February / March 2014

BSSF Race at Thetford 2014

The weather down in Somerset has really been against us this season. Our local area has suffered from severe floods which started before Christmas and continued because of the constant rain meaning that we couldn't access our usual training forest. The Forest has also been closed due to high winds with trees down on the trails making it a struggle to get any kind of decent mileage on the dogs. Despite this we took a trip up to the BSSF championship IFSS qualifying race  and it was the first time we had seen dry trails, blue sky and sun for a few months! It was brilliant to be able to get the dogs out and they had a lovely time. We changed the team in that Matt ran a four with Kara (who I Lou usually run in the two dog) in lead with Snak, her aunty Laika in Wheel and Snik, Snak brother's in wheel. We felt that Kara would benefit from being part of a larger team and would do well with a super experienced leader Snak. This was her first time with this team and Matt enjoyed nice clear runs with the dogs taking all their turns beautifully when asked and it was great seeing Kara Muffin  ( sire Winterdance Immortal and dam Amical Gladys) leading so effortlessly. Snik as you can see from this picture (left wheel) is a very tall boy so he has more 'up and down' movement than his team mates mean he is technically less efficient but his attitude is superb and he is very strong and Laika adores running next to him so this makes a really nice four dog team. The atmosphere and organisation of this first event to be held in England, was brilliant and it was a joy to see our friends do well and meet old friends and make new friends and meet new dogs, artic breeds and other breeds of dogs who all had a blast on some of the best trails in the country.

Ilfracombe and District Open Show
Judge : Breed Specialist Sue Blake of Rykalov

Laika - Winterdance Immodesty Pays won first place in Graduate.
Thankyou to siberian Husky breed specialist Sue Blake

All year we had been looking forward to a day out with Laika at Crufts who we show very lightly and usually in the summer when race season has finished but at Thetford she started an epic blow of her coat which had been until then beautifully abundant and when Laika blows she blows so the day before Crufts and an extremely naked laika who was coming into season we decided to not take her. A few weeks before (in full coat) she had won first place under breed specialist Sue Blake which we were really pleased with.

Crufts is the biggest show event in the world with the spotlight being very much on the dogs from exhibitors all around the world and we are glad we made the decision. I still went up on the day to take pictures and support our friends with their dogs in the ring whilst Matt took all the sibeys and brown dog out for the day at a local nature reserve where they all had nice long walks and ample wildlife spotting so Laika didn't seem to miss her day out on the razzle dazzle. 

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