Swindon Dog Sledder Attempting to Become World Champion

Swindon dog trainer Emma Johnston will be representing Great Britain in the World Championship of Dog Sledding this November as she attempts to create sporting history on home soil. We sat down to speak with Emma ahead of the World Dryland Championships.

Emma (41) who lives in the Old Town area of Swindon will be taking four of her eight huskies to the Firle Estate in East Sussex in November to compete nationally. 

It’s the first time that the WSA (World Sleddog Association) World Dryland Championship has been held in the UK and Emma is hoping it will be the first of many competitions for her and her young huskies. This is also the first time she’s been selected for this level of competition. 

“I love the craziness and the noise as the dogs anticipate the start of a run,” Emma said. 

“They are so excited and then there is silence and they just start to run and to see them when they are doing what is natural for them is just beautiful. They work in sync, their movement is like poetry.”

In all, Emma who lives with her son Sunny (aged ten) has nine dogs – eight are huskies. They are Newton, Lea, Tesla, Mouse, Laaly, Chunk, Stinky and Zuka. She also has a pet lurcher called Lettie. The racing team will be made up of Newton, Lea, Tesla and the fourth still to be decided. 

The huskies taking part are all young and together with Emma they are known by their official name of ‘Lost Trail’.

While in training, Emma travels up to five times a week to train in the only ‘local’ place where there is a licence for racing on a suitable trail in the Forest of Dean.

“I must love it as I wouldn’t get up at 4am several days a week and travel 120 miles round trip to train with my huskies. This event takes place on the weekend of November 16 and 17. 

My dogs are young, so I’m not expecting to win, however, this will hopefully be the first of many competitions. I hope to travel overseas competing next year if I can work in partnership with some relevant business sponsors.”

Emma has always had dogs and she has run her own dog training business Speak Dog in Swindon since 2009. Well known to most of the town’s vets, Emma is renowned for helping train owners to respect and love their pets. 

Her huskies will also be competing at Crufts in 2020. Dogs are truly her life in every sense. 

“When I was about ten my nan had a Border Collie called Patch. I loved him and I begged and begged to have him. Eventually, my parents gave in and he became my dog. 

I then went on to have a King Charles spaniel, then labradors and a beagle – now huskies and Lettie. I will never live a moment without a dog in my life – it just won’t be happening.”

Initially she went running with her dogs and was the original founder of a Swindon-based group called Wiltshire Canicross where dog owners would meet up with their pets and go cross country running. 

She also competed in ultra-marathons with her dogs – running anything from 5km to 50 miles at a time. It was at one of these races that she first started sledding. 

“I’m so excited about this opportunity. My main concern is that my dogs enjoy their racing on this big stage and they are safe,” Emma said. 

The Championships involves teams of pure Scandinavian breeds – teams of two to eight dogs. Emma will be racing with a team of four. Based upon circuits the teams compete against the clock. The event is open to the public with more than 2,000 tickets already sold. For details visit - https://www.wsa-sleddog.com/wsaweb/2015/index.php/en/