What happened?
A family-friendly sled dog competition took place.
Who was there?
Over 300 husky dogs and 100 teams are participating, as well as the support of family/friends and officials from the BSHRA (British Siberian Husky Racing Association.)
Why did it happen?
Huskies are an extremely energetic and lively breed of dog that enjoy sled dog racing. They liven up at the atmosphere and enjoy being around all the other dogs, but as soon as they are harnessed and the countdown for the race begins, they become extremely excited and are raring to go. Sled dog racing is usually thought of to be an arctic sport, usually in colder countries with snow, but it often happens across England too during winter months even though it is not as well known as a sport. BSHRA has been around since the end of the 1995/1996 race season and every year they get more and more people turning up to participate and support the events, as they host a variety of different races from six-dog sleds all the way to junior races.
When did it happen?
The first and second of February, 2014, however there are more races taking place on the 15th/16th of February, and the 1st/2nd of March 2014 and then the racing season will resume again in November 2014 because the weather is too warm for the huskies between the months of April and October and it is too dangerous to their health to let them race. All races consist of two days with one race on each, so the dogs are not overly tired out.
Where did it happen?
Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England.
o Primary research
- Interviews, surveys, questionnaires, observations, focus groups etc
Interviews with racers show how the dogs extremely enjoy the sport, and get excited as soon as they see the rig and the harnesses brought out. They can only race during winter months as the summer is far too hot for them to go outside during the day, let alone race due to their thick coat.
The atmosphere and support for the events are supposedly friendly and enjoyable, and the crowds that turn up are extremely supportive of the racers and their dogs. They disagree with anyone who states that the racing is cruel, because they live with the dogs and can instantly tell that they enjoy it, and it also uses up some of their energy. According to one person 'their eyes light up as soon as they can hear the other dogs and see the rig and they're just raring to go'.
Interviews with racers show how the dogs extremely enjoy the sport, and get excited as soon as they see the rig and the harnesses brought out. They can only race during winter months as the summer is far too hot for them to go outside during the day, let alone race due to their thick coat.
The atmosphere and support for the events are supposedly friendly and enjoyable, and the crowds that turn up are extremely supportive of the racers and their dogs. They disagree with anyone who states that the racing is cruel, because they live with the dogs and can instantly tell that they enjoy it, and it also uses up some of their energy. According to one person 'their eyes light up as soon as they can hear the other dogs and see the rig and they're just raring to go'.
o Secondary research
- Internet articles, videos, audio, books, magazines, journals
'BSHRA exists purely to administer the annual BSHRA British Husky Racing Championship. As such, it has no membership, no formal committee, but is run by an organising group. The body consists of race organisers with additional people who ALL contribute to the successful running of the series. We pride ourselves on top level competition throughout each classification - remember that people in 20th place are still trying to beat a fellow competitor into 19th place!
ALL our competition takes place between the start and finish lines - the camaraderie at the race site is second to none, even between people competing for the top slot.
Alongside the main championship, we also run Rookie Musher and Veteran Team and more recently, an All-Bitch team Championships in addition to Courtesy classes and occassional junior classes. These serve to encourage people new to mushing to enquire and learn about nutrition and safe effective training methods to maximise the dogs' potential. It also encourages mushers to keep older dogs fit and healthy in the knowledge that their 'elderly' team is catered for as well as competing on a 'level playing field'.
Every race is electronically timed to 1/100th of a second using a state-of-the-art TAGHeuer system - and yes - after 5 miles, a race has been decided by 5/100 of a second!! From our first season, BSHRA has steadily attracted more and more entries year on year for people interested in good competition. Historically, some have attracted a phenomonal 30-40% more than in previous years! The trend has continued into subsequent seasons with most races showing an increase each year. We started with 45 entries at our first race and recently pulled in 143 teams to an event the weekend directly before Christmas!
BSHRA aims to provide a fun day's competition for all Sibes and their owners. The racing season starts in November and runs through to March. For uncomplicated fun and good competition, come and join us; you will be made most welcome.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sled_dog_racing
http://www.huskyracing.org.uk/
http://www.webheads.co.uk/sleddog/index.htm
'BSHRA exists purely to administer the annual BSHRA British Husky Racing Championship. As such, it has no membership, no formal committee, but is run by an organising group. The body consists of race organisers with additional people who ALL contribute to the successful running of the series. We pride ourselves on top level competition throughout each classification - remember that people in 20th place are still trying to beat a fellow competitor into 19th place!
ALL our competition takes place between the start and finish lines - the camaraderie at the race site is second to none, even between people competing for the top slot.
Alongside the main championship, we also run Rookie Musher and Veteran Team and more recently, an All-Bitch team Championships in addition to Courtesy classes and occassional junior classes. These serve to encourage people new to mushing to enquire and learn about nutrition and safe effective training methods to maximise the dogs' potential. It also encourages mushers to keep older dogs fit and healthy in the knowledge that their 'elderly' team is catered for as well as competing on a 'level playing field'.
Every race is electronically timed to 1/100th of a second using a state-of-the-art TAGHeuer system - and yes - after 5 miles, a race has been decided by 5/100 of a second!! From our first season, BSHRA has steadily attracted more and more entries year on year for people interested in good competition. Historically, some have attracted a phenomonal 30-40% more than in previous years! The trend has continued into subsequent seasons with most races showing an increase each year. We started with 45 entries at our first race and recently pulled in 143 teams to an event the weekend directly before Christmas!
BSHRA aims to provide a fun day's competition for all Sibes and their owners. The racing season starts in November and runs through to March. For uncomplicated fun and good competition, come and join us; you will be made most welcome.'
http://www.huskyracing.org.uk/
http://www.webheads.co.uk/sleddog/index.htm
o Audience research
- Demographics, audience classification(socio-economic, age, gender, occupation, education), media preferences, buying/consumption patterns
Target audience of families, specifically animal loving ones with young children between the ages of 8 and 13. It would be trying to encourage them to visit an upcoming event, and support the activities as well as informing people who believe the racing to be cruel that it isn't, as long as the animals are well looked after because they enjoy it greatly.
Target audience of families, specifically animal loving ones with young children between the ages of 8 and 13. It would be trying to encourage them to visit an upcoming event, and support the activities as well as informing people who believe the racing to be cruel that it isn't, as long as the animals are well looked after because they enjoy it greatly.
o Market research
- Product market, competition, competitor analysis
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/clips/p01b8kl4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-25896311
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/clips/p01b8kl4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-25896311
o Production research
- Content, resources (personnel, equipment, set up, cost, viability)
· Interpret results – collate research, evaluate and summarise the research that you have.
The only real cost of the filming will be the travel costs, however that is being covered. The cameras and sound recording equipment is being hired free of charge by the college, and there are no fees to film at the competition itself.
The research I have shows that sled dog competitions in England - especially in the South East - are not often thought of, and it is considered to be more of an arctic sport than one that takes place here. Some people also have a bad view on the events, as they believe it is cruel and the dogs are forced into racing. When speaking to mushers, however, they have a completely different light and understanding of the sport, and speak of how the dogs enjoy it and it also allows them to use up their large amount of energy that they are unable to do if the owners were to simply walk the dogs like a usual person and breed.
I will be able to film a competition that takes place within the South East, and is hosted by the BSHRA. It is an event that has a good, friendly atmosphere and attracts a lot of people including families. This could possibly attract viewers to visit an upcoming event and support the competitions, as well as showing them first hand that it is not as cruel as many people believe it is.
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