SEVENTY teams and many more dogs converged on Belford at the weekend for the 11th Hunter Valley Sleddog Sprint.
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This year the race was also the Australian Sleddog Sports Association National Championship and a world qualifying event for the International Federation of Sleddog Sports.
These titles lured a quality field to a Belford property, and for those who made it to the podium, the trip was worth it.
Victorian competitors had a particularly successful event winning four of the nine major sections. Tony Greenway took out the eight dog category, Tim Offner the six dog, Tim Huntley the three dog and the junior sled dog champion was Bec Jackson.
Other winners were: Clemens Bittendorfer (NSW) four dog event; Andrew Gersbach (ACT) two dog event; David Dyer (WA) one dog event; Brett Yallop (NSW) bikejoring (which is an event where the driver rides a mountain bike); and Jason Fellers (NSW) won the canicross where the human competitor has to run the course.
Event organiser and host Anne McIntyre said these individuals were pleased they made the trip and now had a national championship title under their belt.
Cold mornings provided ideal race conditions and Mrs McIntyre said the RSPCA representative and veterinarian on deck throughout the two days of competition were extremely pleased with the race conditions and the dogs.
A further 300 people attended the event, keen to cheer on teams and many attended to receive expert advice and tips from international racer Hugh Neff who travelled all the way from Alaska to attend.
While the race officially finished on Sunday, a number of those with a passion for the sport took the opportunity to attend talks by Mr Neff yesterday.
