THE final Husky sled dog race has taken place in Aviemore after organisers said increasing costs made it "impossible to continue", organisers say.
Organised by the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain in conjunction with Forestry and Land Scotland, the Aviemore Sled Dog Rally has increased in popularity with “mushers” ranging from just eight-year-old to over 60.
Held at Glenmore, next to Loch Morlich, future races have been axed due to the fees for the forest trails running through the Cairngorms.
Hundreds of mushers train their sled dogs along forest and woodland trails throughout the year in preparation for the event, and organiser Pete Jones said the loss of the event was a “shame for Aviemore”.
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Reflecting on the final race, Jones told The Press and Journal: “It was a great weekend of racing and was well supported by competitors and spectators, so it was enjoyable.
“It means something, not just to me, but everybody that has ever raced here.”
In its 40th year, organisers have said they could put a race on in England for “a quarter of the price”.
Jones, who took over organising the event in 2018, said: “Because our entry fees are kept quite low, we would have to put our fees up to cover the costs of the Forestry and Land Scotland, so it’s finding that balance at the minute with getting the costing right to put races on in Scotland.
“I can put a race on in England (through the Forestry Commission) for a quarter of the price I can put one on in Scotland.
He added: “There needs to be discussions on their (Forestry and Land Scotland) pricing system to allow us to afford it.”
A spokesman for Forestry and Land Scotland said: “Everyone organising an event on the land that we manage is aware from an early stage of the charges that we apply.
“These were developed with a number of national sporting bodies to produce an events agreement and is a fair and transparent charging structure that is consistent with Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
“These charges are used to cover staff administration time in managing the impact of larger events in areas such as parking, signage, environment and the safety of other visitors and helping to cover the rising costs of maintaining the facilities used.”
Since its beginnings in 1984, the event has seen Siberian Huskies race, including breeds such as Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds, Greenland Dogs and Northern Innuit Dogs.
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