Musher Constantin Grosu from the Snow Dogs Sports Club in Balan town - Harghita County, racing a team of four Greenland sled dogs, clinched the European title at the FISTC Dryland European Championship held in Hungary between November 21-24, finishing at the top of the podium in the C2 category - tricycle/cart mushing over a distance of 5.1 km. The canines that powered him to victory were from the Lonely Stone Kennel.

Also, Constantin Grosu became European vice-champion in the Bikejoring 2 - 1 dog category, where he competed with a Greenland dog from the same Lonely Stone Kennel.

Another two mushers from Cluj Napoca participated in the FISTC Dryland European Championship with remarkable results: Mircea Tautan came in 5th in the Bikejoring1-2 dogs Man Middle Distance category, with two Siberian Huskies from the Transylvanian Blackdemons Kennel, and Florin Rusu finished 4th in the Bikejoring1-1 dog Man Middle Distance category, with an Alaskan Malamute from the Arctic Wonder Dream Kennel.

Mariana Vrabie, president of the Balan-based Snow Dogs Sports Club, pointed out that 145 teams (musher and dog/dogs) from 12 countries took the start in the 2024 FISTC Dryland European Championship in Kaszo, Hungary, with Romania being represented by two sports clubs.

At the age of 58, Constantin Grosu is a veteran of dog-powered racing, probably the most experienced active musher in Romania, as he has been practicing this sport for over 17 years with Nordic sled dogs from the Alaskan Malamute and Greenland breeds, specified Mariana Vrabie.

According to her, entry rules at such international competitions are very strict, the regulations of the International Federation apply in each country that hosts the competition, and animal protection is a particularly important aspect.

"National clubs or federations allow the participation of Nordic dogs on the basis of a Race Passport, which certifies the pure breed, along with the pedigree and the European Passport, which proves a series of mandatory vaccinations. The musher is also required to have a Race Passport authorized by the sports club or federation of origin. Animal protection is a particularly important aspect, the health of the dogs is checked by authorized personnel before and during the competition, including the dogs' transport facilities," said the president of the Snow Dogs Sports Club, who also mentioned the far from modest financial challenges implied by the participation in a competition of such high standards. AGERPRES (RO - author: Gina Stefan, editor: Karina Olteanu; EN - editor: Simona Klodnischi)