CHAROITE SIBERIANS

It's been a flying start. The last weekend of October saw the SHCGB race at Yately Health. The weather wasn't on the organisers' side and it turned mild on the Sunday but everyone did a great job to provide us with a fabulous, interesting and technical trail (they preferred the word "cheeky"!). Fantastic atmosphere and good to catch up with people on the racing scene again. Kev ran Pyewacket, Brew, Hex and Chena in 4 dog, coming 1st in 4 dog. I ran Spook with his mum Raven and Daisy in 3 dog and came 4th.

The 4 Dog Team Chilling Out After a Good Run

Last week was the SHCGB Delamere Night Race. Always a fantastic evening with lots of spectators and one of the few sled dog races here that feels like a real event (if that makes sense?) rather than just a group of enthusiasts getting together to do their thing. Loved it. Delamere is lovely and some cool autumnal weather always makes this really feel like the season has got underway. Kev ran "puppies" Hex and Spook with Pyewacket and Brew and had, what you'd call, a blinder. He was out towards the end of the class and it looked like the top 3 places had already been taken when the Charoite gang stormed over the finish line with big doggy grins on their faces looking as fresh as they'd gone out around 12 and a half minutes earlier. A 1st place for them. I had a really nice run too with Raven, Daisy and Chena. Well done to all the dogs, great to see them coming into a new season fit and fast and loving it.

Ended up marshalling for the 2 dog class which I approached slightly nervously as the forest was fairly dark and deserted by 9pm but to be honest it was a great chill out sitting by the side of the trail watching fireworks (Bonfire Night) light up the sky in the distance and listening to the wild fowl on the lake get woken from their roost by the bangs of the rockets. 

Heard this great line from a country song today. "Sit tall in the saddle hold your head up high, keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky and live like you ain't afraid to die, don't be scared just enjoy your ride" Got to remember this!