What is Dog Sport Scotland?
Thanks for taking the time to come and visit our lovely website! You might not know much about us, but hopefully after you’ve had a look around this site you will know who we are, what we are and what we do.
So here are a few facts about Dog Sport Scotland…
General concept and aims
· Dog Sport Scotland started out as an innovative new project designed to promote and use the sport of sled dog racing to increase visitor numbers to Dumfries & Galloway and, ultimately, Scotland.
· Dog Sport Scotland is working with the Forestry Commission Scotland to create, administer and manage two dedicated sled dog racing and training sites situated within the Forests of Ae and Castle O’er in Dumfries & Galloway.
· Dog Sport Scotland was first adopted by Scottish Enterprise Dumfries & Galloway who recognised the potential economic benefits the project could bring to the region’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
· Early meetings with a range of partners and agencies suggested significant support for the initiative. Dog Sport Scotland now has additional support, sponsorship and funding from Forestry Commission Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway Tourist Board, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Buccleuch Estates, Dumfries & Galloway College, Scottish Power Renewables and Leader+ Dumfries & Galloway. EventScotland provided funding to support the 2005 Sled Dog UK Final and World Championship Qualifier at Drumlanrig.
Interesting Facts
· Dog Sport Scotland is the first sled dog initiative in the UK to encourage general spectators and families to enjoy the thrills of sled dog racing, and to provide supporting facilities, activities and events to meet their needs.
· Dog Sport Scotland is the first sled dog initiative in the UK to proactively work collaboratively with public agencies in the creation of world-class facilities.
· Dog Sport Scotland Project Manager, Steven Lindsay, is one of the UK’s leading ambassadors for the sport. He holds the title of World and UK Sled Dog Champion and has been competitively racing sled dogs for 15 years, since he was 18 years old.
· In January 2005 Steven competed in the IFSS (International Federation of Sled Dog Sports) World Sled Dog Championships in Oregon USA, where he finished 9th out of a field of more than 60 competitors. During his trip to the USA Steven toured various international sled dog clubs and organisations to raise awareness of Dog Sport Scotland and the support the project has so far received.
· The project has been featured in many magazines, newspapers, and televised news programmes. The dogs have also starred in BBC’s Monarch of the Glen as wolves and proved to be quite talented actors!
The Events
· The 2005 UK Sled Dog Final was the first major Sled Dog race in the UK to be designed and organised to attract and involve spectators.
· Activities and events supporting the sled dog racing included a cross-country mountain bike race, a craft fair, children’s fair including a bouncy castle and face painting, food and drink, music and a social evening event.
Dog Sport Scotland – A Company
· Dog Sport Scotland became a limited company in April 2005. The company will not make a profit or a loss during its lifetime and its accounts can be viewed at any time.
· Dog Sport Scotland is managed on a day to day basis by the Project Manager, Steven Lindsay. In July 2005, Melissa Gunn was appointed as Project Assistant. The company operates from the office of Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway, which is based in Heathhall, Dumfries.
What We Do
· Both Steven and Melissa are available to provide a friendly point of personal contact for people interested in the sport. You can find out the ways of contacting the company by clicking on the Contact link at the top or side of the page. You can also contact the two by visiting http://www.slots-online.ca.
· Dog Sport Scotland provides information and guidance for both spectators and mushers. A specially designed ‘musher’s pack’ provides information on the location and quality of the trails, and local accommodation, vets, pet food suppliers, rig repairers and other services which may be needed during their time here. For spectators, we provide general information about the event itself, how to get there, what to expect, accommodation and other things to see and do in the region.
· As part of the Dog Sport Scotland project, this website has been built to provide a one-stop source of information for both spectators and mushers. It is regularly updated and will have information that will be useful for those interested in the sport.