Shaun Thompson and his Forest of Dean-based husky team are gearing up for a winter challenge.

The 29-year-old Bristol Evening Post picture editor will soon be heading north of the border for the 2005 Aviemore sled dog rally.

Shaun’s young team of three Siberian huskies – Yosh, aged three, Zar, two, and Teka, who has just turned one – will join more than 200 teams and about 1,000 dogs for the rally.

Organised by the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain, the race takes place near the popular ski resort in the Scottish Highlands on January 22 and 23. Teams of between two and eight dogs will run at speeds of more than 20mph around the gruelling 4.5 mile course.

If there is enough snow, Shaun will be riding a snow sled recently bought from Austria. Usually he races a three-wheeled rig which resembles a tricycle without a seat.

Shaun said: “I am really excited about competing at Aviemore.

“We have been training hard for the past three months and competing in races around the country, building up to what is the pinnacle of the British racing season.

“I love the feeling you get when you are out on the trail with the dogs. It is a fantastic way to share time with your pets.”

Shaun has only owned huskies for a few years.

“My fiancée Sally had always wanted a Siberian husky, so in 2001 we got Yosh purely as a pet,” he said.

“We then became aware of the sport and met other husky owners who invited us along to watch the rallies. I was hooked from the moment I saw it.”

In 2003, he and Sally got Zar and the team was completed with the arrival of Teka in March 2004.

Shaun said: “I have been competing with just Yosh and Zar in the early part of the season as dogs taking part must be 12 months old. Now Teka is old enough we are training as a three-dog team and things are looking good ahead of the rally.”

Shaun and his team recently took third place in the two-dog class at the Forest of Dean rally held at Beechenhurst Lodge in December.

Both ‘musher’ and dogs need to be fit to compete and Shaun is grateful to the Forestry Commission for allowing him to use trails at Flaxley and Edge Hills.

Shaun said: “It is great being able to train so close to home. It means we can maximise our time on the trails and reap the benefits in competition.

“Some teams have to travel miles to find suitable training areas, but we are lucky to have the Forest of Dean at our disposal.”

Shaun is looking for local companies to sponsor his team as they take on the challenges of the winter season. Anyone wishing to help, or who wants more information, can call him on 01594 827 517.