Storyline: Held soon in Canada–The International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) 2015 Bristol Dryland World Championships. Written by Donna Richardson. Contact Donna at richardsonreporter@gmail.com
Hot off the trail of the European Sled Dog Championships in Scotland earlier this month comes the International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) 2015 Bristol Dryland World Championships in Canada.
Following a haul of 24 medals for Team GB in Scotland, including five newly crowned European Champions, 11 silver and eight bronze medallists, the GB team now moves on to Bristol, Quebec.
The event takes place from Thursday 29 October until Sunday 1 November and features some of the medalists from the Bowland Trails of Scotland.
The Bristol Dryland Canadian Championship Dog race is the 6th annual event to be staged by Timberland Tours. Hundreds of racers and dogs from all over the globe flock to the small town in Quebec to compete in this world-class event. As the name suggests, the race is run on a sandy trail that winds through a beautiful pine forest. Racers and their dogs can compete in several events: scooter, canicross, bikejoring and four-, six-, and eight-dog rigs
Husband and wife duo, Daniel and Bethan FitzGerald of Elgin, will also compete over the weekend. Bethan will race in the DS1 and DR4. Daniel, originally from Aberdeen, is entered in the DBM class. Bethan took 1st Sen in the Scooter class in Scotland.
Former European Champion, Vickie Pullin from Gloucestershire, took bronze at the ECF Championships. She’ll be back in the dog scooter DS1 and DS2 classes, as well as in the Dog Bikejor competition (DBW).
Competing in the same DS2 class is Ben Peters from Derbyshire, who missed Scotland, but regularly trains and attends events in Scotland. He is looking forward to his overseas debut.
The Kegworth man was selected to represent Team GB just months after fearing he was going to lose his arm. Peters, 35, will be racing in the two-dog (DS2) class pulled by hounds Eva and Lilly. His selection was all the more remarkable after he contracted a bone-wasting disease in his finger six months ago, which left him in on an IV drip in hospital with doctors trying to limit the spread of infection. However, only six months later Ben is looking forward to race in the DS2 at 20.30 GMT today (4.30 local time). He will also race in the team relay.
Vet Bethan will also compete in the relay on Sunday along with Vickie and Ben. “I can’t wait for this fantastic opportunity, to compete in the World Championships on my first overseas race is a dream come true,” he said.
“This time six months ago I thought I was going to lose my hand but, now, I am better and looking forward to representing my sport at the highest level with my dogs. We humans are often the weak link, but we owe it to our dogs to help them out along the trail. The competition will be tough but all we can do is our best.”
Travelling team leader Chantelle Goddard, and fellow race coach Kerri Richardson, will be on the sidelines and behind the scenes cheering on the team, attending to the dogs and human athletes.
The group would like to thank all of the volunteers who have been so generous. The team has been adopted by two local ladies who have opened up their home to the team. Hot showers, warm drinks, and hearty broths are keeping the team strong and fit.
A spokesperson for the team said: “The trail looks great. Everyone seems chuffed that the Europeans have made the effort to get here. The racing will be fast, furious and a hard battle and the ground will be brilliant on our dogs feet giving them a real test of speed and power.”
More information about the championships can be found at this site.
Follow the race here:
The IFSS will also be posting up updates on Instagram @sleddog_sports
You can also check out the CAHDS page and at Hooner Racing.
Race Schedule
Thursday, October 29th, 2015
8:00 am
DR4NB Rig 4 dogs Nordic Breed (3 miles)
DR4J Rig 4 dogs Junior (3 miles)
DBM/DBMV Bikejor Men Senior and Veteran (3 miles)
DBW/DBWV Bikejor Women Senior and Veteran (3 miles)
DBMJ/DBWJ Bikejor Men and Women Junior (3 miles)
Lunch and entertainment
DS2 Scooter 2 dogs (3 miles)
DS2NB Scooter 2 dog Nordic Breed (3 miles)
5:00 pm Mandatory Team Leader Meeting
Friday, October 30th, 2015
8:00 am
DR4NB Rig 4 dogs Nordic Breed (3 miles)
DR4J Rig 4 dogs Junior (3 miles)
DBM/DBMV Bikejor Men Senior and Veteran (3 miles)
DBW/DBWV Bikejor Women Senior and Veteran (3 miles)
DBMJ/DBWJ Bikejor Men and Women Junior (3 miles)
Lunch and entertainment
DS2 Scooter 2 dogs (3 miles)
DS2NB Scooter 2 dog Nordic Breed (3 miles)
5:00 pm Mandatory Team Leader Meeting
Saturday, October 31st, 2015
8:00 am
DS1 Scooter 1 dog (2.3 miles)
DS1J Scooter 1 dog Junior (2.3 miles)
DCM/DCMV Canicross Men Senior and Veteran (2.3 miles)
DCW/DCWV Canicross Women Senior and Veteran (2.3 miles)
Lunch and entertainment
DR4 Rig 4 dogs (3 miles)
DR6 Rigs 6 dogs (3 miles)
DR8 Rig 8 dogs (4 miles)
DCMJ/DCWJ Canicross Men and Women Junior (2.3 miles)
5:00 pm Mandatory Team Leader Meeting
7:00 pm Musher’s Banquet & Thursday and Friday’s Awards
(extra tickets will be available on race site)
Sunday, November 1st, 2015
8:00 am
DS1 Scooter 1 dog (2.3 miles)
DS1J Scooter 1 dog Junior (2.3 miles)
DCM/DCMV Canicross Men Senior and Veteran (2.3 miles)
DCW/DCWV Canicross Women Senior and Veteran (2.3 miles)
Lunch and entertainment
DR4 Rig 4 dogs (3 miles)
DR6 Rigs 6 dogs (3 miles)
DR8 Rig 8 dogs (4 miles)
DCMJ/DCWJ Canicross Men and Women Junior (2.3 miles)
DCR Relay
Awards Ceremony & Closing Ceremony
ECF Scotland Medals
24 medals placing 2nd in the medal table with Belgium 22 medals 10 Gold and UK 5 Gold with Poland and Netherlands tied on 3 Gold. swiss with 2 gold, france 2 gold, Ireland and Czech Rup with 1 gold each.
Your GB Team Medalists are:
BikeJor W Vickie Pullin Bronze
BikeJor MM2 Mark Mazzucca Silver
BikeJor MW2 Wendy Holmes Silver
BikeJor Jnr W Nicole Sheehan Silver
Scooter W Bethan Haf Fitzgerald Gold
Scooter W Vickie Pullin Bronze
Scooter MM1 Charlie Brecknell Silver
Scooter MM1 Chris Hannan Bronze
Scooter MW1 Melanie Sheehan Silver
Canicross W Sarah Pepper Silver
Canicross W Fiona Ramsay Bronze
Canicross MM1 Jason Pascoe Silver
Canicross MM1 Tim Ellis Bronze
Canicross MW1 Elaine Sherwin Silver
Canicross MW1 Cushla Lamen Bronze
Canicross MW2 Kim Mazzucca Gold
Canicross MW2 Susie Tawney Silver
Canicross MM3 Jim Urwin Silver
Canicross JW Lucy Matthews Gold
Canicross Sch Boy Johnathan Ingram Gold
Canicross Sch Boy Bob Carter Silver
Canicross Sch Boy George Carter Bronze
Canicross Sch Girls Chloe Lee Bronze Canicross Young Boys Rowan Saxton Gold
