My name is Tamara and I’m from Cornwall. My running partners are Rudy, a Hungarian vizsla and Enzo, a greyster (gsp x greyhound).
I have a road running background with a 5k pb of 16:48 “dogless” but after suffering many injuries off the back of my first marathon in April 2019, I wanted to try more trail running and accidentally found Canicross from watching TV. When Rudy was old enough I decided to book a lesson with Helen at Canicross UK. Helen was fantastic and took us back to basics. I decided Rudy’s verbal commands and was prepared to practise lots but, to be honest, he took to it like a natural. Enzo is purpose bred and we got him from France in 2023. Our aim is to be the British ladies canicross champion and compete at the world championships in a few years. He is nearly 18 months old and we have already run a sub 4:20 minute mile so far.
In the canicross off season (summer) I compete in Duathlon and Triathlon. In 2023 I qualified to represent GB at an age group level in Duathlon.
Hi! My name is Sophie, I’m 32 and I live in the beautiful Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire! I am relatively new to the cani-sports scene having spent most of my life owning and riding horses but have had dogs for many years. I first began running with my dogs back in early 2020 with the C25K program and caught the bug. I also started running with the Forest of Dean Canicross Group on social runs which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Early last year I injured my ankle so to keep myself & the dogs fit, I bought a bike and started riding having not ridden a bike since I was a child. The adrenaline rush & teamwork you can experience through Bikejor is like no other. I work on my bike skills by using the mountain bike trails and downhill tracks around the Forest of Dean- the thrill is amazing!
Let me introduce my clan to you! So, we have 7 dogs in our family all ranging from little to large:
• Ollie- 11 year old lurcher- my original running buddy but Ollie broke his leg back in April 2021 because of a tumor so now happily free runs on shorter trails on his amazing 3 legs.
• Maisie- 11 year old Sprocker- boss lady! Also now just free runs but still keeps everyone in check.
• Skye- 6 year old Border collie- my assistant trainer! Skye doesn’t really like to work in harness & finds the race scene quite nerve racking, so she helps to train the fasties at home.
• Pip & Poppy- the terrier support crew- happy to trundle along in a bike trailer but not up to anything too dynamic!
• Pippa- 2.5 year old Eurohound- I brought Pippa over from Belgium in July 2021 to be my new running companion and we have done some awesome races together but we have found that our main passion lies in Bikejor as we both thrive off the speed. You can’t miss this lovely lady with her rather large ears!
• Winston- 19month GSP- the newest addition to our pack! Winston came to us in December 2021 having never travelled, been off lead and lived in a flat…. He has blossomed into the most amazing chap with a heart of gold. He gives his all & has taken to cani-sports better than we could have ever imagined. We came 3rd in the Womens CaniX at Thetford on New Years Day!
I work full-time as a Paramedic Partner in a GP Surgery so find keeping myself and the dogs fit hard going sometimes but its worth it for the enjoyment we all get out of it. I also have the best support at home and couldn’t do this without them.
Cani-sports provide that release you need for your mental and physical health. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me & the team!
Hi I’m Natalie,
I’m 51 years old and I live in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. I have a 23 year old son, 3 dogs & 14 Chickens!
I started canicross in 2011 when I got my rescue Springer Spaniel Jess (now 13) and a friend introduced me to the sport. With Jess I entered a few charity events that allowed canicross such as the Brutal series, Hard as Snails, and mainly ran fun and fitness. Fast-forward to 2018, I decided I wanted to get into canicross and eventually Bikejoring more seriously after following Mark Dunbar and some other friends with their adventures in Canisports, however it still had to be fun. So, I brought Edna a European Sled Hound and there our racing journey began with our first event being the Trophѐe Sud Bourgogne (TSB) in France when Edna just turned 12 months. TSB is a 7 day event, with participants from all over Europe, races are at different location with the races being from 4km – 8km in the beautiful French countryside. Edna was bred to race, the moment we hit the start line she knew what she had to do, and we had an amazing week of racing and learnt so much. Since then, we entered TSB in 2021 and came 3rd in our age group, I was not expecting to get a podium place. Again, Edna was amazing, the weather wasn’t kind, rain, wind, cold and lots of mud! We have also competed at Canicross Midlands, Canix, Canicross UK, Devon Howlers amongst other events and completed the Para 10 mile and Tri-Dog. This last season Edna has now become my Bikejoring dog, I have lots to learn about bikejoring and mountain biking, I absolutely love the teamwork, trust and bond we have built. In June 21 I decided to get a 4-month-old rescue puppy from Vizslamentѐs UK Rescue Trust. Ernie is a Vizsla cross and in February 22 we started our canicross racing journey, Ernie is showing a lot of potential and is turning out to be a great sports dog. I’ve had to improve my fitness this year as I’m canicrossing and Bikejoring at the same events.
Events still to come this year before the next racing season begins, is the Trophѐe des Montagnes (TDM) which is 9 days of racing and fun in the heart of the French Alps with over 300 participants from all nationalities and all different breeds of dogs. We going to the TSB again, however this year we are Bikejoring instead of Canicrossing.
I work full time as an Accreditation Manager.
My dogs are my pets first and Canisports keeps us all fit, healthy, and most of all, we all have fun.
I’m really looking forward to our racing journey and adventures, and how we work together as a team.
Hi, my name's Adam, I'm 26 and I'm from Salisbury, Wiltshire. I run with my dogs Arlo (3 year old GSP) and Skye (5year old Labrador). I started running with Skye before I knew about Canicross and we trained for and completed our first ultramarathon together. We started Canicross when I heard about it at parkrun and entered our first race in March 2022. It wasn't the best of starts because we were disqualified on the first day, I may have gone the wrong way (oops), but Skye was amazing and had the best time. This led to us joining Wessex Canicross and competing in the NATB Dog Sports races for the 2022/2023 season. Arlo joined us in February 2023 and debuted with a victory, he's absolutely nuts about running and likes to make himself heard on the start line! I love running with the dogs and can't wait for next season to see what it brings for us.
Photo courtesy of Geoff Pirie
Hi! I’m Jen, I’m 32 and I live in Wiltshire with my boyfriend Chris and our three dogs. We’ve got Poppy, a 10 year old Whippet whose favourite activity is sleeping, Betsy, a 3 year old Dachshund x Yorkie who is tiny but full of personality, and Freyja, an 18 month old Pointer who lives to run and bounce!
Poppy and I started canicross two years ago, and we fell in love with it straight away. We joined Wessex Canicross, got the kit, trained, then started racing. Over the 2022/23 season we raced together at lots of series races as well as Tri Dog and the BSSF British Championships, all at which Poppy tried her heart out. Now she’s getting a bit older, Poppy and I will be racing in the short course category and will be running bikejor, which is an exciting new adventure for us.
Betsy doesn’t do canisports, however she competes in hoopers, scentwork and also enjoys mantrailing, swimming and paddleboarding, all with 110% enthusiasm!
Freyja spent the 2022/23 season getting used to being out at competitions, learning what her harness is, and then building up to doing some start sequences, learning directional cues and going on some short training runs. Our focus this season is to start racing on the short course, and keep building her strength and confidence. So far, she’s really taken to it, and absolutely loves running fast. I can’t wait get out there with her this season and build our skills and speed together.
I’m also very lucky to run with San and Howard Clark’s amazing Eurohound, Dolly, who I will be running the 5k series races with. Dolly competes in many canisports disciplines, and is fantastic to run with as not only is she fast, but she looks after me too.
There’s nothing I love more than being out with my dogs, camping, training, racing and relaxing. They’re amazing team mates and canicross is such a fantastic way for us to have fun together. 2023/24 season, let’s go!
My name is Josh and I am based in Wiltshire. I live with my fiancé, Maria, our little girl, Gigi, and our three dogs: Parker, Penelope and Gordon.
Parker is a ten-year-old New Zealand Huntaway who takes part in reccy classes and competes in tri-dog events (excellent swimmer!), Penelope is a 3-year-old Greyster, my bikejor teammate, and Gordon is a puppy, he will be a bikejor dog of the future.
I train and compete in the occasional canicross race with Penelope, but my passion lies with bikejor as our main competitive sport.
Penelope and I have had a successful 2023/2024 season, achieving our qualification for the world champs in Italy. We came 1st in the NATB championship and achieved good results in the BSSF championships with 4th place. Penelope is coming into her prime as she matures and we are seeing her performing better and better, showing her incredible drive for speed and instinct for cornering lines, making her a wonderful bikejor dog.
I enjoy spending time with my family, of which the dogs are a big part, so cani sports are a perfect pastime to bring us all together.
Away from cani sports, I compete in some running and biking events and work full-time as an electrical engineer.
Photo courtesy of @Geoff Pirie
