Westcountry Sled Dogs
The home of sled dog fun!
Fay and Rod
Fay The Orgaiser! LOL! I am one of the co-founders of WCSD's and also known as the worrier of the group! I keep a check on the website and the emails. If you need to know what's going on, it's me you usually end up talking to ..
| Rod - Fay's Support Network! This is my lovely husband, also one of the co-founders of WCSD's and also known as the negotiator of the group! Rod is excellent at talking .... to people and finding out important information relating to land/forestry/running issues. He helps out with organising places to run, keeping me calm and stress free and replying to emails. Rod does most of the training with the dogs. We have two Siberian Huskies and two rescue dogs who come along with us on our runs, the rescue dogs are too old to take part now and keep warm in the crates whilst watching all the caos!
We both work full time in the education system, and playing with our dogs is a great stress release. Not only do we mush our dogs, we have recently taken up CaniX. I have taken a keen interest in the Open shows locally, and a few Championship shows for added measure. We are both artists in our own way, I am a classical musician and teacher, whilst Rod is a painter when the mood takes him, and a fantatic gardener of tropical plants - you would not believe how many banana trees we have!! |
The group has become very good at organising themselves now that permits are issued all over South Devon - so I just make sure they are behaving themselves ... 
I try to have a go at running the dogs as much as I can, but I am often busy taking pictures of everyone else for our photobucket website!
Maria and Amiee
The Founding Members of WCSD's. Maria is one of the founding members of WCSD's when it began in 2006. Without her support we would not have our social group today. We started to meet each Sunday in Bovey Tracey until we were able to get permits for Haldon Forest. Maria is a wealth of information in the Husky World, whether it be in showing, running or just knowing the right people. Maria is married with two children, the oldest being Amiee. She works locally with the disabled. | Amiee is her oldest daughter, who began by helping us out with the dogs and then promptly took over the rig when Maria injured her knee. Now we can't seem to remove Aimiee from the wheels and she is really beginning to enjoy the night runs too!!!
Aimee is still currently at school taking her GCSE's |
Maria and Amiee are owned by two Siberian Huskies, Smudge and Zunni and a Boxer called Cassie.
Rob and Kelly
The Founding Members of WCSD's. Rob and Kelly are also the founding members of WCSD's. They are owned by their Siberian Husky, Inka, who is striking in her looks. Rob works her using his bicycle (bike-joring). Kelly is a full-time mum of little Jack.
| Rob works as a Show Room Manager for a local Bathroom Company. They hope to have another Siberian Husky puppy soon, then I think the rig might just follow - with a couple of rallies too!
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Phil
Phil was our first member to Westcountry Sled Dogs, with his two Alaskan Malamutes and a Doberman. All have worked in harness for the purpose of exercise, as Phil is a regular on the Show Circuit at the weekends and likes to keep them fit. Phil runs with us to socialize and gossip, as well as exercising his dogs using a bicycle.
Phil is owned by Kai and Maya, who are both Alaskan Malamutes and his Doberman, Max. He works for Plymouth University and is married to Sue, who is owned by a Afghan Hound (this puppy is doing well in the local shows).
Phil and his Malamutes:
Max the Doberman:
Running in Harness:
James
James was next to join us, he still at school taking his GCSE's. He has really enjoyed this sport and has now entered a few rallies, and is slowing building up his team!
He travels up from Cornwall each week, or we meet him down there! Luckily, either mum or dad (Teressa and Ian) transport him and his dogs across South Devon to train either on a bicycle, scooter or a rig.
| James and his family are owned by Ellie, Indie and the newest member of their pack, Maisie. We have now encouraged them to have a go at showing in the local Open Shows, and they are doing really well. James also organises the the Plymouth and Cornish members when we are not available to run.
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Mark, Laurie and Kate
We met Mark and Laurie at the Working and Pastoral Breeds Open Show in 2007. They were with their German Shepherds, and Mark was keen to know more about Siberian Huskies. They joined our group to learn more about huskies and ended up working their German Shepherds, Andy and Tarot on the scooter - with great success.
Mark working his GSD's in harness:
Kate, their daughter who is currently taking her GCSE's, now comes and joins us to help out. Mark and Laurie have many dogs, as they rescue and rehome GSD's. Mark is self-employed and Laurie works with the NHS Mental Health team and is a qualified Dog Trainer. Mark has recently rehomed two Siberian Huskies from the running circuit and a gorgeous puppy, who is closely related to Alice! Way to go guys ...
Here is Yana:
Here is Lazer:
Simon and Emma
We pestered Simon every week at the Open Shows to join us with his Alaskan Malaute, Neeko, and eventually he did - and now we can't get rid of him!!! LOL!! Simon works for a Fire Safety company and trains the public to use fire extinguishers, etc.
Simon and Neeko
Along with Simon and Neeko, came Emma and Scooter, her lovely Doberman. Emma works for the Army in a civilian capacity, I think? I'll update this when I've worked it out! 
ABOVE: Scooter and Emma
Sarah and Steve
Sarah and Steve were coaxed along by friends of WCSD's, and have been hooked ever since. Sarah and Steve work for the Prison Service, and are owned by a Greyhound, Rottweiler and Kaia the Alaskan Malamute. Both the Rotty and the Mal have run in harness as beginners, and Kaia seems to be enjoying himself when out for a run with Sarah.
This is a picture of Kaia, we have yet to capture Sarah and Steve on Camara close up!!!
Jane and Pete
Next to join us was Jane and Pete with their many Alaskan Malamute - the morning with these guys is a right giggle! Pete is a Factory Supervisor/Manager and Jane is a PA to a Headteacher. The mornings are never dull when Pete and Jane join us, either running or at the shows.
Jane and Pete (Simon is on the far right):
More show pictures:
Friends
These are past members and present friends of Westcountry Sled Dogs who support our group in some form. We feel they are members of the club, even if they don't get a chance to run with us, and that is why they are mentioned on our members list.
Lindy and Stewart
Lindy and Stewart joined us in the Spring of 2007 with their Siberian Husky, Inuk, followed by a rescued Siberian Husky known as Nooshka. They stayed with us for a short while to learn the basics, and are now working with the pros of Somerset, Trailblazers. We still keep in touch with the gossip, and we hope we can meet up to train together on our scooters.
Mel and Nick
Mel was introduced to the group by James, as they have started running together in Cornwall. Mel runs several teams of Siberian Huskies on a rig and is keen on the rallies. Her friend Nick helps her out in training the teams using the rig and scooters, and I believe he races in the rallies too. Mel also has a helper known as Zane, he's her pet German Shepherd, he is always hanging around with his ball and follows the Huskies when they go for a run. We rarely get a chance to meet up altogether, but like to keep in touch with the Husky Gossip in South Devon.
Kurt and Kath of Rosegard Siberians
We met Kurt and Kath in the Show Ring with their Siberian Huskies and Doberman. Each time we met, we would catch up with the training gossip. Kurt and Kath are based in Cornwall and they hope to run with the Cornish Members of our group at the weekends. Their dogs are also shown at the local Open Shows and the Championship Shows, and they are doing well at both.
