29-09-2024 Cairngorm Sleddog Centre & SSF Supports RSPCA & UK Vet Ass; on UKKC & Crufts Isssue/SSF report;
For many year I have tried to bring the UK up to speed with International "sleddog federations"..helped SDAS back into ESDRA after WISE was removed from ESDRA & IFSS...due to them doing nothing for the sport in the UK..and not paying any membership fees. I spoke out about the UK pure breed clubs not wanting to be involved with the official sport links..and condemned main BSHRA members for splitting the sport in the 90s..all down to pedigree & UK breeders (which dont have any real race background in anything) ..now its time for them to have a good look at themselves to see what they did for the sport here in the UK..they all support and also are involved with Crufts & some work for UKKC.
The SSF was started in 2005 ..It joined IFSS & PRIDE ..but stood down and got its membership fee back from IFSS when it was told UKSF wanted to join IFSS.SSF still is a daily working Scottish Sleddog Fed;working closely with IFSS development & intuducing other countrys into the sport & welfare issues.
UKSF paid IFSS there membership fee but to date know one knows who they are?They should be involved with ATV & Forest Enterprise issues and taking the sport forward ie/bringing a Dryland International event to the UK & running a UK championship event,taking charge of welfare issues other than so called "week end fund raisers..held at fetes & fairs mid summer in 20c plus".. simply doing something .. setting up a website,talking to UK clubs would be a start?
When SSF was an IFSS member they spoke to all the UK clubs about joining IFSS plus spoke in details with DSS (now I believe gone bust a year ago/£195k?). SSF tried to bring an IFSS Dryland event to Scotland with DSS ..but after months in talks with DSS on a bid to bring the event ..DSS came up with nothing.
UK clubs SSHC & SHCGB declined to even speak to SSF about joining IFSS.. as for ABSA on there website they fly lots of International sleddog links..they are not members of one and with there policy about castration for any dogs in there " special mixed breed race event..speaks volumes about them and there UK racing input. .. both SSHC & SHCGB gave the ludicrous reply that they were only members to UK Kennel Club .The very fact both RSPCA & the UK vet assocation have now come out of Crufts and are now not supporting the UK Kennel Club must now be taken into account via all those club members?
UKs so called "breeding" line for sleddogs have been policed by UK kennel club breeders/show judges/and other so called rule makers since the start of the sport here in the UK ..RSPCA & UK Vet/Ass; have pulled out due to breeds being ..breed for looks etc..our sport now is on the front line due to years of "breeding"..for all the wrong reasons ..and asking those dogs to "race"..to be members of a club who pays & supports UKKC I now believe is wrong.
CSC & SSF have been in detailed talks with Mark Evans head of the UK Vet Ass; and a full detailed document has been passed on to them about this matter.
Sadly the sport here in the UK has not gone forward for over 20years ..thanks to a small number of Scot teams who helped steer SDAS into the official world of sleddog racing..SDAS are now the only official sleddog club in UK due to them being members of ESDRA .But its time this country starts to input ESDRA ..ie Euro/events help in Scotland ,inter club events ..National team..not just those who can afford to go to Europe.Bottom line the UK has not even got a UK championship,they also need a Federation who everybody knows about..not just set up for a secret few.£ backing is easy to get if you have something to offer! I must underline personally Iam not a member of any UK club..nor race in the UK simply down to running my centre 24/7 and with John racing in USA now ..all our personal interest is with him when it comes down to £ outlay. But I find it very sad that a club like SDAS cant even afford a good 1/4 monthly magazine ..and events are still only offering a bag of dog food to the winner ..no off season input..in the last few years awesome results in IFSS events ..to date only one IFSS Dryland winner is an IFSS members!..the rest freeloaded events ..just ask for there membership number when they speak about this letter??
