SIBERIAN HUSKY DOG RACES

Wow! What a terrific sport or hobby.

Last weekend I went to the sled dog races held in Wingello State Forest by the Siberian Husky Club of NSW. I drove down from Sydney to the small village of Wingello early on Sunday morning. After a few false starts I saw some car lights disappearing into the distance and as that was the only movement at that hour of the morning I set off along a windy, dirt road in the same direction the other car had gone. After driving several kilometres I was starting to think I wasn't going to find anyone. Then I found a huge banner (pictured above) and knew I arrived at the right place.

As it was still dark I was worried about driving into the camp as I might wake people. So as quietly as I could I coasted along the road. I need not have worried because I soon heard the sound of dogs barking and howling. As there were approximately 150 dogs and it seemed most of them were greeting the morning I doubted that anyone in the camp was able to sleep.

A dog team rests after finishing their race.

I parked the car and wandered around the camp. I talked to people out walking their dogs, plastic bag in hand. I learnt about the different types of races, the care and training of the dogs, the conditions for racing and the types of races.

The first set of races were the six and four team dog sleds. These raced over a shortened track of about 5 to 6 kilometres as it was expected the day was going to get a little hot at about 11 degrees. I was amazed at how well organised the races were and especially at how keen the dogs were to race. At the start line the dogs became very excited and continually pulled at the leash wanting to begin.

A team receives a watering before its race to avoid dehydration.

Teams were sent off at regular intervals and the results were based on the times they took around the bush track. The dog teams were controlled by the driver, or musher, as they are called, using only voice commands. "Gee" means turn left; "haw" means turn right; "hike" means to go faster while "on by" means to pass a distraction or road turning. It quickly became evident how well trained and responsive to these commands the dogs were. At the start of the race the course passes a track off to the left. Some of the dog teams started to veer towards this track but a short, sharp word from the musher made the dogs instantly respond and stay on the course.

The dogs ideally have speed and endurance and can run at average speeds of about twenty kilometres an hour or more. The four and six dog teams pull a cart or rig. Some carts have four wheels while others have three. The two dog teams and single dogs pull a scooter. These scooters are very similar to the ones children use but larger.

A well trained six dog team patiently awaits the beginning of the race.

A six dog team nears the finish line

Husky racing began in Alaska, where sled teams were used to move supplies to gold miners in remote locations. Although many challenge races took place between rival 'company teams' it wasn't until the early 1900s that the first organised race took place. The sport gained in popularity once it spread to the USA and today there are over 200 Sled Dog Racing Clubs around the world.

The sport has grown in Australia over the past twenty years. Although it has some dedicated participants in NSW it is particularly strong in Victoria and even stronger in South Australia at the moment. South Australia holds 'race meetings' nearly every weekend during the winter.

A two dog team is held ready to start their race. If not held the dogs enthusiastically take off too soon.

Sled dog racing is strictly a winter sport as the dogs can only race when the weather is cool or they over-heat. NSW Club has a strict rule where race meetings are called off once the temperature reaches 15 degrees. At this race meeting the race distance was shortened as the day was warmer than the organisers like. Races are always held early in the day, or sometimes at night, when it is coolest.

Donovan begins a race with a two dog team.

Race days are very much family affairs. There are both men and women drivers. There are junior races and even a pee wee race for the real young, who are accompanied by a parent controlling the dog team. I spoke to Donovan,a 'musher', who spoke of his dog team with obvious pride. He told me he had ridden motor bikes and his wife had been the one who began driving the dog teams. However when she became pregnant he reluctantly took over the handling of the team. He says he now prefers it to motor bike racing.

The couple had sold their beach front house and moved to a small property on the edge of Sydney purely for the benefit of the dogs. They were now also heavily involved in 'husky rescue'. This is where they save husky dogs from the pound and find new homes for them after having the dogs desexed and micro chipped.

Another two dog team. This time pulling a cart.

Another musher told me how he used to be a professional bull rider. He talked about the friendly nature of the sled dog competitions. While races were always good natured and very friendly everyone was competitive and wanted to improve their times and places. He trained his teams four times a week but reduced this during the racing season so as not to wear out the dogs. It was obvious after every race it was the dogs that were always looked after first before the driver or the handlers.

There was a considerable amount of skill exhibited by drivers as they negotiated sharp corners with their dogs.

While any dog can be used in the sled races most stuck with tradition and had teams of Siberian or Alaskan huskies. However there were also some teams which used hounds because of their strength. I was also told of one lady who was pulled by a Staffordshire terrier.

Most riders seemed to have developed their own style. Some stood, while some preferred to stop wind drag by crouching.

Care of the dogs is a priority to the owners and the organisers. Dogs were watered before races and looked after immediately after a race. There was a lot of discussion about diet and what was being fed to the dogs. Races were held at a time which best suited the dogs, and if it became too hot the races were called off. Dogs are not allowed to race or pull a sled until they are nearly a year old. All of the dogs I saw were extremely healthy and well cared for. The dogs also seemed very keen to run. Actually on the day I only saw one dog who a hundred yards into the race decide it wanted to stop and smell the flowers.

Towards the end of some races it wasn't always clear who was doing the pulling.

The families who were participating really deserve a pat on the back. This was a sport that was well managed, and well organised. It was fun and the dogs certainly well cared for and loved. There are two more races left in this racing season. The first is in Canberra and the second, a longer race, up in the snow. I hope to get to both these meetings, but there is always next season. I recommend everyone should go and see a race. The owners were very welcoming and ready to share their love of the animals and the sport.

.....and the last word should go to the real stars on the day.