Since last Friday.... except scheduled breaks, we have been consistently and happily completing 8 mile training runs! So far; all the yearlings are still doing extremely well.... which I'm so pleased with and I'm sure they are as well :o) but we still have a long way to go!!!

Thursday, November 12, 2009 6:12:28 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

1999 - Oct 2009

So sorry Jacques and Magali :o( for your loss of a great leader...

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 6:09:49 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Since the 2010 race additionally has a night stage, that is, three stages to be driven one after the other; Heini Winters and Lutz Binzer have decided to increase the dog pool.
New:
8-dog class with a pool of 12 dogs
6-dog class with a pool of 8 dogs

Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:12:19 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0] 

Over the past week, dogs have been training on our typical 6 mile loop in the forest! At a guess, it will not be long before we up the distance to 8miles.... as they come back from the run wanting more :o)
All the yearlings so far are doing extremely well.... although still excessive line and harness chewers when stationery through excitement in wanting to  pull hard and run!

Friday, October 23, 2009 1:39:34 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0] 

6 O'clock this morning and the forest was atmospheric with the sound of excited dogs ready and geared up to run... crazy heads full of octane!
After a few weeks of consistent training.... they should start to develop there muscles to coincide with their crazy heads; maybe even settle down a little!!! LOL.

Last knockings of today's four mile run....

Saturday, October 03, 2009 2:17:05 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0] 

Now it’s ready at last, the race invitation for the 2010 race is finished.
Soon the online entry form will be activated, so there’s nothing standing in the way to enter the AT 2010 race.

Race Entry Alpen Trail 2010 (click here)

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 2:26:28 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0] 

Despite the narrow-mindedness of some readers who have mis-interpreted the newspaper articles... We have had some great response/offers from friends in Sweden, Alaska and Ireland.

Our dogs, have always been and always shall be our main concern; welfare, needs and future!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 9:42:47 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [1] 

Previous articles/letters and application documents

Article/Letter Exhibit 1 (click here)
Application Exhibit 2 (click here)

Before I continue.... I would like to thank deeply the following in their efforts and contributions in our planning application from residential, to mixed change of use (residential/keeping of a number of dogs)....

Malcolm Goodwin... my friend and considered brother
Mark Allaway... our vet
Jennifer Baxter... Senior Enforcement Officer of the Lewes District Council
Steve Howe... Case Officer of the Lewes District Council
And, to those that deemed/considered that this application should be approved!

On Wednesday the 16th September, around 6.30PM, our retrospective planning permission was refused for the keeping of a number of dogs; based on 2mins max of noise pollution five days a week while the dogs were being loaded up into the van for training, the potential of noise (not fact), area unsuitability. And strangely enough, the movement of dog food bowls while dogs where being feed!
In the chamber, the local parish/councillors, moved into the above motion to refuse approval of the retrospective planning permission on these basis, and in my opinion, the following can rot/burn in hell with the rest of the neighbours that pushed for this motion.... and deserve no less... for their future.... just mixed bureaucratic politics with no regards to the implications or concerns of life, other then human!

Parish/local councillors
Neighbouring parties/conspiracy groups

Despite all the effects from those previously mentioned, in all honesty; the motion was passed prior to the chamber. It amazes us; that the movement of dog bowls contributes towards more nuisance noise to that of neighbouring dogs/lawn mowers etc.... canny or what to say the least and ironic! From now on.... I will remark on any other dog/child noise I hear and forward that to the appropriate committee/department. As our lives have been turned upside down and inside out!!! One thing is sure in life; being nice gets you nowhere, that is for certain. At the end of the day, it does not matter if our dogs emit noise or not; it purely comes down to owning a number of dogs!!!
Back in the winter of 05/06; we had onsite 14 dogs.... because the neighbours did not know of their existence.... nothing was mentioned. In fact, most neighbours thought we only had three dogs! With this in mind; what can you say.... except that when they knew the existence of a number of dogs, it becomes an issue.... I leave that conclusion to you, the reader! The fact still remains; that many people do not understand the dogs needs, and probably their own, if the truth was known... and people only see what they want to see! (thank you Magali) And have mixed feeling in what they are! or what there needs are! The agonising decisions we are left with; is uncertain at the moment... but will keep this updated with current events until the end!


 

Steve and Donna

Thursday, September 17, 2009 9:39:25 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [4] 

Over the past few months it's been very sad to see Sting's coat and skin deteriorate.... with symptoms of alopecia-X and ringworm issues.
After various tests and a Cushing Disease screening process.... the results to date points to Cushing Disease... brought on by an imbalance loop of Cortisol (steroids) in respect to the adrenal, hypothalamus and pituitary glands; usually due to a slow growing cancer or tumour in non-pituitary dependent cases.

Currently he's on Vetoryl, with a re-screening test in 30 days :o(

Its all very sad in more ways then one, as I owe my changes and progress to him... He was my first Alaskan (proven race dog), and paved the way for me from then forward!

Arden Grange quarantine centre Feb 2006 (click here)

WOW talk about attitude, glad he’s home

Thursday, August 27, 2009 2:04:07 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0] 

The dates for the 13th edition of the Alpen-Trail are now fixed. The race will be held from January 16th – 23rd, 2010 at the well-known locations i.e. Lü (Val Müstair), Prags (Hochpustertal) and in Sexten. There will be most likely a partially new trail offered in Sexten where the landscape will be magnificent. The staff will be pleased for large turnout. It might make your decision easier to participate if you would take a look at Gregor von Gumppenberg’s video in YouTube of the mass start in Sexten up to the Kreuzbergpass.

Video von Gregor von Gumppenberg

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:14:53 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0] 

and today was a beautiful day for spending quality rest time with the dogs... without getting wet :o) bright, sunny and not too hot!

View blog entry at WKS with larger photos...

Saturday, March 21, 2009 2:07:19 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0]