Sign up to the Waggy Races

A Lisburn dog owner and his wife have organsied a cross-country fun run where dogs and their owners will sprint, jog or walk together.

Civil servant Neil Robinson who set up Waggy Races’ earlier this year with his wife Ruth, are encouraging local people to sign up for the next event - a 5km race being staged at Tollymore Forest Park on September 28.

This follows on from the success of the first ever Waggy Races held in Castle Ward in March, where around 100 dogs and over 100 humans competed for the title of Waggy Races champion.

Speaking about the event Neil said: “Waggy Races is a cross country fun run where people compete as a team alongside their dog or two dogs. It is very rare that you get to enter a race and compete as part of a team, which is part of the fun - you and your dog are a team! Dogs bring an element of unpredictability to the event as your dog can get distracted when competing - they don’t actually realise they are in a race.”

Neil, who along with his wife Ruth runs regularly with their dog Zola, explained that canicross is already growing in popularity in other countries, having first originated in colder climes.

“Ruth and I both run, so we chose a breed of dog that we could run with – enter Zola the Siberian Sled dog,” he explained.

He said: “This sport has spread to Great Britain. We saw it as a great opportunity to organise over here – and the Waggy Races concept was born.”

“We are working with Guide Dogs NI for this race and there is an opportunity to donate to them on entering. Guide dogs NI will be present on the day with their puppies in training/ demonstrations.

To sign up and for more information please visit www.waggy-races.com).