daylight training to reflect what time we are usually racing and this will help with distraction training with more dog walkers, people and wildlife on the trail and better prepare us for what we meet when on the race trails.
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Cracking first race weekend of the season at Rendlesham Forest with BSHRA. Stunning, technical trails, beautiful forest, dry weather and great to see everyone after the Summer. Day one we ran veteran Snik for the first time on the bike, he much prefers running in a team but it's nice to give the dogs new experiences and they came a respectable fourth place. We then ran a three dog with Zinny & Mars in lead with Kara Muffin in wheel. Great run, if a bit cautious on the brakes but a nice 5th out of 13 teams with a time of 09.52 over 2.4 mile trail averaging 14.49mph. We popped Pickle in wheel position the second day replacing Kara but she wasn't as happy with the super quick trails which are unlike what we train on, so a bit more time was spent on the brakes so she would feel comfortable, we were a minute slower the second day but they had a jolly time, the teams were happy and had a really great experience and we can now move forward and look at the best teams to match the dogs. Zinny's second race and we are really pleased with her progress working with Mars in lead and Kara who is nearly 8 still loving life in a team with the seppala people. We ran Kara in the Bikejor the second day, her second time on a bike to third place, on a 2.8 mile trail, she had a brilliant time and you can see the beautiful forest and part of her run in the video below! 

​Full Rendlesham race results here 

Lots of muddy training runs down South and usually training in the dark, we are still training at the two forests four times a week and pleased with the teams progress on the mixture of trails, we could really see the work we have put into turns in training translated to the race trails in Suffolk. The dogs are all happy and as well as enjoying trail life have been enjoying seaside walks and adventures and of course cuddles on the sofa. Our aim this season is to cement further the skills of our young leaders and give the dogs lots of happy experiences on different trails. 

Finally Autumn has arrived and temperatures are nicely lowering enabling us to get out for lots of runs, we usually run the dogs four times a week and dogs are increasing fitness and we are having fun training single leaders with Mars and Zinny who are doing a smashing job. We are using two different forests making the most of the lots of turns in one which is a few hours drive, and the straighter trails of our local forest 30 minutes away. We hope the combination will work well and prepare the dogs for our first race planned in Suffolk which is a combination of  fast trails and tight turns. 

​Early in the month Mars and Zinny had a second visit to Chief BVA eye pannelist Ian Mason and we are delighted there is no change and we have two 0/0 scores including tests for glaucoma. The scheme is a means of identifying inherited and non-inherited ocular conditions and we are super pleased with the result.  Zinny also had her hips tested by Sharon Loades and scored 4/4. 

The leaves are starting to fall and woolly jumper and socks weather is upon us. We have had a busy Summer despite taking a break from shows, the new van is now suited and booted with new dog cages and we are getting some sensible enough temperatures to run dogs and we all enjoyed the first runs after Summer on the Thetford trails with good friends and we took the opportunity to passenger on other excellent dog teams. Pickle and Zinny enjoyed their seasons and we are glad they will be over in time for the race season! Work not flirt girls! 

​We were really pleased with the fitness of the dogs after their summer break due to temperatures, I think our last run was on the 24th June, and we now concentrate on training and building fitness and having fun.  Whilst we were in Thetford we visited our dog's chiropractor, Helen Lightfoot for a doggy team MOT before season starts and called in to Forstals for new harness fittings and other equipment made by Ali Koops at SASS Sled Dog Equipment. We are looking forward to getting our dogs out on different trails this season and having lots more adventures! 

Heat wave continues in the UK and for us Southern folk so the harnesses have been hung up in exchange for more free runs for the sibes. Pickle has joined the others dogs by removing her jacket for the Summer and we are all looking forward to some rain and colder temps. We are keeping busy with working on the new husky travelling hotel.

​I was honoured to be asked to judge the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain stakes classes at the Three Counties Showground this month and enjoyed a really quality entry. My critique is below. 

I would like to thank the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain for the honour of the invite to judge the stakes classes yesterday,15th July 2018 and to the exhibits for the privilege of their entry. I was spoilt with the quality of the entries.
Junior dog or Bitch (4,0)
1st JOHN'S Azgard Kampa For Alepenkye 
Feminine grey and white bitch with happy, mischievous expression, typical foxy head, almond shaped, correctly set eyes and good ear set. Light on her feet and moved with ease, was shown well and in good condition. Super Prospect
2nd SNELSON'S Salazka’s Mr Abernathy 
Masculine, monochrome and white chap enjoying his day. Very balanced proportions with great angulation front and rear and showing plenty of reach and drive on the move, moved true, with purpose. Correct slope of croup. Well-muscled. Very nice boy, just preferred head type on 1 today.
3rd WAKKER'S Barking Brooks Mountain Mist At Ceannabeinne (imp, USA) 
Monochrome male with a delightful, keen expression. Good angulation and balanced front and rear, nicely arched loin and correct croup, feeling the heat in this class today and just did not move as his well as his angulation suggests.
Limit Dog or Bitch (10, 3)
1st COOPER'S Janskcoo’s Strength ‘N’ Honour JW
Classy grey and white bitch with typical foxy head. Everything in moderation and so balanced. Nicely sloping pasterns, correct croup. Excellent shoulder and rear angulation, well supported with muscle and covered the ground of the large outside ring with ease, grace and purpose. Quality Bitch.
2nd KEEN'S Norste Dusty Miller at Nashanessen
Impressive white male with a mischievous, alert expression, nice depth of chest, great shoulder angulation and had superb reach and drive, complimented by hard muscle he moved true, with power and happy purpose. Very nice feet and slope of pasterns. Super boy.
3rd SMITH & MARCH'S Janskoo Echoes In Eternity 
Pretty grey and white bitch with the most beautiful foxy head and gentle expression, good arch of neck and correct angles front and back, moved well but did not have the reach and drive of 1 & 2 in this class today.
Open Dog or Bitch (10, 2)
Stunning quality of entry in this class making some hard decisions, all very worthy exhibits.
1st KEEN’S NASHANESSEN’S STANLEY 
Masculine agouti and white, with typical foxy head, loved his moderate bone and overall proportions and was a picture of power and balance. Moving true, he was light on his feet and ate up the large ring. Great feet, nice slope of pasterns and bend of stifle. Very nice boy.
2nd PLATT'S RYKALOV SPARKS AT WIGHTFLIGHT
Striking agouti and white male with a happy, keen expression. Another impressive boy with a well laid back shoulder, he covered the ground well showing reach and drive, he powered around the ring with ease and purpose. Superb feet. Being super picky today, preferred the bend of stifle of 1.
3rd GRISBROOKE’S AZGARD SPINDRIFT
Splendid agouti and white male, loved his foxy head and mischievous expression. Well balanced with great shoulder angulation and rear, good feet and correct sloping pasterns enabling him to cover the ground with power and ease. Nice arch of loin, correct angle of croup, everything is there, look forward to watching this boy mature.
Louise Evans (Demoneira)