The normally quiet birdsong along the banks of the Goulburn River at Moira Park Scout Camp was replaced by the barking of dogs, cheering of spectators and the beeping of the starter’s box over the long weekend.
The Northern Victorian Sled Dog Classic returned from a two-year COVID-enforced hiatus at the weekend to finally celebrate its 30th edition of running in Kialla.
The event, which brings people from as far as South Australia and NSW, sets huskies, malamutes, kelpies and a whole host of dog breeds off and running through the park, towing their owners and trainers behind on bikes.
Northern Victorian Sled Dog Club president E’vette Burrows said it was a pleasure to be back on the course, with temperatures staying cool which benefited the dogs.
"We've had a good amount of competitors from Queensland, South Australia, NSW, Victoria,“ she said.
“It's good to be out after pretty much three years, not running.”
Ms Burrows began participating in the sport in the mid-1990s, first with an Australian cattle dog before graduating to malamutes and then Alaskan huskies, and said she was easily snared by the sport and community which surrounded it.
“You'll find a lot of people when they first start, they have one dog. And then next year they'll have two dogs and then the progression and then they get the caravan and then they have to move to property and it's a very addictive lifestlye,” she said.
Australian Sleddog Sports Association president Sean Hennessy, who was race marshall at the weekend, said the sport had been going for some 35 years in Australia.
He has three Siberian huskies, but used to have far more dogs and compete more often.
“If you've got an active dog and you like being in the outdoors, it's a really good way to be out here, to be honest,” he said.
“If people are interested they get in touch with the club here. There are a number of races around the state, around Australia.”
Finley’s Vanessa Kydd raced on Sunday with her rescue kelpie named Cash.
“The dogs enjoy it and we do too and after COVID it’s good to get out there,” she said after crossing the finish line in one of the social races.
“We’ve been doing it since 2016 so we’re pretty new, but it’s exciting — there are about 140-odd entries this year.”
The Kydds came down in 2015 as spectators and before they knew it they went to boot camp, then kept adding more dogs and “the rest is history”.
“It’s been a good sport to get into,” Ms Kydd said.
Racing continues early on Monday.