'My dogs are my world' says Moray sled dog racer Ashleigh Dean who overcame a broken foot to win the BSSF (British Sleddog Sports Federation) Championship

UNCONDITIONAL love from her animals inspired a Rafford sled dog racer to win a British championship title - with a broken foot.

Ashleigh Dean’s bid for glory looked over when she fractured her leg just six weeks before her big race.

But her incredible dogs, great family support and her own sheer determination carried her through to the finish line in first place.

Yet the 34-year-old says she doesn’t race for personal glory or honours. Her sport, and her canine companions, have helped her overcome her own difficulties in life.

“I do it for what the dogs give me,” she said. “They are my world, what I live for.

“I have had struggles all my life with mental health but they have given me companionship, routine, structure and most importantly unconditional love. They have saved my life.”

Ashleigh competes on the British circuit in the DR4 category (Dryland Rig, 4 dogs), led by the pulling power of her four specially bred Greyster and Eurohounds - mainly a greyhound-pointer mix.

She bred brother and sister Alba and Nevis herself, gained the services of Odin from Norway - bred by world champion Lena Boysden - and Rab, who was bred in England.

“They are fast, strong and full on. True athletes.”

Ashleigh’s passion for sled dog racing, which began when she watched events in Aviemore in her youth, saw her meet and learn from some of the sport’s most experienced competitors to build up her own knowledge and skill and take it to the next level.

While walking her own husky pup Diesel, who is now 16 and still going strong, she met experienced sled dog racers Tim and Louise Sugars, who took her under their wing and led her to run a team of dogs for the first time.

Soon she made the podium of a European Championship event in France. and by 2017 she was winning at the Aviemore sled dog event which first captured her passion for the sport as a spectator.

She supported Perthshire-based world champions John and Mary Carter in races, and finally got her own team of hounds in 2018.

While Covid-19 restricted participation, she was preparing for the BSSF (British Sleddog Sports Federation) Championship race when she broke her foot. “I was gutted and thought it was all over. “

But backing from her parents Johnny and Susan, who helped with all aspects of training while she was injured, she made it to the competition in the north of England.

What followed was a remarkable story of triumph over adversity.

Preparation was crucial for the big event, and Ashleigh leant heavily on family support to allow her to overcome her injury and stay active.

"My dad came out every night training with me. He drove me to the forest and he did the heavy, hands on work," she said.

"My mum helped feed and wash out the kennels. We did the best we could to keep the training going.

"Then our training grounds were ruined by storms, ruining the surfaces in the forest and causing damage to my dogs feet, hurting their pads and filing their nails to the quick.

"Luckily, a neighbour stepped in to save the day, allowing us to mark out a trail in a part of their field so we could continue to train on softer ground."

Ashleigh said she didn't feel confident going into the British Championships event due to her injury and training difficulties.

"I wasn't sure if my foot was going to hold up. I had only had one practice run on my rig in the field and that had been agony.

"My aims had to change before the race. Before my injury I was going to race. Give it my all. That's what I had been working for for so long.

"I had to be realistic. Now I had to focus on just qualifying for the Worlds and Europeans. I needed to come in the top three….I had to make it round!"

Driven down to the race by her parents, she set up camp and was soon on her own apart from fellow competitors who were able to help her out when required.

"The race atmosphere was exciting, with competitors from all over Britain.

"Competitors (no dogs) are allowed to walk the trail before the race. As I couldn't walk, I was granted a special quad ride around.

"The trail was exciting, a mixture of surfaces - grass, hard pack and bumpy forest trail. It was full of twists and sharp turns, over bridges and through pheasant pens - great for the dogs.

"They love an exciting trail. It was going to be a fun trail to run but a challenging one, even without an injured foot.

"The weather was fantastic but very warm, which can be a concern when running dogs. Too hot and they can overheat but Saturday morning saw perfect race conditions. Dry and cool.

"I was nervous but it was odd. It wasn't really about the course or the competition. I was worried about how my foot would hold out. Was I making a mistake? Should I not risk further damage?

"The first run was fantastic. As soon as the countdown was given, the nerves turned to adrenaline and I was off - my happy place!

"The dogs did everything I asked. On a course they had never seen before they did not put a paw wrong.

"I am always humbled that my team trusts me that much, to run as fast as they can into the unknown. It’s a bond that cannot be described in words. I was so proud of them."

It wasn't the team's fastest run but they got round safely, an important factor as Ashleigh learned of another competitor coming off their rig and breaking a collarbone.

She said she couldn't recall being in much pain during the first day of action but felt it during the evening, when she had to soak her injured foot in a basin of ice water.

Describing day two of the competition, Ashleigh said: "Back in my moon boot and in first position all I had to do was to get round the course safely again.

"I could really enjoy the run and as I knew I didn't have another day to hold out for I took a little more 'risk' going into the corners and improved on my time."

And the result? "We did it. Gold Medal . We became British Champions DR4."

Last week Ashleigh also learned that she won the SDAS (Sled Dog Association of Scotland) Scottish title this year.

Now the European Championships are a target for Ashleigh and her hounds of love.

In order to build on their Scottish and British title triumphs this year, the team plan to head for Germany in November to take on the best that the continent has to offer.

However, the cost of travel and preparations to take part at the highest level are substantial, and Ashleigh is appealing for help from her home area.

“I would love to get there and I am currently looking for sponsors to help us achieve that goal,” she said. “I am also looking for a variety of new training grounds in the area.

“In the last three years I worked hard and saved to build up my four-dog team and the equipment needed to train and race them.

On their achievements this year, she added: “I am always humbled that my team trusts me that much. To run as fast as they can into the unknown. It’s a bond that cannot be described in words. I was so proud of them.

“We as a team have more to give. We will take a small rest in the summer when the temperatures get too high.

“This also gives us a chance to be ‘just dogs’ and rest our bodies and have fun. But then it’s back to training!”