Dryland World Championships in Lubliniec, Poland Wraps Up 2004-5 Sled Dog Season
Fourteen countries and over 190 competitors took part in the Lubliniec, Poland races April 16-17. In the complete series of world championships including also mid distance classes,held in Bend Oregon, USA, and sprint and nordic classes, held in Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada, there were over 400 entrants from 22 countries.
Canicross teams consist of a runner and single dog. Bikejoring is contestedby a cyclist and dog. Scooter racing is divided into both one and two dogclasses. All are popular with skijorers as off-season training and competition for themselves and their dogs. Many competitors, however, live in areas where dryland disciplines are their primary dog sport and exercise.
Outstanding performances were turned in during the Dryland World Championships by Sona Klikarova, Czech Republic, winning both Women's Bikejoring and Womens Canicross, and Lena Boysen Hillestad, Norway, first in Scooter Two Dog and second behind Sona Klikarova in Women's Bikejoring. In Men's Canicross, Jarsolav Jakubasek, Slovak Republic, won by a solid margin both days over Martin Nehyba, Czech Republic, with a total time of 20 minutes 44 seconds vs. Nehyba's 21:49.
The event included also, for the first time, a Canicross Integration class for competitors with disabilities. The next international event on the IFSS calendar is the South American Canicross and Bikejoring Championships, scheduled for June 26 in Tandil, near Buenos Aires, Argentina.
For more information contact razia@telkomsa.net or twhite@boreal.org
International Federation of Sleddog Sports