A dog sledding competition was held in Ishikari, Hokkaido on the 10th, where dogs pulled sleds with people on them and competed for the best time.The spectators cheered loudly as the dogs ran through the snowy fields in an impressive manner. .
This is a tournament started this year by the Japan Dog Sled Federation and the local tourism association in order to revitalize the region. 37 teams from all over Hokkaido competed at a special venue set up in a park in Atsuta Ward, Ishikari City. About 40 dogs gathered.
The competition was held around a course of 500 meters per lap, and included events such as a one-horse sled pulling event and a two-horse sled pulling event, and the participating teams ran their dogs vigorously in time with the start signal. .
As the dogs pull their sleds through the pure white snow, spectators enjoy the powerful race, taking videos with their smartphones and cheering by the dogs' names. I was there.
When the dogs crossed the finish line, their owners petted and hugged them, congratulating them on their success.
A man in his 40s who took part with his dog named Samoyed said, ``Today's performance was perfect. He did a great job, so I thought I'd give him some soup as a reward.''
Riku Hayashi, president of the Japan Dog Sled Federation, said, ``Dog sledding is a sport that is appealing for its speed, power, and happy dogs, and I think everyone will enjoy it.''