26th-27th January 2019
This year for the 2nd year, we’re delighted to be a co-sponsor of the The Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain Aviemore Sled Dog Rally, organised by the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain and the Forestry Commission Scotland, along with Leucillin, and Photizo Light Therapy. The race is run on forest trails around beautiful Loch Morlich, in the shadow of the Cairngorm mountains.
The race is now the largest event of its kind in the UK, with over 1,000 sled dogs and 250 mushers
“Every year since 1984, mushers from across the UK have gathered in the forests around Aviemore for the biggest event in the British sled dog racing calendar, The Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain Aviemore Sled Dog Rally. In 2019 we celebrate our 36th anniversary of the race on 26 and 27 January.” says Pete Jones, Organiser.
CSJ sponsored sleddog handlers
Colin Spalding
At CSJ, we’ve sponsored incredibly successful sleddog handlers and events for many years, including:
Pete and Karen Jones of Team Coldfeet
Colin Spalding of Suco Sleddogs
Matthew and Adele Clarke of Quinaya Sleddogs
Vickie Pullin and more.
Now we look forward to seeing some of our CSJ sponsored handlers at The Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain Aviemore Sled Dog Rally,
How the race works at Aviemore
From an original of only 12 teams, the race is now the largest event of its kind in the UK, with over 1,000 sled dogs and 250 mushers. Teams of between two and eight dogs pull their musher on a sled around a four to seven mile trail. If there’s no snow at ground level for the event, the races still go on with mushers using a three-wheeled rig that looks like a tricycle without a seat. There are eight adult classes and two children’s classes and mushers range from just 8 years old to over 60. Along with the Siberian Huskies, race dogs include Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds, Greenland Dogs and Canadian Eskimo Dogs – the pedigree breeds of dogs first bred to pull sleds in Arctic conditions hundreds of years ago.
The trail is a designated cross-country ski course and is clearly defined. The Start lies just over the wooden bridge from the car park and runs parallel to the ski road for a short distance before entering the forest. The first part of the trail is quite demanding, but then runs along the loch side to the Finish without great problem.
CSJ’s founder Ceri Rundle commented, “We have been involved in this exciting sport for many years with numerous successful mushers using our food, so we are delighted to have been given the opportunity to support the biggest event in British sled dog racing.”
Pete Jones and CSJ
Pete Jones
Pete Jones has used CSJ for his dogs for many years and says “We have a successful kennel built up over many years and have learned many things on the journey. One of the major things is finding a diet that works. The food you choose to give the dogs needs to produce good energy levels and help to keep a good healthy dog that you get the longevity for a long healthy working life. A happy dog is a good working dog… We find CSJ CP30 does this and as we train all year round (weather permitting) we have no need to change their food from summer season to winter.”
We’ll be there taking photos, live video streaming and recording social media interviews and running a photo competition. We promise to keep you in touch with action and results all the way.
CSJ blog 