BSHRA Tentsmuir - 7th & 8th January 2012

The hurricane reaped havoc with the mature trees in Tentsmuir Forest making the logistics of organising the first British Championship race of 2012 somewhat time consuming! John finally identified an area free of fallen trees that would provide the network of trails needed to give scope for variation in distance according to number of dogs and / or temperature. Trails set, marked & measured, the keen competitors arrived to walk the trail & plan their approach for the 2 days racing that followed.

Day 1.The morning of the race arrived with a mild 6 degree temperature. The 6-dog trail was reduced by half a mile which in turn meant markers had to be altered and then the racing began. John still out dropping marshals, failed to make his start time, but made it out at the end of the class with his most powerful 6 dog team. 

Just 3 ½ seconds behind the championship leader at the midway point I wait with baited breath at the finish to see if he can keep on par with the most successful kennel in England. With John’s mind on organising the race, rather than competing, he missed the marker at the point the trail had been altered & commanded the team ahead to take the original planned trail – realising his mistake, John turned the team 180 degrees & rejoined the trail taking 3^rd place.

My teams, each with a 10 year old leader, and also comprising of our ‘refugees’ took a very respectable 2^nd place in the 4-dog class, 5^th in the 3 dog class & 3^rd in the 2 dog class.

All change for day 2.

Still warm, the smaller team class distances were reduced and we planned our teams with the competition in mind. John decided to concentrate on organising the race & gave me the choice of the dogs. The extreme power was put into the 2 and 3 dog classes to take 1^stplace in both classes. Younger leaders in front of 2 ‘refugees’ saw me just a second behind the leader at the midway point in the 4-dog class, taking 2^nd place again, and our remaining refugees & oldies were ran in the 6 dog class to finish again in 3^rd place.

A busy, enjoyable and successful weekend’s racing, with our new, young and old dogs commanding top performance against some of the most competitive teams in England, Scotland & Wales.

(Photograph courtesy of Kitty Smith)

Tentsmuir - 4 dogs Mary Carter
credit: Photo courtesy of Kitti Smith

(posted: Sunday, March 18, 2012)

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