Working

Although I did just about all the training - Ian raced the dogs. Our teams had an excellent record on the trail, winning many races, and were rarely placed lower than 3rd in around 100 races.

During the years we raced, we won many awards, including Top Musher, Top Team and Team of the Year. For a little more information on the racing scene around the mid eighties, read the article,"1986" at the end of the HISTORY page. Ian also competed in the World Championships at Bad Mittendorf, with a borrowed team of Alaskans and Siberians.This was in the days when all dogs comming into the UK had to serve six months in quarantine, so it wasn't feasible to take our own dogs. With the introduction of the pet passport Mushers were given the opportunity to compete overseas with their own dogs, and bring them back home without them having to go into quarantine.A few mushers have taken up this challenge, and some of them have come home triumphant. Rallies are held during the winter months all around the U.K. and with so many governing bodies now organising rallies, there is at least one rally somewhere in the country most weekends between November and March, and often more than one. For information on Rallies this winter, go to www.snopeak.com

Like most people we came into Sibes only wanting a pet, but we were instantly captivated by the thought of being able to work them in harness. Before we even got our first Siberian home, we had started our Sams in harness, Aneka soon joined the team and gave them added enthusiasm. We ran a mixed Sammy/Sibe team at our first 9 races, winning 6, and 2nd at the other three, this was in the days when we had to compete against the all Siberian teams.Here we are training in 1981 with Forstals Aneka,Forstals Kipoochi (Kippa )and Zoox Aducha (Dudu) and three homebred Samoyeds, Int,GB,IB,MG & Mon Ch Zoox Katodzki (Todd), CH Zoox Spring Tochka (Monty) and CH Zoox Iberis Snowflake (Oonagh), all three were Junior Warrant winners as well as Champions.

The winter of 1978/79 was the first rally season in GB and 2 rallies were organised, the first at Hankley in Oct 1978. Since Forstals Aneka, our first Siberian was too young too compete, and the Sammies were still in the early stages of their training, we went down to watch and learn. The second rally was held at Cannock Chase in March 1979 , and this was the first one we competed at. I came 2nd running Aneka and 3 Sammies in the C-class. I only competed in a further 3 races, running in the D-class, as Ian now took over the racing. I was more than happy to concentrate on all the training, which the majority of the time I did all on my own. As the years went by and we got more dogs, Ian made me a 200lb rig with a passenger seat, so I could safely train larger teams and take out a passenger if I wanted. I often ran 3 teams during a morning, ranging in sizes from 4-12 dogs, but most of the time I ran between 6-8 dogs on a team. I went out training 4-5 days a week, and at the weekend if we weren't racing Ian would run the teams with his much lighter racing rig. If we had a race at the weekend, then the dogs would have a day off from training the day before and after a race.

Back now to the history of the rallies. The following season and just one rally was held, again at Cannock in Feb 1980, and Ian came 1st in the C-class with Aneka and 3 Sammies (Mbili, Oonagh and Todd who all became show champions). We didn't make the one rally of the following seaon due to Parvo hitting our kennel, this was in the days before there was a vaccine! The following season I had just had my first baby - Mandy, we also had a Sammy litter, so decided to stay at home and not go to the 2 rallies held, but training continued as can be seen above.

We were back out for the following 1982/83 season when 4 rallies were organised, including the first Scottish event, a prelude to Aviemore, sponsored by Spillers.Training started in October with my brand new 200lb rig, pictured above is Ian with 12 month old Mandy as passenger at the end of a 2mile run with the team he took to the first rally of the season which was held down in Kent in December. Ian ran in the C-class and came 2nd with Kippa, Zoox Aducha (Dudu), Todd and Monty(another of our Sams who later became a show champion).This rally saw the first appearance of Ian's new Tiller rig that he had designed and built. There were a few teething problems with the rig, but these were soon ironed out, and Ian built a couple more over the years we raced, eventualy building a light weight aluminium one, which he used for many years, right up to his last race. This design of rig was then copied and most of the mushers who ran larger teams used it for many years. For the second rally of that season in Feb 83, we went up to Glen Esk the home of the Earl of Dalhouise, and had our first taste of running on snow with a home made sled. Ian ran Kip, Aneka who was back on the team only 4 months after having a litter, Aducha and Monty and came 1st in the C-class, and I came 4th in the D-class with Mbili and her son Todd. Santon Downham followed, the first event with two days of racing, Ian ran Kip, Aneka Monty and Todd and came 1st both days. Then at the last rally of the season at Kingsbury water Park, I ran a team and came 1st.

The following 1983/84 season and just 3 rallies were held, Ian ran Kip, Aneka, Monty and Ana at Thetford January 84 where they came 1st, and I was 2nd in the D-class with Dudu and Todd.Three weeks later and the first Aviemore was held, there was so much snow many didn't make it, and most of us got stuck at Blair Atholl because snow had blocked all roads into Aviemore.Everyone but us continued their journey on the train, and came back to collect their cars a couple of days later. We managed to get permission to run our dogs in the Blair Atholl estate, it was a magical experience gliding over a carpet of snow. A day later we finally joined the others at Aviemore where we all had lots of fun in the deep snow. Lesley Monk borrowed Todd to run with one of her Sibes in the D-class, and just 4years later she competed in the Iditarod, a truely remarkable achievment. Ian ran Kippa, Aneka, Dudu and Ana round the course at the very picturesque Loch an Eilein and won the C-class. With the same team he went on to win again at the final rally of the season which was held at Brandon.

How often do we see snow these days, this was Jan 1985 when there was thick snow once again at Aviemore. Ian is training with a home made metal sled, with Kippa, Aneka and her two daughters Zoox Aducha (Dudu) and Zoox Anakma (Ana), and her two 9 month old pups, Zoox Gadzheek (went on to become a Champion)and Zoox Gamishka.

1984/85 was the season that the sport seemed to leap forward and the first season annual awards were given based on points won at rallies through the working season. Our team won SHCGB 1984/85 season Top C- class Team and the overall " Team of the Year" award. We went to 7 rallies and Ian came 1st at Cannock, the New Forest, Broxa (organised by us), Santon Downham, Woburn and Weeting and 2nd at Aviemore. There was so much snow at Aviemore that on our first day we hitched the dogs up in the Coylumbridge Hotel car park and ran them down the main road past Loch Morlich and down to the forest trails. The snow was so deep it was impossible to run the dogs on the trails and so we turned around and went back up to the hotel. The following couple of days we ran them down the road to and round a frozen Loch an Eilein. We certainly had a lot of fun in those days!

Our race team was yet again made up of Aneka, Kippa, Ana and Dudu, who had now won 9 out of 10 of their races in two seasons (pictured above).One of the reasons we stopped running with a neck line on our leaders was because of the height they would jump when waiting to be off. as can be seen by Kippa's enthusiasm to be off at Broxa.It was bad enough just hitching in a small team of 4-6, but when hitching in a large team all on my own it meant that the 2 leader would keep yanking on each others necks while everyone else was hitched up, so I discarded the neck line in the belief that if a dog was good enough to be running at lead, he didnt need to be attached to another dog, it was something we never regretted. The large team above has just completed 3 miles at the beginning of the season.

We also had a new family member that season, Tracey was born 4 weeks before Cannock Nov 84. I was back out training the team just two weeks after her birth with Tracey in her carrycot. Mandy also came the days she wasn't at nursery. Training was always left to me, so I just got on with it.( I can never understand it when folk tell me they can't train their dogs on their own and need someone to hold them, this has to be down to a lack of basic training! )We took Tracey to her first show at Midland Counties when she was only a few days old, it's amazing how easily a baby can fit into a hectic husky life style. Mandy at only 3 years old was a seasoned show/rally pro, and she would water the dogs as they cooled down after a run.Both are adults now, they love to remind me how I "dragged" them round from race to race and show to show when they were little-- don't be fooled, they loved every miute of it!!!

Local training, trying out the new sled bought in Sweden. Right point is Rossfort Nimora, she was born in quarantine, from Arcticlights Canadian Crystal by Am/Can Ch Arcticlights Silver Shadrin. Nim mated to Ch Zoox Gadzheek produced Ch Zoox Nyla of Chatanika, who mated to the Foad's well known lead dog Danlee Paook, gave us Ch Chatanikas Chatka at Zoox.

Even more rallies were held during the 1985/86 season and we competed at 9, running Kippa, Aneka and the 2 siblings Zheek (CH Zoox Gadzheek) who was the best wheel dog I ever had and Mishka (Zoox Gamishka) who had to run lead as she was at that time the only Sibe we had that could match the speed and drive of Kippa. The team won 8 races, New Forest, Cannock, Broxa, Sherwood Forest, Aviemore, Thetford,Corby and Wareham and were 2nd at Brandon, which made them the Team of the Year, and Top C-class team. The following 86/87 season we dropped Aneka who was almost 9 years old from our main team, and ran Kippa, Mishka, Kara, Zheek and Aducha in the B-class. We went to 6 rallies, winning at the New Forest, Cannock, Sherwood and a warm snowless Aviemore(seen above after the 2nd day of racing), 2nd Thetford and 3rd at Corby, which made them the Top B-class team for the season. For more information on the race scene around this time, read the article titled "1986-20 years ago" on the History page.

A 14 dog team, led by Zoox Gamishka and Forstals Kipoochi out training pulling a Hilman Imp car (without an engine), containing myself, my two young daughters and Lesley Monk, who had come over to train with me. Her three dogs are in the middle of the team wearing blue harnesses. Only a few years later and Lesly, followed by her husband Roy were both to compete in " The Last Great Race", the Iditarod, in Alaska, over 1100 miles in temperatures that could drop to -80F. The largest team I ever put together was 17 dogs, I hitched these up to my Toyota Hiace van. The trickiest part of running such a large team, was getting them round tight bends, but fantastic fun. Kip and Mishka led the race team for three seasons, they won 8 of their 9 races during 1985/86 season, making them Top C class Team and Team of the Year , 1986/87 Top- B class Team and 1987/88 Runner Up Top B -class Team.

Mishka, Kippa, Ana, Aneka, Dukara, Dudu and Zheek, by now we no longer ran our leaders with a neck line, and never did so again, we never had any problems and felt they ran far better this way. All these dogs did well on the trail and in the show ring, they were well placed in the Complete Siberian Husky award, which was based on a dogs wins in the ring and at the rallies. This award only ran for three seasons and re-appeared seven years later in 1995, called the Dual purpose championship.Our dogs were well placed in the Complete Siberian Husky award, winning the following-Lead dogs, Kippa- Runner up Complete SH champion 1985/86, and Mishka Res Best Bitch CSH 85/86 and Top Bitch CSH 86/87. Team dogs, Aneka Top Bitch CSH 85/86 ( Aneka was the first Siberian bitch to win BIS at an open show, she was Top winning SH bitch in the showring in 1979 &1981), Ana Top Puppy in 1983 we then retired her from the show ring, as she was not the type we wanted to promote, but her great desire to run made up for her conformation faults and she had the sweetest nature ever! Dukara CSH Champion 86/87 (she was also Top winning Siberian Husky in the Show Ring 1986 and Top Bitch 1988, she was the first JW winner in the breed), Wheel dogs, Aducha Res Best Bitch CSH 86/87 and Zheek CSH champion 85/86, 87/88 and Runner up 86/87, he was also Top show dog 1985,86 and 87 and the first CC winner in the breed. He also sired five Champions.

1987/88 season we ran Kippa, Mishka, Inka, Zuli, Kara and Zheek, they ended the season Runner up Top B- class team . All the dogs on the team had excellent show records including the 2 wheel dogs who became Champions (Dukara and Gadzheek). Ian is seen here on his light weight aluminium rig, which he designed back in 1980. Many mushers went on to use this design of rig for many years, particularly those running 4-6 dog teams. Not many of these rigs are seen today, with most Mushers, in all classes now competing with even lighter weight rigs, similar in design to the ones that were first introduced for Mushers running two dog teams.

I did all the training through the week, mostly on my own, but at the weekends if we weren't competing, Ian would give the dogs a run with a lighter framed rig. Here I am training an 8 dog team, with my 200lb passenger rig on a cold and frosty morning. I worked it out that this rig did in excess of 13,000miles, it was certainly built to last.The following 2 seasons we didn't get to many rallies as at the start of the season we lost 2 youngsters to Distemper, and a lot of the others were well below par even though they were all up to date with their innoculations. So we kept away from every one until we got the all clear, and even by the following season the dogs were still under par and weren't up to their normal fitness, so we concentrated on their training.The drug company got involved with us to try and work out why this had happened, but that's another story!! During this time we decided to drop Kippa from the racing team, he had run lead all his life, and hated to run in any other position. He competed in his last race at 9 years of age, he was a very special dog and taught us such a lot, in fact I would go as far as to say, a dog of a lifetime! Although he never raced again, he did continue to run in harness, and with Aneka went on to lead our puppy and pensioner team for a good number of years. During this time of recovery for all the dogs, we concentrated on a promicing new dog, Zoox An -I -Kye Surprise (Umi). I knew he had it in him to become a good leader but like Kippa, he was very head strong, and caused me no end of headaches. I knew he was worth persevering with, even though some days I could happily have strangled him! In swing position he ran great, but up lead he would often try to chase squirrels or such like off the trail. As we didn't run our leaders with a neck line at least the other leader who was usualy a little bitch called Niki (CH Zoox Zabarnik) or Inka (Zoox Kashinka 2CC 4RCC) wasn't dragged along with him, and it caused less stress on them than being yanked around by a neck line. One day Umi pushed me too far, and I have to admit I gave him a right telling off, it was make or break time, and from that day on he never put a foot wrong. He would lead the team past pheasants, rabbits, sheep, deer and even the local hunt, once a deer actualy jumped over the team, he just kept on running. At last I had earned his respect and he never messed me around again, when his daughter Izzie joined him at lead, we once again had a great pair of leaders.

For the 1990/91 season we came out with a new team, Umi (Zoox An-I-Kye Surprise JW) and his daughter Izzie (Zoox Izizhumzhat JW) became our established leaders and they led our race team to 7 wins, at the New Forest, Hurtwood,Clipstone, Aviemore, Fineshades, Radnor and Trentham Gardens, plus 2nd at Brandon. We ran a four dog team at all these events with Zheek (CH Zoox Gadzheek) and Chenka (CH Zoox MiduchenkaJW) making up the rest of the team.We also came 3rd at the first rally of the season Abbychmir, running a six dog team, but we decided to drop our slowest 2 dogs from this team and run in the C-class for the rest of the season.Even with a large kennel of dogs, it isn't easy to find a fast matched team of dogs, and as Ian always said, "you can only run as fast, as your slowest dog!". The following 91/92 season we went to a grand total of 14 rallies, winning 7 firsts and 7 seconds. Over three seasons Umi and Izzie led the team to 23 victories.Click to view (Umi's pedigree) or (Izzie's pedigree)

A happy team with lines tight, working well. Sarn Hills 1992, running to victory in the B class. Izzie and Umi lead, Ch Zoox Miduchenka JW (top bitch in the show ring 1990 & 1991) and Zoox One and Only JW (Taz) teamdogs, and Ch Zoox Gadzheek and Ch Zoox Miztrozhat JW (Troy) at wheel. Troy, Zheek and Chenka were all Champions, proving the point that a good Siberian is a working dog that should be able to perform well on the trail and still be acceptable in the ring, something I have always felt strongly about. In all the years Ian raced, he was well known for wearing this parka, thick gloves and his heavy weight boots. He worked on the theory that the dogs were meant to be doing most of the work, you never saw Ian in trainers or lycra jogging behind or next to his team, it just wasn't him.

In 1992 ABSA was formed and orgainised its own rallies, BSDRA which was replaced by BSHRA at the end of the 95/96 season and the SSHC formed in 1994 also ran races. All these "clubs" went on to run their own championship series.SDAS, AMWA and others have since formed, this now means that there are races just about every weekend between November and March through out the country. Look on www.snopeak.com, to see if there is a race near to you.

Winning at Aviemore for the 6th time in 1993, running Umi, Izzie, her half brother Smokey(Zoox Zalzmhuki)and Troy (CH Zoox Miztrozhat). Ian competed for 10 years at Aviemore - winning the golden bonio (first place) at six - 2nd three times and 3rd in 1994, his last year of competitive racing. Through the 1992/93 season we competed at 12 rallies, lead dogs Izzie (Zoox Izizhumzhat JW), and her sire Umi (Zoox An I Kye Surprise JW) , led either a 4 or 6 dog team to 9 wins, a 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Ian always liked to keep warm and wore the same heavy parka from 1983 up to his last season racing.

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Mandy aged 11, running Izzie(Zoox Izizhumzhat JW) and her sire Umi (Zoox An I Kye Surprise JW). I think this was the only time Mandy got to race her bitch Izzie and Umi, because they were Ian's team leaders for four seasons, and we considered them far too fast for Mandy to cope with. She made the most of the opportunity and won easily. Mandy also won the junior Golden Bonio up at Aviemore a couple of times. Although we competed for another season, it was shortly after this that we made the difficult decision to disappear from the husky scene. The main reason for this was to support both our daughters who were by then very involved with showing and competing their ponies. Something had to give, as a full summer of dog and horse shows, plus a winter of sled dog rallies and Pony/ Riding Club events, was all just too exhausting and expensive to keep up. So with mixed feelings and sad hearts we did what most parents would do, and fully supported the girls! Little did we know at that time that it would be 7 ponies and 4 horses later before we got back on the husky scene nearly nine years later!

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Ian running in the World Championships in Germany, with a borrowed team of Alaskans and Siberians.This was in the days when all dogs returning to GB had to spend 6 months in quarantine, so it was not feasible for us to take our own dogs.

ALEX MARVIN

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Our dogs hadn't been seen much at the rallies for quite a few years, but all that changed when Alex Marvin came on the scene with Zateizzi Zirlea (Logan) and Mackey. Alex started to compete in the 2 dog class during the 2004/05 season, running mainly at ABSA rallies they were placed in the top five places at 8 of their 9 races and ended the season 4th in the ES Championship. The following 2005/06 season they were in the top five at all eight of their races, winning their first 1st at the New Forest, and ended the season winning the ES - ABSA Championship for the season .

The following 06/07 season he ran in the 3 dog class with Zateizzi Zirlea (Logan), Zateizzi Castello (Troy) and Zoox Strong Resolve (Hunter)seen in action above. The New Forset (ABSA) was their first rally, which they won, followed by a 3rd at ABSA's Sherwood rally, then three consecutive wins at Ringwood (ABSA), the SHC's Sherwood Rally and the Forest of Dean (ABSA). This was followed by a run at the SHC's prestigious Aviemore rally, where just over 200 teams were entered, competition was stiff, and after the first day they were in first place. On the second day the team put in another great run to finnish the competition in 2nd place, a great achievement for Alex who was competing at Aviemore for the first time and won the trophy for best newcomer. A 2nd place at Ashley Heath secured Alex the ABSA Championship for the 2006/07 season in the DS class. He finnished the season with a win at the SHC's Broxa rally.

Alex started the 2007/08 season with a win in the 2 dog class at ABSA's New Forest rally, where Troy was sadly out of action. With Troy back to fitness and the addition of new team member Zoox Quick as a Flash making his debut, Alex moved up to the C-class at the SHC's Broxa rally held between Christmas and the New Year. I was delighted to watch Flash run lead on the second day with his half brother, from what I saw Flash is certainly a very promising leader, and is the 9th dog sired by Tyke to run lead on a winning team.. Alex went to Aviemore where he came 3rd in the C-class, pictured below left. He then went on to another win with this team at Broomhill.

The 2008/09 season got off to a good start for Alex and his 4 boys, Logan, Flash, Hunter and Troy running in the C-class they came 2nd at the SHC's Brandon rally. They then competed at ABSA's Sherwood Forest rally, at the end of the first day in a hotly contested race they were in the lead having run at an average speed of 18.5mph. Another good run on the second day secured Alex and his team a first place on home ground, making this the 20th win for Tykes progeny when running at lead. Flash can be seen running left lead in the picture above right, he is the litter brother of Daimon's two girls Ali and Mika, the Ellis's Storm and Jeff's Elvis and Rocky who are all pictured further below. Alex's next rally was ABSA's Forest of Dean where the boys came 2nd, this was followed by another 2nd at BSHRA,s Sherwood Forest Rally on the Sunday. At their next rally Alex just ran the three younger boys and came 2nd in the E-class at the SHC's Grimsthorpe rally which was covered in a blanket of snow. The second day of racing was cancelled due to ice on the trail!

Alex competed at his first rally of the 2009/10 season at Brandon run by the SHCGB, were he came 2nd in the C-class. At a muddy ABSA Sherwood Forest rally Alex had a good run on the first day ending up in lead position, but dropped down to 3rd on the Sunday. Over 2 days of racing over the 3.9 mile course, his average speed was 16.3 mph. Blowing the Christmas cobwebs away Alex had a flying run at the SHC's Yately rally, winning the C-class and having the fastest time of the day.

In the New Year of 2010 the country was suffering with the big freeze and snow covered the whole of GB. The SHC's Sherwood Forest rally was the club's second consecutive rally to be run on good snow. Alex only competed on the second day of the rally, as Ruth had taken Hunter to Boston show on the Sunday where he won the RCC. Alex was 1st in the E-class on the Sunday, running Hunter, Troy and Flash seen above. He was over a minute in front of the team in 2nd place and a full 10 minutes infront of the last placed team on the day. see them pictured above. Their next race was Aviemore, where there was plenty of snow. Alex had a good weekend and from 43 starters in the C-class he finnished in 3rd place running Logan, Troy, Hunter and Flash. At their next rally Alex ran Troy, Hunter & Flash to victory in the E-class at the SHC's Grimsthorpe rally, he followed this up with another win with this team at the SHC's Rendlesham rally, again in the E-class. He also ran Logan & Mackey in the D-class to come 2nd, so a very successful day for Alex and his boys.

BREN CLARKESTONE

Bren Clarkestone with his 2 boys, Zateizzi San Mario of Anoktra (Blade) and Zoox Forest Gunner (Taz) competing in his first season racing sled dogs. At his first rally ABSA's New Forest 2006, he came first. To prove it was no fluke they also won their next rally ABSA's Sherwood Forest, followed by a 3rd at Ringwood. They were back on winning form for the SHC's Sherwood Rally and ABSA's Forest of Dean. This was followed by a 2nd at Aviemore, one of the most challenging and prestigious of the SHC's series of rallies, where Bren was the fastest 2 dog team round the trail on the second day, another great achievment for this rookie musher. A 1st at Ashley Heath followed by a 2nd at Yateley Heath gave Bren the ES Championship in the ABSA series for 2006/07, not bad for his first season. He ended the season with a 2nd at the SHC's rally at Broxa. Bren has had a quiter 2007/8 season, he came 2nd at Sherwood, 3rd at Aviemore and 4th at Broomhill where he ran a 3 dog team, with the addition of the Ellis' Zoox Typhoon Ty (Storm).

At the start of the 2008/09 season Storm joined Bren and his two boys Blade and Taz again, this time at the SHC's Brandon rally. They competed in the E-class and came 2nd, a good start to the new season. Storm is pictured above training with Bren's team, he is running lead along with Blade and Taz at wheel. Due to a cut foot Bren found himself without Taz just befor ABSA'a Sherwood Forest rally. Colin and Eleanor brought Storm up so Bren could compete in the ES-class with Blade and Storm, at the end of two days very competitive racing they came 2nd. With Taz back on the team, Bren competed in the 3 dog class at the SHC's Sherwood Forest rally and came 4th. Their next rally was Aviemore, where Bren and the 3 boys had a good run on the first day to be in fourth place, then on the Sunday the boys ran their socks off, knocking 65 seconds off their Saturday's time and moved up three places to win the E-class.Storm became the 12th dog sired by Tyke to lead a team to victory and this was the 22nd win for a team led by Tykes progeny. This is the first Zoox team to win at Aviemore since we won the C-class back in 1993, the year before we retired from racing! The following weekend Bren and his two boys ran at BSHRA,s Sherwood Forest rally on the Sunday and came 4th. At the SHC's Grimsthorpe rally Storm again joined the team and Bren was 3rd in the E-class. As the second day of racing was cancelled due to ice, the results were based on just one day's racing. Two weeks later the warmer weather was back, Bren ran at the SHC's Rendelsham rally in the E class, once again with the loan of Storm and came 3rd.

At the start of the new 2009/10 season Bren ran in the E-class with Blade, Taz and Scout at the SHC's Brandon rally and came 7th. Sadly this was to be the dogs last run with Bren, as he and his partner had split up, and on New Years day of 2010 I recieved a text from Bren to say he wanted me to rehome the boys. Scout went to live with Richard and Lorraine Morgan and the two older boys Blade and Taz have gone to live with Bruce and Lyn Hall of the well known Aceca's kennel. We wish them all well in their new homes.

MARK MCALEAVEY

Mark McAleavey was thrilled to have his first ever win at a rally when he ran in the C-class at Dalby 2006, running Zateizzi Valerresso of Wolfpaws at lead, and Zoox Malastrana of Wolfpaws in wheel, both were just 12 months old. This win was hot on the heels of Crufts where Z'Valerresso had just won Best Puppy in breed. She has since won 2CC & 2 RCC's and Malastran has won 2RCC.

RICHARD MORGAN

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Richard Morgan also had his first ever win at a rally, running Zateizzi Rialto (Miki) in double lead he won the B-class at Fineshades 2006, despite having to drop to four dogs on the second day. Richard then went to the Sherwood rally and came 7th and followed this by a 9th place at Aviemore. He dropped to the C class at Rendlesham where he was also 9th. The following 07/08 season running in the B class he came 6th at Fineshades, and 7th at Sherwood followed by a 3rd in the C class at Rendlesham. In the 08/09 season he was 8th at Sherwood and 11th at Aviemore in the large C class. His first race of the 09/10 season was ABSA's New Forest rally where he was 5th in the C-class. Up at a snow covered Aviemore, running with a sled Richard had a good race to finnish in 12th place out of 43 startes in the C-class. His next race wasn't untill the SHC's Rendlesham rally where he came 5th. I think he is now looking forward to the next season when he will be running Scout on his team, who he rehomed from Bren in January. By the end of the season Richard reported that Scout was an exceptional dog, the best he had had and he was really looking forward to the following season when he would be running the two Zoox/Zateizzi boys on the team. Scout is the litter brother to Colin's Thunder who has had a very good first season in harness. Sadly very upsetting news came through late April to say Scout had been killed, everyone who knew him is devastated at the loss of such a super character and promising star.

CATHERINE LEWIS

Catherine Lewis had a great run at the SSHC's last rally of the season at Quithel 07, running in the B-class over 6.6 miles of hilly terrain, she came 2nd and was the highest placed lady musher at the rally. Catherine is one of the gutsiest people I know, she does not let her disability affect her enjoyment of running her dogs in harness or competing them at shows ( Catherine has spina bifida and she is the lady you will usualy see sitting on her scooter at the ringside). Training with a quad has certainly paid off and it has given Catherine more control over her large fit team. When you consider that Catherine can not help her dogs out, and getting round the course is always down to the stamina of her dogs, you will realise how exceptionally well she did to achieve this placing at Quithel. Catherine says herself, that she can never hope to bring in the fast times achieved by the winners of the shorter 3-5 mile races, but she hopes there will be more races over a greater distance, that she and her team enjoy running. The above team out training is led by Foxi "Zoox Nerudova" and Bilka "Wayreth Double Eclipse" who is out of Oneida and sired by Zatiezzi Christmas Star, swing dogs are Frosty "Zoox Spot the Difference" and Oneida "Zoox Walk On Star"". Team dog Maigan was imported from France and at wheel are Shibki who is half Zoox breeding and Tala " Zoox Simply Gifted" who is Frosty's sister, so a team based strongly on our breeding.

Catherine competed at the SSHC's Culbin rally, her first of the new 2009/10 season, where she was 8th both days running in the B-class. Her team was made up of Bilka, Zoox Solara at Wayreth, Frosty, Foxi, Oneida and Vixen (Wayreths Vixen Quuen). Two weeks later and she competed on home ground at the SHC's Tentsmuir rally, running the same team she was 6th over the two days, this was despite having two falls on the first day. But Catherine kept hold of her team and got back on the rig and completed the course, a brave lady indeed! The SSHC held 2 days of racing at Tentsmuir in December, where Catherine ran Bilka, Foxi, Frosy and her sister Tala (instead of Oneida who had pulled a muscle) and Solara and Vixen at wheel (pictured above). The team ran very well both days and on the Sunday ran faster than Catherine has ever gone befor at a race. She was delighted with her team and thrilled to come 2nd on the Saturday and 3rd on the Sunday.

WAYNE DAVIES

Wayne Davies had his first ever win at a rally, running Zateizzi Dorsodura with Snowpawz (Goose) in lead with Tango and Zoox Alzhazhu (Ruski) at wheel. He won the DS-class at Thruxton at the start of the new 07/08 season.. Goose is the 5th dog in his litter, to have run lead on a winning team, and this was the 13th race won by teams led or made up of dogs from that litter.Wayne continued to be placed regularly in the top five at the ABSA races, and ended up 4th in the Championship table at the end of the season.

With the addition of two new dogs to the team, Wayne competed in the C-class at the start of the 2008/09 season at ABSA's Wyre Forest and came 5th, followed by another 5th at the New Forest running in the B-class. At ABSA's Sherwood Forest rally Wayne ran three dogs in the DS-class and was 4th, he competed in the same class again at Ringwood where he was 4th and at Wareham where he was 3rd. At the Forest of Dean Wayne was once again competing in the B-class, running 5 dogs, he was 3rd. He then went up to the SHC's Aviemore rally to finnish in 11th out of 23 starters. Waynes next race was ABSA'a night rally at Ashley Heath where he ran under a full moon, on a clear and frosty night in the DS class and came 4th, he was also 4th at Yately. At ABSA'a Waydean Quest, run over 3 days with night runs, Wayne was 5th in the Q1 class.

Wyre was the first ABSA rally of the 2009/10 season where Wayne won the C-class running Goose at lead. He followed this with a 3rd at their New Forest rally running in the most terrible weather on the Sunday, torrential rain, gale force winds and hailstones, oh what fun!! Although the weather stayed mainly dry at the ABSA Sherwood rally, there was a lot of water and mud around, Wayne was 7th in the C-class. A week later at Ringwood Wayne was 3rd in the C-class.

An early training run for pup Bramble (Zoox Flora) running right lead with Rusky behind her. She is showing great concentration and drive for one so young.

At the first club rally of 2010, Wayne came 2nd in the C class at ABSA's Wareham rally which was run over three days. eHe went one better at his next rally, winning the C-class at ABSA's Forest of Dean. Right up to the last couple of days it looked like being a snow rall, sadly the rain came and turned the ground to mush in places but still left lots of large patches of ice, not ideal conditions but very typical of this country. However there was plenty of snow up at Aviemore, where there was 43 starters in the C-class running on sleds, many with very little experience to non. Wayne just managed to stay in the top half with a 20th position, but he had a major tangle on the first day with another team and had to untangle the sleds and dogs himself as the other musher wouldnt get off her sled!!

Things went a lot better at their next rally, which was ABSA's Ashley Heath where they came 3rd. At the last race of the ABSA Championship series Wayne was 2nd at Yately which secured him the top spot in the C-class ABSA CHAMPIONSHIP series, well done to Wayne and his gang. Wayne then went on to compete at the Wyedean Quest, a race held over 3 days with 4 stages. He ran the same dogs each day, although the rules allow for different dogs to be run over different stages. He finnished 4th in the pure bred category. The season rounded off with the ABSA Hero Quest, a rally run at Pembrey in support of Help for Heroes. Most of the mushers dressed up, Wayne and Amanda were Superman and Wonder Woman. They really got into the spirit of the day, as you can see! Superman and Team Hero were 3rd in the C-class.

DAIMON EDWARDS

Daimon Edwards made his first appearance as a rookie musher at Broxa 07, where he came 10th in the D-class running his 2 litter sisters Zoox Coldsnap and Zoox Starry Night ( Mika & Ali). He moved up a place at his next rally Sherwood, and then came 4th at Pembrey, 3rd at Broomhill, 2nd at Grimthorpe and 1st at South Alwen. This is the 19th race in three seasons won by a team led by, or made up of Zoox/Zateizzi dogs. These girls are also sired by Tyke "Zoox Zirkanba" making the tally of his progeny to run to victory 11.

At the start of the new 2008/09 season Daimon and the girls came 3rd at the SHC's Brandon rally, and 4th a week later at the SHC's Quantock Quest. This was followed by a 7th place and best newcommer at ABSA's Sherwood Forest rally, followed by a 3rd at the SHC's Broxa rally. The first SHC rally of 2009 was Greystoke Forest at Penrith, were Daimon had 2 very good runs to win the D-class, making this his second win and the 21st win for Tyke's progeny. The following weekend they were 6th at the SHC's Sherwood Forest rally. Competing at Aviemore for the first time they were 8th from 34 starters and won the trophy for the highest placed bitch team in the E and D classes. At the SHC's Grimsthorpe rally, where a blanket of snow covered the estate, they were 7th in the D class and 5th at a much warmer Rendelsham the following weekend. They finnished 3rd running at the SHC's Shanley Challenge, which is 3 consecutive days of racing.

At the star of the new 2009/10 season Daimon competed at the SHCGB Delemere night rally and came 8th. He then went down to the SHCGB Brandon rally and came 3rd and then travelled north to the SHCGB Tentsmuir rally where he was placed 5th. At a muddy ABSA Sherwood rally he was placed 7th. At the start of the new year Daimon competed at the SHC's Greystokes snow rally where everyone was thrilled to be running on sleds. He came 4th in the D class. Again running on a sled he was 17th out of 32 starters up at Aviemore. They had a good run at the SHC's Pembrey rally where they were 2nd, which they followed up with a fantastic run the following weekend to win the D-class at Grimsthorpe. The following weekend they went to the SHC's Rendlesham rally where in very wet and sticky conditions he came 3rd. They ended the season with another 3rd at the SHC's Dyfnant rally.

JEFF TROTTER

Jeff Trotter competed at his first ever rally in January 2009. He ran in the D-class at the SHC's Greystoke Forest Rally, with the two litter brothers Zoox Atlantic Storm (Elvis) and Zoox Thunderbolt (Rocky). These two boys are the litter brothers of Daimon Edward's two girls Mika and Ali, Alex Marvin's Flash and Colin Ellis's Storm. On the first day of the rally Jeff was in 2nd place behind Daimon, but dropped down to 4th after a few hiccups on the Sunday. The following weekend he was at the SHC's Sherwood Forest Rally, where on the first day he was in 7th place behind Daimon once again, but sadly dropped to 10th after pulling a muscle! Both these rallies have been a steep learning curve for Jeff, but he recieved a lot of help from other competitors and learnt a lot. Although not as fit as they should be, Jeff and the boys decided to go to Aviemore, a hard trail for a novice team competing at their third rally , they had a great time and finnished in16th place, which was half way down the field. Jeff has vowed to get the boys and himself a lot fitter before he tackles that "hill" again!

Jeff competed at the first rally of the new 2009/10 season run by SDAS at the Ford Estate where he came 5th. He followed this up with a 6th at the SHC's Culbin rally and a 4th at the SDAS Kershope rally. He then went to the SHC's Greystokes rally where the event was run on near perfect snow. This was Jeffs first run on a sled, he was in 6th place after the first day but sadly heavy snow that night and blocked roads stopped him from getting back to the race on the Sunday.

COLIN ELLIS

Tyke aged nine and a half, at his first rally since 2004 when he had led his four dog team to 2nd place at the New Forest. Here he is competing at Broomhill 2008 alongside Ruth and Alex Marvin's Mackey, the smile on their faces says it all. They gave Colin Ellis a super introduction to husky racing and came a very credible 5th . Alex's team of 4 Tyke sons, won the C-class, 3 more of his sons came 4th in the E-class, and 2 of his young daughters came 3rd in the D-class, quite a family day out! In the last three seasons (2005/06-07/08) teams led by or fully made up of Tyke's progeny have WON 19 races. Pictured below is Tyke (left lead) aged ten and a half, out training with his 2 nine month old grandsons, Thunder and Scout. The old boy certainly has plenty of running left in him.

Colin is running Tyke (aged10 1/2) and Mackey at a few rallies during the 2008/09 season. At the SHC's Brandon rally they came 9th out of 15 starters in the D-class. Then at ABSA'a Sherwood rally, Colin had a navigation problem on the first day and got lost adding over half mile on the course, so althought they ended up 3rd and last in the Veteran class at the end of the two days, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Colin competed at the SHCGB Brandon rally at the start of the 2009/10 season, running his two boys Zoox Tarrango (Thunder) and Zoox Typhoon Ty (Storm) seen above at the rally and out training. This was the first time Colin had run his 2 boys together at a rally as Thunder was just a puppy last season, and he was thrilled to come 2nd in the hotly contested D-class. At the ABSA New Forest race, where it reached 15C on the first day, followed by terrential rain and high winds on the second, Colin was 4th with his two boys. At the ABSA Sherwood rally Colin was 5th and his average speed was 15.7 mph over the two days. A week later at the ABSA Ringwood rally he was 3rd. At the first rally weekend of 2010 Colin ran at ABSA's 3 day Wareham event. He had three good runs to finnish in 4th place, he was also faster than all the teams in the other classes with the exception of the winners of the B and C classes. Colin was also 4th at ABSA'a Forest of Dean rally which looked set to be a snow rally, until a couple of days befor when the rain came turning a lot of the trail to mush, but still with many long icey stretches. The second days competition for all but the two big classes was cancelled. Colins next rally was up at a snowy Aviemore which was a rare sled event. With only one run under his belt with a borrowed sled he had really no idea of what he was in for and admits he struggled a bit on the first day with the heavy wooden sled he had just bought. However he felt a bit more confident the second day and knocked almost 7minutes off his time, he ended up in 18th place from 32 starters, and was very pleased with how hard his boys worked. Below Colin is out training at Aviemore and getting used to the sled with Thunder and Storm, and then the two pups Ice and Shadow with the old boy Tyke.

Their next rally was ABSA's Ashley Heath night run, where they came 5th. At Yately the last race of the ABSA Championship series, Colin was 4th. He ended the season 4th in the E-class ABSA Championship. The following weekend Colin went to the SHC's Rendlesham rally where he had the best run of his life. On the first day he was in 2nd place just 4 seconds behind the leader, with Daimon just 4 seconds behind him. The weather wasn't kind to them the following day as it poured down all day. Colin was one of the last to run as it was reverse seeding. The boys flew round, working very hard to get through the now heavy going surface and gave Colin the best run of his life to finnish in 1st place. He came over the finnish with a big smile on his face singing the praises of his 2 boys. He was over the moon when Bruce, the organiser of the rally told him he had won the class. I am sure it will be a day Colin will never forget. Colin has had a very good first season running his own boys, he has been in the top five at 9 of his 10 races and was 4th in the E-class ABSA championship, which is similar to what Alex did in the 2004/05 season. Colin ended the season by competing at the Hero Quest, a charity rally in aid of Help for Heroes. Fancy dress and fun was the order of the day, so Colin became Desperate Dan. With a buging stomach (too many of those cow pies)and brilliant mask there was no way he could be competitive, but as he was out to have fun it didnt seem to matter.He had a great weekend and came 7th in the E-class. Below, Desperat Dan helped by Superman in the start chute.

DANNY SLATER

Young Danny Slater competed at his first rally with the 2 sisters Zoox Ashra and Zoox Kneesa at the start of the 2008/09 season at ABSA's Wyre Forest the first weekend in November. Aged just 13 months the "pups" had a great run and were the winners of the two dog ES class. 17 year old Danny is very lucky to have a great support crew in his parents, all those early mornings taking Danny and the girls out training, have certainly paid off. The pups are pictured above, when they were out training aged about 6 months old.

Their second rally was Pembrey, the first of the BSHRA series of races to be held during the 2008/09 season.. Two days of individual racing saw Danny and the girls win on the first day and come 2nd on the second day. Danny was also Top Rookie in his class on both days. Their next rally was all the way up to the North Yorks Moors, where BSHRA held a rally at Broxa Forest. Danny and the girls had 2 super runs winning both of their classes and Top Rookie each day. At the next rally they went to BSHRA's Warren Wood, Danny's class was scrapped on the Saturday when it was discovered the course wasn't marked clearly and most of the competitors had gone wrong. He went back to compete on the Sunday and came 2nd and was Top Rookie in his class. It seems almost unbelievable that at the next BSHRA rally Kings Forest West, that yet again the course was incorrectly marked, this time on the Sunday and the class was yet again scrapped!! There was some consolation in that Danny came 2nd in his class at the rally held on the Saturday and was again Top Rookie in his class. Two weeks later they were at Kings Forest East, and had two fantastic days of racing winning both races and Top Rookie both days. At BSHRA's Sherwood Forest both the girls were in full season and not running as well as they usualy do, they came 4th the Saturday and 5th on the Sunday, and were Top Rookie in their class both days. At BSHRA's Elvedon rallies they won their class on the Saturday and were 2nd on Sunday, and yet again Top Rookie in their classes. They have also been Top Bitch team in their class at all the BSHRA rallies. Danny has had such a good year, that he can now not be beaten in the D-class Championship and so wins this years title even though there are still two races to go in the D class series.

Danny went to his first rally of the 2009/10 season with the 3 litter mates Ashra, Kneesa and Teebo. Competing in the C3 class at BSHRA's Santon Downham on the Sunday he came 7th, there were only 4 seconds between the 3rd and 7th placed teams, so a very close competition. Due to work, college and other family commitments Danny didn't compete any more this season.

MIKE HOLBURN

Mike Holburn borrowed Rusky (Zoox Alzhazhu) from Wayne Davies to run with his Siberian cross Diesel, during the latter half of the ABSA series 2009/10. They ran in the DO class and came 2nd at Ringwood their first event as a team, 3rd at Wareham, 2nd at the Forest of Dean, 2nd at Ashley Heath and 1st at Yately. Mike's next event was something very different, as he ran in the 3 day, 4 stage Wyedean Quest. Amanda & Wayne Davies kindly lent him Rusky and some of their girls to run with his boy Diesel. He ran them as two teams in alternate stages and ended up in 3rd place in the DO category.

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TOP 3 places at Rallies for Zoox/Zateizzi teams, 2004/05 season to the present day.

Between the 2005/06 and 2009/10 seasons -31 races have been won by teams fully made up of our breeding and a further 7 races have been won by teams with a leader bred by us making a total of 38 races won by teams made up or led by dogs we have bred. 30 of those races were won by teams led by 12 of Tyke's progeny.

Between the 2004/05 and 2009/2010 season Tyke's progeny have led their teams to a Top three position at 80 races. In total teams led by or fully made up of our breeding have been placed in a Top three position in 101 races.