From First Runs to Team GB: Years in the Making, Sweden Ahead
Racing season may be over, but for the Wales Sleddog Sports Junior Academy, the journey is only just getting started.
What began as a group of young people, many complete strangers from different parts of the UK has grown into something far more powerful. Today, they are teammates, friends, and dedicated young athletes, all brought together by a shared passion for sleddog sports.
And now, they’re setting their sights on something huge:
Representing Great Britain at the IFSS European Championships in Sweden.
A Season to Be Proud Of
The 2025/26 British National Championships marked a major milestone for the team and what a way to finish the season.
The results speak for themselves:
- John – Gold 🥇 (DR2JRNB)
- Imy – Silver 🥈 (DR2JRNB)
- Luciana – Gold 🥇 (DR2J)
- Megan – Silver 🥈 (DR2J)
- Calden – Gold 🥇 (DS1)
- Xavier – Gold 🥇 (DR4JRNB)
- Phoenix – Gold 🥇 (DW1SB)
- Phoenix – 4th (DCSB)
But medals only tell part of the story.
Look beyond the podiums, and you’ll see something even more important confidence growing, resilience building, and young people pushing themselves beyond what they thought possible.
The Bond That Drives It All
Spend even a few minutes around the team and you’ll notice it straight away.
The focus at the start line.
The excitement before a run.
The smiles at the finish.
And at the heart of it all, the connection between each young musher and their dogs.
These aren’t just races. They’re shared experiences built on trust, teamwork, and a genuine love for the sport. The dogs are not just teammates, they’re partners in every sense.
Growing Beyond the Trail
What makes the Junior Academy truly special isn’t just what happens on the trails, it’s everything that happens around it.
Every young person involved has their own story. Over the season, they’ve:
- Built confidence
- Overcome personal challenges
- Learned to work as part of a team
- Developed real responsibility
And now, as they prepare for Sweden, they’re taking things even further.
Behind the scenes, they’re:
- Planning travel logistics
- Organising fundraising efforts
- Connecting with supporters and sponsors
- Taking ownership of making this dream a reality
This isn’t just about sport, it’s about life skills that will stay with them long after the races are over.
The Road to Sweden
The IFSS European Championships in October 2026 represent an incredible opportunity.
But getting there takes more than training.
It takes a community.
Support is already starting to come in, and it’s making a real difference, but there’s still a long way to go. Every share, every conversation, every contribution helps move these young athletes closer to that start line.
How You Can Help
If you’ve been following the journey so far; thank you! The support truly means the world.
If you’d like to be part of it, here are a few ways you can help:
- Donate to the GoFundMe page
- Sponsor a junior athlete or one of the dogs
- Provide raffle prizes or business support
- Share the story with friends, family, and your network
- Tag a local business that might want to get involved
Whether big or small, every bit of support counts.
A Team Worth Backing
These young athletes are more than competitors. They are ambassadors for their sport, for our dogs, and for what can be achieved with dedication, teamwork, and the right support behind them.
From their first runs together to standing on podiums and now chasing international competition, they’ve already come so far.
Now it’s time to help them take the next step.
Let’s get them to Sweden!!
