My last marathon was the Anglesey Coastal trail, 27 miles of wind rain and rock climbing, Jack (the dog) was not impressed, I swore I would never do another marathon but I couldn't resist The Hoppit, exploring local trails, even though there was a half option I wanted to experience the whole thing .....
The start was in Kingclere, the day was pretty warm, running with a dog I would have preferred an earlier start than 10am but I selected my best warm weather dog (Jack) and had 2.5 litres of water in my hydration pack. We started at the front, not that we had any chance of finishing in that position but Jack didn't know the distance we were doing so he started screaming off the start line like he was at parkrun .... The first hill soon took the wind out of our sails, only the hardcore ran up that! The course took us over the gallops at Kingclere (watership down) then under the A34, some of the trails were pretty narrow and uneven and took a fair bit of concentration to stay upright (I did at one point nearly stack it into a load of stinging nettles, went to grab the guy alongside me then thought better of it as I'm sure he wouldn't have appreciated landing in the stingers with me ) For the first 14 miles we were doing so well, sitting 5th lady and on target for sub 4 then my glute (which had been twanging from mile 5) started really hurting, so much so that I was stopping every 1-2 miles to stretch it out. Then about mile 20 we came to a field of Bullocks who were only held back by an electric fence and were very interested in the dog .... I could have thrown the towel in there and then rather than go past them, I had an on the spot mini meltdown, but we manned up and told them to "go away" (but less politely!) It was at this point we clocked the second place dog, no way were we giving up our leading dog position and with competitive head firmly in place I did my best to ignore the pain and with a few more tears and some agonising down hills we completed the very first Hampshire Hoppit. We got a lovely finishers medal and an inscribed pint glass (which you got filled with ale!) Jack was amazing, he wasn't fussed about drinking a lot but I had hydrated him well that morning and he laid down in a few puddles to cool himself off ... He was in better shape than me at the finish! My official time was 4.38, and I came 94th overall. I'm really trying not to be disappointed with this, it wasn't an easy run and my aim was 5 hours, all the way round I swore I wouldn't run another marathon but I will be there next year, me and the Hoppit have unfinished business!
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The team attended the Otley ABC Olympia Qualifier on the 12th June with fabulous results.
Jonathan & Goose won grade 1 agility.. Roll on grade 2!! Well done lads, couldnt be prouder :) Daphne (4th) & Gavin (6th).They worked so well on a fab course & couldn't have done it any better which is all she could ask of them... Thrilled Elaine says “Love my Pointers to bits!!” June’s members to meet are some of our founder members and the Club Secretary – Maggie Bird, along with her husband and partner in crime Mark Bird
Name: Maggie Bird and Mark Bird Member since: The beginning No of Dogs: 8 Dog(s) name(s), sex, age(s) and breed(s): Ruby and Skye are little mates both coming up to eight years old this year and are Siberian Husky cross Alaskan Malamute Mya and Kai are also litter mates and are Siberian husky, they will be 7 years old this year Eden is a Siberian husky and is 4 years old Hector is a Siberian husky and is 4 years old Basil is a Siberian husky and is 3 years old Malcolm is 2.5 years old and is supposed to be a Siberian husky, but we think he is also mixed with something else. Malcolm, Basil and Hector are all rescues Occupation: Barber/hairdresser and Van Conversion expert (MB Van conversions is a sponsor of the NATBs) Lives in: In a village called Ludgershall in Wiltshire, only a few miles from the Salisbury Plain Question 1: How did you start in the sport? Through training with friends we got into the sport via word of mouth. Question 2: Which was the first dog/dogs you raced? My first race was on a scooter with Mya and Kai at a Canix event at Hicks lodge, I went the wrong way and ended up on the mtb course!! Question 3: How did you come to own your dog(s)? I came to own my dogs as I always loved animals as a child and owned German Shepherds when I lived at home, I always said that when I was older I would get a Siberian Husky. My first Siberian Husky was called Travis, and it was him to started all this madness off, but we would not have it any other way, not a day goes past that I don’t think about him, and how he has changed our lives. He lived to ripe old age of 15. Question 4: Interesting fact about your dogs - All the dogs have their own characters! Ruby is the queen and rules a very tight ship, her sister Skye is the peace maker and usually stops any squabbles by running right through them. Kai is obsessed with keeping himself clean and if we run him in wheel he sulks as he gets a very muddy face. Mya thinks she is in charge of all the younger dogs of the pack and likes to boss them around. Hector is the joker of the pack and makes us laugh every day with his antics! Basil is a mouthy little shit and even though he is the smallest, probably causes the most trouble. Malcolm is the youngest but the biggest! And he is probably the cleverest too! He can open anything, from dishwasher to cooker to oven to fridge, to dog flap! You name it, he will find a way! And has probably been the most testing of all the pack! Eden is the special one! She is practically blind and has lots of other issues going on too, but we love her and all her faults, even though she is a fruit loop and is allergic to almost everything going! Question 5: Interesting fact about yourself - Probably that I only wash my hair twice a year, and can possibly get anyone lost! I'm good at that! As all my friends know so well! I went to college to study art and always wanted to be an artist, but ended up somehow being a barber! Not that you would know by looking at me or my husband’s hair lol! Question 6: Biggest achievement in a race ... Finishing safely! - To me is all about taking part and being part of the team along with the dogs and having a good clean run, knowing that they have run their little hearts out for me. Question 7: Dogs favourite treats - Anything they can bloody get their hands on! A right greedy bunch! Never turn their nose up at anything! Question 8: Favourite Song .. There is a light that never goes out - by The Smiths Question 9: Favourite Film ... Withnail and I, makes me laugh more every time I watch it! Question 10: Favourite cake .. Favourite cake has to be lemon drizzle! (NATBS Note: and Maggie makes some mean cakes!!) he Cotswold Way, which is a long distance trail of over 100 miles off road running, is something I have wanted to complete with the dogs since a failed attempt at the West Highland Way nearly 5 years ago now.
My friend Karen and I decided over 6 months ago we were definitely going to do it and the training began almost straight away, after the European Championships in Scotland in October last year. Although training through the winter was easier, unfortunately for us, the weekend we had chosen for our run turned out to be one of the warmest of the year. The advantage of the good weather were the amazing views we were afforded along the way, the brutal hills out of Bath (where we started) gave us our first taster of the route and the scenery we could expect to see. The views from the top of the escarpment above Bath were amazing but the temperatures made the climbs harder Day 1 took us from the centre of Bath by the Abbey, to Tormarton and included a big climb out of Bath up to Lansdown then across through the village of Cold Aston, cutting across some A roads before finishing up in a lay-by near Tormarton. The first day wasn't too bad in terms of temperature and was the shortest run day at 15 miles. Day 2 was Tormarton to Dursley and again included some big ascents and descents along the rolling Cotswold hills. The Cotswold Way has been set up to include the best views the route has to offer and we weren't disappointed, the last loop gave a fantastic view right over the Bristol channel - our total mileage for the day was 25 miles. Day 3 was the longest and toughest day as far as I was concerned, it was also warm and I did have concerns about how the dogs would cope. However, we found that there were plenty of natural water stops and troughs for the dogs to cool down in. The down hills were as brutal as the up hills and I was glad I'd chosen to run each leg of the Cotswold Way with only one dog. We finished the 27 miles for that day with smiles on our faces at the top of Crickley Hill. Day 4 took us from Crickley Hill along the top of another Cotswold escarpment, over Leckhampton Hill and then after a brief drop down into a valley, back up along the top of Cleeve Hill. The weather again was warm but we started early and finished by lunch time in the town of Winchcombe having completed another 20 miles. Day 5, our final day, started leaving the town and up a hill (a recurring theme on this challenge) through lots of farmland and woodland until we reached our dog swapping point in Broadway. We were swapping dogs every day at a convenient point and were followed everywhere by our support team in vans with the other dogs. The hill out of Broadway was one of the toughest we encountered (just what you need on the last day!) but once at the top by the Broadway Tower, the rest of the route was downhill. So following a long, gentle downhill across more fields to the end of the Cotswold Way (or start if you choose), we arrived in Chipping Camden having completed another 19 miles. So with a total of 106 miles done, all 106 by the humans and then sections by each of my 3 dogs, we finally finished our epic challenge and went home for a well-deserved rest! I wanted to say thanks to everyone who supported us and sponsored us, between Karen and I, we raised £1000 for charity which made the whole experience even more worth while. The Maverick races are a series of tough trail races held across different counties throughout the year, they are "human" races which allow canicross entries.
NATB Claire, along with dog Jack decided to use the Surrey race as a training run for their upcoming marathon. There are 3 distance options, due to the heat on the day they dropped to the middle distance of 16.5km. The race started at the National Trusts Polesden Lacey House near Dorking. It was certainly warming up by the time the race started, hydration packs were a must and frequent stops were required to cool Jack down. The course was very dry and the hills were immense, it felt like way more "ups" than "downs". Jack ran really well, taking it easy due to the heat, we finished in a good time (considering the water stops) of 1.35, coming 1st Canicrosser and 6th female over all. Congratulations, great effort :) This weekend some of our member attended the BSA fun weekend, the final get together of the season :(
The BSA runs some of the best events of the season and have a regular following of NATBs who attend all of them. Zara and Chris work tirelessly to ensure the season runs as smoothly as possible and the mushers from all clubs and groups tried to show how much they appreciate it by presenting them with some gifts to thank them for their work this weekend. Again the NATBs would like to express their thanks to them for the great work they do. The fun weekend is exactly that, no pressure, just fun. Each morning we can run the dogs on the short 0.8mile easy flat course before the temps rise, which we do, they all love the short fast sprint and then the fact they can relax for the rest of the day. There is a scurry competition, a Specialty and Fun dog show, the end of season presentation and the the famous Relay on the Sunday morning, this year the NATBs had 2 and a half (!) team entered out of 7 in total. The relay consists of the canicross leg, then a scooter, then the bike, only 1 dog can be used by each musher and the relay is in the order as detailed. The NATB teams were - Old Skool Canicross - Roy Giles with Kavik Scooter - Mark Bird with Basil Bikejor - Mark Perry with Mya Bubble, Toil and Trouble Canicross - Emma Giles with Oki Scooter - Maggie Bird with Kai Bikejor - Petra Broadbelt with Diesel Team Mucky Paws - Canicross - Lindsay Pettit with Monty Scooter - Chris Hannan with Loki Bike - Melanie Sheehan with Marley There was of course some good old competition going on and the final tally was - Old Skool - 2nd Bubble, Toil and Trouble 3rd Team Mucky Paws - 5th The end of season presentation saw 2 NATBs pick up awards from the Championship Points Table, these being - DCM Mixed - 1st place with 147 points Dan Brown Bikejor 2nd place with 90 points Mark Perry Huge congratulations to both of them, very proud of you both. Another amazing weekend which was dry, hot and thoroughly enjoyable, already looking forward to next season!! Some of our most active members took part in an agility show this weekend, Team Sherwin are a force to be reckoned with and we are super proud of them - In Elaine's own words, their weekend was as below!
What a great weekend for the whole of Team Sherwin at High Peak agility! Fab show, venue & weather!! Kiss : 3 grade 5 agility wins & a 2nd.... Grade 6 here she comes! Gavin : grade 4 jumping win & 3rd in the ABC Crufts qualifier! Bean : wins junior agility with Jonathan & 2X 4th places in Grade 7 agility Daphne : 5th in ABC Crufts qualifier! Goose : 3rd in grade 1 Jumping 🌟 I should think they are all exhausted after that but wow well done all! Roxi and her amazing dogs are running long distances again and putting the rest of us to shame!
On the 23rd April they ran the Maverick 15miler which Roxi says is an amazing course and one she will gladly do again. And then on the 1st May tackled the Three Forts Marathon which is 27 miles of hills, hills, and more hills! Roxi deserves more than cake, she deserves a whole bakery!! Super proud of you :) A couple of weeks ago a few of the NATBs made the journey to Siblyback Lake in Cornwall for Canicross Cornwalls event "flat out on all paws ... The final lap"
The setting is stunning, the course is set around a lake, mostly flat and hardpack meaning some quick times for both wheels and runners. The venue has fab facilities with electric hook up for camping and hot showers. Not forgetting the wonderful Cornish welcome with a party on Saturday night ... With a bit of karaoke thrown in. A good time was had by all with some impressive times and we all went home with prizes and happy dogs. Results 1 dog Scooter 1st Claire 2nd Nicole Bikejor female 2nd Mel 3rd Emily 5th Nicole 2 dog Canicross female 1st Claire 5th Helene 7th Emily 1 dog Canicross female 6th Nicole (Saturday only) 2 of our members have signed up to take part in the British Heart Foundations Mymarathon during May.
This is an online event where you have to run at least the distance of a marathon, 26.2 miles, during May. You can do it in 4 hours, 4 days or 4 weeks. Isobel and Emma decided it would be a good motivation to get out with the dogs in May and signed up. Emma even made the local paper (pic below). Both plan on running a few times a week with their dogs to cover the distance, and more!! (No pressure girls!) They are both requesting sponsorship to raise money for this brilliant cause, heart disease affects people at any age and both know people who have had issues. Find more information at: https://mymarathon.bhf.org.uk/?gclid=CNeL2r64rswCFYidGwodILAJbQ Sponsor Emma at: https://mymarathon.everydayhero.com/uk/team-tortoise-mymarathon-bhf Sponsor Izzy at: https://mymarathon.everydayhero.com/uk/Isobelpowysmarathon |
AuthorThe NATBs will be keeping you up to date on their members, their dogs and events for the 2015/2016 Season. Hope you enjoy! Archive
April 2019
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