26/01/2024
Looking forward to a great weekend
๐๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐๐ธ๐ ๐๐น๐๐ฏ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ด ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐
๐๐บ Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain (SHCGB)
In 1983, Penny and John Evans were asked to help make a film about sled dogs for the BBC childrenโs programme, Blue Peter, in Aviemore. It was while in the Scottish Highlands, they conceived the idea of a sled dog race and the first Siberian Husky Club of GB Aviemore race was held in 1984 around Loch an Eilein.
The rally soon moved to Glenmore and, from an initial 12 teams, it rapidly grew in numbers, reaching its highest entry in 2005 at 235. For many years, the Aviemore event was the largest dryland race in the world and attracted significant crowds of spectators. Organising such a large event is a huge task and over its 40 year history, numerous people have been involved in making the Aviemore weekend happen. There are too many to name everyone involved but some of the key people include: Penny Evans, John Evans, Alan Bowering, the first Team Aviemore of Sarah Robinson, Paul Keen, Guy Redwood and Steve Taylor; Kenny and Lindsey Sutherland, Keith Givens, Mark and Tracey Squires, Hugh and Judy Wakker, Pete and Kaz Jones and Pete Wright. Team Aviemore really is a big team.
The Aviemore race is run on Forestry and Land Scotland trails through Glenmore Forest. Over the last few years, the FLS new Land Management Plan for the area has introduced new environmental restrictions, making the race very challenging to put on. Unfortunately, we are no longer able to overcome these restrictions and it is with great sadness that we have to announce the 2024 Aviemore race will be the last.The Siberian Husky Club of GB Aviemore race has been an iconic event and made memories for hundreds of Club members over the years. Not many sled dog races across the world have run for 40 years so, as a Club, we must be proud of this great achievement. It is with great sadness that we now bow out but appropriate that our last race should be the 40th anniversary and we guarantee you, it will be a great event and a real celebration for us all.
Photo - John Evans on Loch an Eilein early 1980s. Photographer Unknown