Since 2003, we have been travelling to France to compete at races on snow, or at least Keith has been competing, I have been helping and making the arrangements!

In January of 2003 and 2004 we travelled to the Savoie region of France and Keith competed in the Trophée de Savoie 8-day stage race.  Amazingly, the first time Keith had properly used a sled was the first day of racing in Meribel.  Talk about jumping in at the deep end!  Luckily, he and the dogs finished the race with no broken bones and caused no damage to any of the other competitors!

In 2005, the Trophée was cancelled for good and we decided to venture out on our own and go to some independent races run by the French Federation, the FFST, and also train at a specialised sleddog training area in the Vercors region of France.

We did the same in 2006 and quite a number of other mushers from the UK were also in Vassieux for a week; Max & Heidi Wightman, Steven Hopley & his partner Fiona, and John Witt and Vicky Lee.  Michael McRae also travelled with us to the 2 races at Les Fourgs and Cuvery. 

Unfortunately, due to the lack of snow in Europe in 2007, we were unable to make it onto the white stuff.  We did get there in 2008 though over Christmas and New Year along with Steven and Alison.  The snow was great and Keith competed in the Alpirush stage race.

We have met lots of great people whilst mushing in France, and Keith and I have to say a big THANKS to Sha and Damien Depindray and their 2 sons, Kim and Scott, for all their help and hospitality.  Also to Cat Mathis and Thierry “Doc” Fontaine for giving us enough information to get to Vassieux the first year and helping us out on numerous occasions in subsequent trips.

If anyone is interested in running their dogs in France and would like information, please drop us a note and we will be happy to help.

Results

2008               Alpirush #10                                         1^st place    6 dog non-nordic

2006               Les Fourgs (French Championship)          3^rd place   4 dog non-nordic

                      Cuvery-Retord (FFST)                            1^st place    4 dog non-nordic

2005               Autrans (ESDRA Cup Race)                     1^st place    4 dog non-nordic

                      Orcieres (French Championship)              1^st place    4 dog non-nordic

2004               Trophée de Savoie                                 1^st place   4 dog non-nordic

                      (Monty and Spike, along with various others from the Huksies and Trailhounds)

2003               Trophée de Savoie                                3^rd place   4 dog non-nordic

                      (a mixed team of Huskies and Trailhounds)