The NATBs were well represented at the final event of an impressive season of events for Canicross Midlands at Catton hall.
The event itself was fun packed and very well attended as always.

The course was varied with grass sections, some wooded single track and some open fields with stunning scenery. 

The classes were varied and on the final day a triathlon team event was run for the fun factor!

The NATBs would like to pass on their thanks to the Midlands club for hosting some great events this year and congratulations of a successful series.

Results

2 Dog Bikejor
Overall weekend position - 
Lucy Teal - 3rd place
Monday race -
Nicole Sheehan - 1st place

Bikejor female - 
Overall weekend poitions -
Roxi Rose - 1st place
Emily Thomas - 4th place
Sunday race - 
Nicole Sheehan - 7th place

Bikejor Male
Friday race - 
Mark Mazzucca - 2nd place

Scooter Female - 
Overall weekend position
Claire Spencer - 1st place
Melanie Sheehan - 3rd place

Scooter Male - 
Overall weekend position -
Mark Mazzucca - 1st place
Gary Oke - 4th place

Canicross Female - 
Monday race
Lucy Matthews - 4th place

Canicross Master Female - 
Overall weekend position
Lindsay Pettitt - 2nd place
Monday race - 
Isobel Powys - 3rd place

Canicross Master Male
Alan Sherwin - 2nd place

Female 2 dog Canicross
Isobel Powys - 4th place

Junior Canicross 8-12
Overall weekend position -
Jonathan Ingram - 1st place

Junior Canicross U8
Overall weekend position -
Elsie Instone - 2nd place

Venteran dogs
Roxi Rose - 1st place
Emily Thomas - 2nd place

The weekend of 12/13th March saw a troop of NATBs attend the first Checkendon race weekend of the series.
Checkendon is a favorite with us as its one of the most technical courses in the country. Single track through woods, with roots, trees, small gaps, some mud and your own confidence to deal with!

At just over 5.3k the course =, although flat, is a handful and it gets the respect it is due.

The next event, weekend of 2/3rd April is already almost booked up, but if you want further information on this great event go to their page - www.checkendonchallenge.co.uk

The race is run as 2 separate races over the Saturday and Sunday, so the below gives results for both days.

Great results from the gang again - well done all!

Results 
Bikejor Female Saturday
Melanie Sheehan - 1st place

Bikejor Female Sunday
​Melanie Sheehan - 1st place
​
Bikejor Male Saturday
Mark Mazzucca 1st place
Cliff Tarrant - 3rd place

Bikejor Male Sunday
Mark Mazzucca 1st place
Cliff Tarrant - 3rd place

Scooter Female - Saturday
Claire Spencer - 1st place
Emily Thomas - 2nd place
Nicole Sheeha​n - 3rd place
Emma Giles - 8th place

Scooter Female - Sunday
Claire Spencer - 1st place
Nicole Sheeha​n - 3rd place
Emma Giles - 7th place

10k canicross - Saturday
Steve Cutler - 7th place

10k canicross - Sunday
Steve Cutler - 8th place

VF1 canicross - Saturday
Lindsay Pettitt - 2nd place

VF1 canicross- Sunday
Lindsay Pettit - 3rd place

F1 Female canicross - Sunday only
Jenny Barragan - 7th place

2dog mixed canicross - Saturday
Claire Spencer - 1st place
Isobel Powys - 2nd place

2dog mixed canicross - Sunday
Claire Spencer - 1st place
Isobel Powys - 4th place

Juniors 6-8 Canicross- Saturday
Elsie Instone - 1st place

Juniors 6-8 Canicross- Sunday
Elsie Instone - 1st place

March's member to meet is another one of our original members, he is a super fast champion, please meet Mark :)

Name: Mark Mazzucca 
Member since: The beginning ...
No of Dogs: 5 at home with us, 2 oldies, Fox and Griff now keeping the mother in law company down the road 
Dog(s) name(s), sex, age(s) and breed(s):
    2 Eurohounds William ,5 years old  
    His nephew Ice 2years old from Kieth Johnson
    Halo; a vorsteh from Germany
    Finally a new addition that i picked up from CZ, Dusan is a CZ Greyster ski-jor dog       and is 20 weeks old
Occupation: Construction
Lives in: Glos 
Dog sports participated in: Bikejor, Scooter, and a bit of rig running

Question 1: How did you start in the sport?
I got involved by driving my wife Kim to events.....!
        
Question 2: Which was the first dog/dogs you raced? 
First event was a mass start bikejor in Stambrugue Belgium with Oki in 2010. 
        
Question 3: How did you come to own your dog(s)? 
The first dogs were all rescue,but later ones are purpose bred for the sport. 
        
Question 4: Interesting fact about your dogs - 
Simply they are all loved by me for different reasons
       
Question 5: Interesting fact about yourself - 
I worked on the film set of "Saving Private Ryan" ,not best mates with Tom Hanks ,in fact i didn't even see him, lol
       
Question 6: Biggest achievement in a race ... 
William and i have been a good team over the years in bikejor, winning not only in domestic races but also have won the Scottish National Championships, the Dutch open national championships, the AAA European race series held in three countries, twice ECF European v2bikejor champion,and 6th in +40 in the worlds held in Italy, but mostly i enjoy just spending quality time with my boys at the weekend.
       
Question 7: Dogs favourite treats - 
My boys don't have a fav treat as such, but they tend to behave like circling sharks when i bring home whole green tripe to cut up
       
Question 8: Favourite Song .. 
Paint it black by the Rolling Stones gets whacked up to 11 when its on the radio
       
Question 9: Favourite Film ... 
Pulp Fiction ,so many stories in one film
       
Question 10: Favourite cake .. 
Black forest gateau ,yum​

This weekend saw the NATBs involved in a few different events. 

But the most impressive was Steve Cutler taking part, with Finn, in the Green Man Ultra Marathon. 46 miles of off road running with his trusty friend. It looks as if Steve and Finn ran on every type of surface possible but powered through. The distance needed to be completed by 8pm; Steve and Finn crossed the line at 7.25pm, so with ample time to spare! They averaged between 4.6-4.1 mph across the whole distance which is a good steady pace.
This looked as hard as it probably was and we are immensely proud of Steve, and Finn, for completing this extremely difficult challenge.

Roxi with Millie, and Cliff with Stanley and Vinnie took part in the Trailscape Half Marathon, this is again and event off road, which was muddy (ankle deep) and hard going. Both completed the course in their normal impressive times, but in Roxi's words she had a "sense of humor failure" - to be honest I think any of us would have!!

Finally, a group of NATBs, Claire, Dan, Rachel, Kane and Emma went to the final BSA event of the season, the Moors Valley night race. We all love this event and it was a lovely crisp night.

Results were;
Canicross (just a 4 second gap in the below results!!) 
Dan Brown - 1st
Claire Spencer - 2nd

DS2
Claire Spencer (running 1 dog)- 2nd 

Bikejor
Rachel Brown - 7th

2 Dog Freight 
Emma Giles - 7th

Last weekend saw a few NATBs busy with various activities.

Roxi Rose took part in the Stowe pacesetter event running Millie for the first time ever in a scooter class.
Millie performed amazingly and stomped home to gain 1st place - what an amazing dog, Roxi is rightly proud of her.

Emily Thomas took part in the Colchester Cani-sports race, she came in as 5th woman and is, in her words "chuffed with that", as we are :)

Some other members met up for a training run on Sunday morning on the plains, exercising the 16 dogs between them!
The weather was great and the cold air helped everyone enjoy their dog sports activities.

​Well done all :)