- Title: GERMANY: EUROPEAN SPRINT DOG SLED CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Date: 12th February 2001
- Summary: HAIDMUEHLE, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 11, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. VIEW OVER HAIDMUEHLE 2. VARIOUS VIEWS MUSHERS AND DOGS PREPARE FOR THE RACE 3. VARIOUS VIEWS HELPERS SHOVELLING SNOW AND PREPARING PISTE 4. VARIOUS VIEWS DOGS AND NORDIC SKIIERS PREPARE FOR THEIR RACE IN THE "PULKA" CLASS 5. VARIOUS VIEWS PULKA CLASS RELAY RACE 2.00 6. SOUNDBITE (German) WOLFGANG FINK, MUSHER AND COMPETITOR "I'm competing in the six- and four-dog classes. For this race we picked the best four, but I usually train with eight dogs. I don't take it so seriously, its all for fun." 2.18 7. SCU HUSKY 2.24 8. SOUNDBITE (German) FINK: "In the summer, you can only go for a walk with the dogs in the evening. We live in the middle of the town and we go outside of the town where we have a fenced-in area, where we let the dogs run. During the day, they lie around in the shade, they find the shade." 2.56 9. VARIOUS VIEWS SLED WITH EIGHT DOGS PREPARES FOR THE START 10. VARIOUS VIEWS SLEDS RACING 11. MUSHERS-EYE VIEW OF RACE 12. VARIOUS VIEWS SLEDS AND DOGS RACING 13. VARIOUS VIEWS SPECTATORS CHEERING 14. FINISH AREA 15. SCU DOG EATS SNOW 5.19 16. SOUNDBITE (German) KLAUS ENGELBRECHT, HEAD OF THE GERMAN SLED-DOG ASSOCIATION: "It was a wonderful race. It was pretty cold in the forest, but that was ok. It was just a dream." 5.34 17. SLED ARRIVES IN FINISH AREA 18. DOGS EAT SNOW 19. SLED DOGS RACE BY CAMERA IN BACK LIGHT 6.02 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 27th February 2001 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: HAIDMUEHLE, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVAB2Z55YAXP1IFU0XBROJYJKGV6
- Story Text: Hundreds of world class mushers and their four-legged
companions from 13 European countries gathered in the tiny
Bavarian hamlet of Haidmuehle this weekend to compete in the
European sprint dog sled championships.
The championship is open to European mushers competing
in five different classes. Four, six, eight or an unlimited
number of sled-dogs, and the so-called "Pulka class."
In the "Pulka Class" one dog pulls a plastic board and the
musher skis cross country behind, attached to the board with a
rope. The distances in this weekend's races range from six to
24 kilometres.
Most of the dogs in the competition are Alaskan Huskies
and Scandinavian Hounds. However, Siberian Huskies are also
allowed to compete.
Dogsledding has developed into a competitive sport in the
modern age. However, years ago, in the far northerly regions
where it was difficult to transport goods with horse and
carriage, dogsledding was a life-saving mode of transport.
A good musher was highly honoured amongst his peers as a
top athlete is honoured today. Mushers were judged by their
ability to train the sled dogs, said to be "natural" and not
over-bred, with a unique character.
The world's most famous and most demanding dogsled race,
the 1,100 mile Iditarod, is held every winter from Anchorage
to Nome in Alaska. The winner usually completes the race in
about 10 days and takes home more than $100,000 in prize
money. This year's race begins on March 3.
Canada's 1,000 mile Yukon Quest, from Whitehorse to Yukon,
considered the second most gruelling race for dogs and
mushers, began on Sunday (February 11).
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