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Event: Neolithic CaniX (6.5.2007) Join the Cani-Cross UK mailing list and receive email updates of future events CLICK HERE When is a race not a race? The unseasonably high temperatures during the month of April were a real worry. The idea of pulling the dogs from the race was a real possibility and plans were in progress to do this. As the weekend approached everyone was pleased to see the mercury start to drop to the point where the light drizzle and chilly wind at the Charlton Clumps start had all the runners huddled behind the check-in tent. It did get hotter towards the end of the race, but the cool breeze stayed with us all day. To cover all eventualities, we had two vets on board, one running with a saline drip in his back pack and German Shepherd Pointer up front, another on the finish line. Water tankers were positioned every two miles with sponge baths (ooh! matron). Paddling pools at the half way mark and finish line were well used with a dog shower for good measure. Both distances had a mass start (as opposed to the interval starts we normally use) giving runners an idea of their position in the field. First dog to cross the finish line was Milly a Border Collie cross in a time of 1:32:33 and the last dog to cross the line was Topaz an Australian Shepherd in a time of 2:41:36 (but rumour has it they hijacked a sponsored walker's picnic). We had 3 women CaniX runners in the top 10 and 3 CaniX men in the top 10 overall. The 19th Neolithic event saw record numbers with 400 runners and 1,700 walkers — it was definitely military manoeuvres on Salisbury Plain that day. All went well including the dogs on the luxury coaches being taken to the two start points. They were as quiet as mice on board and their good behaviour has secured an invite to return next year, a great compliment to all of us and our pooches. With all the CaniX runners finished around 1 o'clock, all that was left to do was sit back, enjoy the free picnic lunch provided by the Devizes Catering Company, the view overlooking Stonehenge and support the full marathon runners and sponsored walkers completing the route throughout the afternoon. Runners and dogs lay in the grass stretching, snoozing, chilling out and in no hurry to head off home. Everyone soaked up the atmosphere and the suns warming rays. The CaniX wildlife raised £1,097.00 for Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Between our two events run in conjunction with National Pet Month, CaniX UK events raised £2,183.00 for Animal Asia Foundation, Cheltenham Animal Shelter, Riding for the Disabled and WWT. Well done doglets and don't forget to make sure your
owners have their camel backs on during the summer... Eileen Photo gallery
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