Siberian Huskies & Sled Dog Racing in NZ Blog
Siberian Husky and All Breed Dog Portraits
It’s great to be back writing! Time to let you in on what I’ve been up to throughout 2019. My busiest year yet!! Book publishing target is third quarter 2020 😃 The first few months of 2019 I spent visiting breeders and mushers, acquiring portraits to showcase the...
The Year That Was 2018 – CTSHC Siberian Husky Challenge
An absolutely stunning sunrise greeted us as we lined up to convoy into Waitarere Forest. Plenty of recent rain made some places pretty wet and muddy. Everyone readying for a fun morning with fancy dress an optional part of the day.This is a specialty...
The Year That Was 2018 – CTSHC Sled Dog Derby
The only other race weekend I would make it to in 2018 was the Central Territories Siberian Husky Club two-day meeting held on August 25th and 26th. Three events are held on this weekend at Waitarere Forest. The Autumn Burn and Sled Dog Derby on Saturday and...
The Year That Was 2018 – GNSHC Great Northern Classic II
I woke on day two of the Great Northern Classic to a crisp, cold yet clear day. Up early with Nardine and Richard to walk and toilet all the dogs, and not a drop of rain, sleet or snow in sight. Next, we headed to meet everyone at the forest. All cars and...
The Year That Was 2018 – Part Two – GNSHC Great Northern Classic I
Friday August 18th saw me head off for the first sled dog race weekend I can attend in 2018. First stop is Woodville, to catch a ride with Nardine and her team (Kiwidinok Siberian Huskies) for the drive to Waiouru. The weather in Woodville was overcast and...
The Year That Was 2018 – Part One
My year has been packed full of activities and events, not all linked to photography, hence the lull in posts. I'm back, keen to write again, so in the next few posts I'll bring you up to date with project activities during 2018. At the end of my last blog I...
Halo and Pups
It was the last day of our mountain bike trip in Taupo when I got the text announcing Halo (Kiwidinok Siberian Huskies) had given birth to two healthy pups. A little disappointed, no if I’m honest really disappointed I couldn’t make the...
Central Territories Siberian Husky Club – Siberian Challenge August 2017
It’s rise and shine before dawn again, for the Siberian Challenge. Temperatures are nice and cool. The huskies will love it. Another fun day awaits us all. First things first as we arrive in the forest, with the small crew of organizers getting busy...
Autumn Burn and Sled Dog Derby August 2017
Friday August 4th I head up to stay at a house in Waitarere Beach with a group of Central Territories Siberian Husky Club members. Fun group of people, chatting, a few drinks then it's an early night for all, to be fresh for the pre-dawn start....
Vineyard Classic Sunday Morning Racing and Prizegiving
It’s 6.15am, -1 degrees Celsius, the sun creeping up above the horizon as I set up on Linden Estate Winery for the final morning of racing. Frost covers the ground and tops of all the buildings. I’m at an elevated position high above the first...
Vineyard Classic Saturday Afternoon Racing
Recharged after a rest and some food, I arrive back at Linden Winery Estate round 3pm, just as teams begin arriving. Trailers parked, the dogs get walked, harnesses put on, then tethered by the trailers. Every team I watch shows a very close bond between...
Vineyard Classic Set Up and Saturday Morning Racing
Course set up day for Ridge Runners Sled Dog Racing Club Vineyard Classic in Napier, is Friday 28th July. To take part in this, I drive up Thursday night, with my friend Jane tagging along for company. We settle into our unit at the Kiwi Holiday Park,...
Raumai Cup Day Two
Leaving Eric and Gaby's place, we are out the door at 5am, skies pitch black and weather overcast. At the forest by 5.45am to set up for the days racing. Once all was readied and while everyone milled around waiting for the mushers meeting I spotted a...
Raumai Cup Day One
Raumai Cup Race morning began with drizzle and thick mist hanging over the forest. I arrived early to help set up then headed off to walk the trail. Thankfully it was pretty dry in the sheltered depths of the trees. Walking along I took time to help...
Raumai Forest Training and Mock Race
Leading up to the Raumai Cup race weekend, Ridge Runners Sled Dog Racing Club (RRSDRC) have training runs at the forest, as well as a Mock Race afternoon for mushers, new and seasoned, to come train in race conditions. A training session in mid-May was my...
Sled Dog Fundamentals Training Weekend
Back in May I was invited to attend a Sled Dog Fundamentals Training weekend held just north of Otaki. It was run by Curt and Fleur Perano, of Underdog NZ, who together have many years of experience running, racing and caring for sled dogs here and...
Siberian Huskies on Show
Show time!!! Up until now I’ve only ever been to one dog show in my life, and that was nearly 20 years ago to check out the breeds I was interested in before deciding a husky was the dog for me. My first show this year was at Levin where Nardine was showing...
Introducing Spirit and the Birth of Her Pups
It was early December last year when I travelled to meet Spirit for the first time at her home, Kiwidinok Siberian Huskies, near Woodville. Two trips were made pre-birth to orientate myself with the location/environment and get a shot of a very pregnant...
Training in Waitarere Forest and Autumn Burn Sled Dog Derby
July last year I re-connected with the Central Territories Siberian Husky Club (CTSHC) and joined them at a training day in Waitarere Forest, north of Levin. Living where I do, this meant being on the road by 5am Saturday morning to reach the meet up point...
Siberian Huskies and Sled Dog Racing In NZ
Let me fill you in on the back story of how this project came about, combining my passion for the Siberian Huskies and photography. My love of the Siberian Husky began nearly 20 years ago when I decided it was the right time to get my own dog. Sitting down...