Husky News

Their breed is usually more at home in the snowy climes of Siberia or Alaska but a group of huskies has taken to Holkham’s sandy shore to help set a world record.

Cheeko, Laal, Nooshka, Iski, and seven more of their canine chums all enjoyed their first ever trip to the seaside on Tuesday as they helped Suzannah Sorrell and her company Big Dog Consultancy make it into the record books.

As Miss Sorrell, 31, and the howling dogs zoomed across Holkham’s golden sands in the winter sunshine they raced their way to achieving the fastest 100 metre dog sled on sand, as well as raising hundreds of pounds for dogs in need.

With four dogs Miss Sorrell completed the course in 11.65 seconds, with six dogs in 11.53 seconds, and with eight dogs in 10.65seconds.

“The dogs were superb. It was just so exciting and such an adrenalin rush - when you are waiting, and then the howling starts and you can feel them tugging, and then they are off like rockets. Puppy power is definitely the way forward!” said Miss Sorrell.

Bookmakers William Hill had challenged Miss Sorrell, who lives in Welborne, to set or break a record by the end of the year - offering her free stake of £500 at odds of 5-1 to raise money for animal charities.

After contacting Guinness World Records she discovered no records existed for fastest speeds for dog sledding and Guinness agreed to create the category for her.

Miss Sorrell, a journalist and director of Big Dog Consultancy, had intended to complete her challenge in the Arctic on November 1 but lack of snow in Alta, Norway, meant she had to come up with an alternative plan with her boyfriend and co-worker Jarowan Power, who has been helping her with her world record attempts.

“It was frustrating that there was not enough snow in Norway, but Holkham is a beautiful place and it is where I bring my two Great Danes. It is my favourite beach and it’s certainly a very different place to go dog sledding!

“I did not ever dream of setting a world record before. It is just brilliant that we have, and that we have helped some of the UK’s poor, unwanted and abandoned dogs.” said Miss Sorrell.

Her partners in her record breaking antics were a group of British Siberian Huskies, many of them rescue dogs, belonging to Sindy and Shafi Ratani, from Potter Heigham.

Mrs Ratani said: “I am so proud of them. They have done really well especially because it is their first time at the seaside. The vast open space of Holkham is very different to the forest trails they usually race in.”

Guinness World Records adjudicator Carlos Martinez said: “We already had records for the most weight carried by sled dogs and the number of competitions won, but until now we did not have a category for the fastest time. Now it is up to people to try and break the new record!”

With her mission now accomplished Miss Sorrell’s favourite dog charities will all benefit from a share of her £3,000 winnings.

They are Sled Dog Welfare, Great Dane Adoption Society, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and a Norfolk greyhound rescue centre.

She is now also planning an arctic dog sled challenge for next year.

Today is the annual Guinness World Records Day. Miss Sorrell’s dog sledding at Holkham is one of many events this week to mark the occasion across the globe.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Big Dog Consultancy’s challenge should contact Miss Sorrell on 07830 041187, email suzannah@bigdc.co.uk or go to www.justgiving.com/bigdogconsultancy