written on behalf of Keira Lovegrove by Mrs Natalie Lovegrove (Keira's mum) Keira Lovegrove of Rowde has just come to the end of her first ever 'Dryland Mushing' season.. (Thats lovely I hear a lot of you say.. but what on earth does it mean? - I will explain ) 'Mushing' is a term for a sport or transport method powered by dogs, and 'Dryland' means just that.. Dogs pulling the 'musher' who stands on a 3 or 4 wheeled cart with footplates, steering and brakes on Dryland, when snow is not on the ground..

In Keira's case she has one 'Alaskan Malamute' pulling her around a marked trail which is about a mile in length. Keira and her team mate 'Penny' tackle the special shorter Junior trail with an adult alongside/behind on a bicycle for supervision.. this is very important and of course sensible especially when I tell you Keira is just 8 yrs of age! .. However Keira directs Penny herself using special voice commands..

All of Keira's life she has been surrounded by Alaskan Malamutes as they are the family pet first and foremost. The activities that the family take part in with the dogs come second.. It has been a very long 8 years for Keira to finally be old enough to compete in the 8-12yr Junior classes.. having watched her older siblings compete for years before her.. never jealous though and always helping her siblings and most importantly cheering them in at the finish line!

Finally when Keira reached her 8th birthday on the 16th May 2014 she was allowed to start training.. and train she did.. she admitted to it being a bit scary at first, this was mainly because Penny took off sooo fast due to the very light weight on the rig!.. but before long Keira was in full control of which ever dog she wanted to train with at each training session.. zooming through woodland, along very rutted tank tranks.. and always politely saying a loud but friendly 'HELLO' after she had given the 'ONBY' command to her dog.. to any soliders she passed by on the Plains.. (I often wonder what on earth they think of our crazy alternative hobby!!) On the 25th & 26th October 2014 saw Keiras very first competitive races in the AMWA (Alaskan Malamute Working Association) Junior Championship 2014/15 rally season.. Understandably a little nervous and excited at the same time.. Keira picked our very soft natured boy '2yr Leo' to battle the trail with.. They had a lovely time and Leo was very careful with his precious cargo taking things very steady indeed.. so much so that Keira did mention he was a little too slow but as we explained to her.. she had a positive run and didn't fall off etc!..

At Keiras next race event at the Forest of Dean, which was also 2 races over 2 days she chose 'Sampson' our 1 yr old very determined power house of 40kg! .. as a mother I was a little apprehensive but I knew my husband mark would be behind on the bike and Keira has trained with Sampson too, so off we went to the start line! .. The clock was counting down, and Sampson began to get very hyped up and eager to go.. Keira had a twang of nerves, but no sooner had they set in she decided to just go! .. and go they did!! with a bit of drama too... Sampson had earlier gone out in the adult race with team mate Penny and my husband, this is a longer trail which carried straight on, but the Junior trail now had a sharp left turn!.. Sampson decided that he knew best and went straight through the barrier of ski netting (now put in place) taking Keira and rig with him!.. My heart was in my mouth!.. but Keira kept on directing commands to Sampson to which he thank fully responded (all beit too late for the ski netting!).. The drama over they had a lovely and very fast! run around the trail, I stood at the finish line ready to call them in once in sight only to see another drama unfold.. Sampson rather liked the look of the muddy ditch alongside the trail .. and so, still going forward as directed by his mini musher, thought he could also have a splash in the ditch!.. Keira did a very graceful capsize along with rig into the ditch, but yet again told sampson to wait..got back on the rig (completely covered in mud and with slightly wonky crash helmet) and commanded him into the finish.. I was convinced that this would be the last run Keira would want to do and quite understandably too!.. I prepared myself for a little girl who's pride would be hurt waiting with a big hug from mum.. How wrong was I??

Keira's words after crossing the finish - 'Mum! That was the best run and I want to have Sampson on every race forever!!!' - ok then! a mini Bodicera in the making .. obviously??

A few more races and events were completed over the winter.. and through these Keira has chosen 'Penny' to be her regular team mate.

Their last race of the season took place in Swinley Forest.. again a 2 day event over 1.1 mile each day.. The team had 2 amazing clear runs, free of drama's and mishaps, and full of fun. We're very proud to say they came 1st each day!

But not only that.. this meant that they had also become UK AMWA Junior Champions for the 2014/15 dryland rally season!!!!!

Keira is now looking forward to the next Junior Championship Rally season which starts in October.. Watch this space to see how they get on in the races.. But for now Keira and Penny will enjoy the summer as UK Junior Rally Champions .....

Based on information supplied by Mrs Natalie Lovegrove.