Qualifying for Europe!

"John & I had stepped in at the last minute to organise the SDAS National Championships & ESDRA/IFSS Qualifier race that took place at Tentsmuir Forest, 17th & 18th March 2012.  After our usual head scratching discussing who runs who & where, we decide that as we wanted to compete at the European Drylands, but uncertain in which classes, we would plan our teams conservatively.  So we spread out our speed & power as best we saw fit with the aim of securing podium positions & qualifying times in all four classes we had entered.  John thought it best that he devoted his concentration as much as possible to the organising of this high profile & popular event, so stuck to running just in the 6-dog class.

I took out the first of our teams running a team of seven in the eight dog class. Ten year old Oxi did an excellent job in lead driving relentlessly & giving the feeling of powered steering as she responded faultlessly to every command.  Dropping a tender footed youngster to run with 6 dogs on the second day, I knew I had sufficient margin to keep my podium place. 

Seeing the lines had been stepped over by a ‘refugee’ I stopped the team to flick the leg back over the neck line. I tucked the rig behind a sawn log to secure it. Unfortunately I took half a second more than granted by Oxi  ( Oxi’s one and only failing is her 5 second limit to obeying the command ‘Wait!’ ) consequently, an undignified 20 yards or so, I’m clutching a footplate with all my might, being dragged behind the rig like something from a Denim Jeans advert!  She thankfully graced me with a second window of opportunity to resume my driving position!  We cross the finish line in a more dignified fashion to gain a bronze medal in a qualifying time, a few bruises & some grass stains, but, as ever, tails wagging & a big smile on my face!

John had a good clean run in the 6 dog class both days – With John’s hardest driving leader, Heli, still on rest from her wrist injury in Germany, John put his mature, trusty leader Crow up front with little Brodick in the first heat with yearlings Monk in swing, alongside little Glamis with her brothers, the big red boys, Bear & Scorch at wheel.  Crow had set a steady pace, but had failed to set that ultimate speed.  Having lost vital seconds, John tweaked his team for heat two, putting the young inexperienced leader, Glamis up front to gain the fastest time on the second days racing, but not clawing back quite enough for the gold. John’s team finished in a qualifying time & took the silver medal.

My four dog team was lead by our two big brothers, H & Nitro, with Denzel & Quick in wheel.  The big unlikely leaders set a constant steady pace, powering up the sand dunes like tanks & faultlessly negotiated the trail to finish in a good qualifying time and also secured a silver.

16 year old, Kayleigh, also ran one of our teams (her first race in an adult class!) 
Kayleigh took ‘the girls’ in the non-qualifying three dog class. The blue & red hair (Kayleigh & the dogs!) skinny jeans & trendy basket ball style trainers, she caused a chuckle & a few raised eyebrows as she gave the colour co-ordinated spotty sisters: Missy, Siren & Una each a kiss before her count-down. We watched the timing clock like hawks as we saw she had a good margin on her opponents at the half way split time.  She finished with a 23 second lead on day 1, and a further 32 seconds on day 2 to secure her gold medal & crowned 3-dog SDAS National Champion.

Pleased with the outcome, our 20 competing dogs had all gained us podium places and secured their selection for places in the SDAS international team, representing Scotland, to compete in the ESDRA European Championships being held in Germany, 3^rd & 4^thNovember. http://www.sleddog2012.eu/

Kayleigh

(posted: Wednesday, November 28, 2012)

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