Sussex man defends sled dog title for third time

Matt Hodgson is one of 10 UK racers taking part in the World Sleddog Championship

A man from Sussex is set to defend his world sled dog racing title for the third consecutive time.

Matt Hodgson, from Heathfield, is taking part in the four-dog class in Östersund in Sweden on Friday aiming for his seventh world title.

He became the UK's first ever on-snow world champion in 2023.

Mr Hodgson said sled dog racing "brings people together from all over the world who share a passion for these amazing dogs".

Mr Hodgson is one of only 10 competitors from the UK taking part in the event.

He told BBC Radio Sussex: "It's going to be tough.

"There are some very strong Norwegian competitors who get a lot more snow to practice on than I do in Sussex."

He added: "I've always had a love of arctic dogs, ever since as a boy reading books such as The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

"Just over 20 years ago I attended my first sled dog race in the New Forest and shortly afterwards acquired my first sled dog, an Alaskan Malamute I called Ranger."

The World Sleddog Championship is taking place in Sweden

More than 150 competitors from 22 countries plus 1,000 sled dogs are set to compete over three days.

Mr Hodgson said: "Having dogs as your team mates creates a super special bond.

"You have to not only be their trainer, you're their psychologist, nutritionist, team mate and manager.

As a purely amateur sport, there is no prize money involved.

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