Meet Byker

Byker, age eight weeks

I've wanted a pointer-type, or a pointer cross, for as many years as I've known about bikejoring.  Back in 2008/9, I was reading of a very different approach to bikejoring, outside of the UK.  Here, the entire mushing scene, including bikejoring and dog-scootering, was still controlled by Siberian Husky, Malamute, and other Northern Breed dog clubs, that promoted sleddog racing, only by KC registered pedigree sleddog breeds.  However, I was aware that on the Continent, and indeed elsewhere, husky-types were being very much out competed by pointer and eurohound types.  It seemed to me, that in the temperate climate of Southern England, pointers and other hounds would excel.  Some racing strains in Scandinavia and nearby, reputed to include Alaskan Husky mixes, and some breeds of local European pointers and hunting dogs, were now being referred to as Eurohounds. Although selected entirely on mushing prowess, they looked far more pointer-like, than husky-like, and were often referred to, simply as hounds, as opposed to huskies.

I'm not a racer.  I'm a recreational bikejorer, although in 2008, I was approached and asked if I would consider racing in a British team on the Continent.  The canicross organisation that asked me, actually didn't know of any other people keen on bikejoring at that time.

Step into 2018, and things have progressed.  The UK bikejor scene, although still dominated by northern breed / sleddog breed mushing clubs, is slowly catching up.  Bikejor racing has now entered the UK, and it's breaking free of the grip of traditional sleddog racing clubs.  I'll post more on this in the future, but while in 2006-2010, there were very few of us bikejoring in Britain, now in 2018 there are organised groups, races, and some very good competitors.

Stepping back to 2008, the nearest thing that I could get to a pointer-type, was my lovely dog Belle, a rather small, liver spotted dalmatian.  She was (and still is) a lovely dog, now living with family.  But, she was a much better dog running offline, or on the side of a bicycle.  She LOVED the springer dog and walky dog attachments:

Wolfy was PTS last year, suffering from a tumour.  It broke my heart.  He had been the dog of my life.  We had been separated for several years, but I was always in touch.  I was able to take him on some awesome, but sentimental walks following the diagnosis of his tumour.  I took him to some of our old spots in Thetford Forest:

He lives on in my memories.


Now 2018, I'm living in Norwich with the two staffies.  I'm at that stage, when I want a Wolfy II.


Then Tracey shows me a photo of some puppies that needed a home.  They had been hand reared, as their mother died in labour, on the way to their vet.  Their mother had been a Dalmatian.  Their father, a German Short-haired Pointer.  They were a result of an accidental breeding.  When Tracey showed me their photos, she passed me the phone.  They were located in the East Midlands, but would you know it - I knew the person looking after them.  She had been a canicross friend back ten years ago.  She was looking for active houses to take the pups.


Byker, entered our pack.