LA RUTA BLANCA DE LOS PIRINEOS      LA RUTA BLANCA DELS PIRINEUS      THE WHITE ROUTE OF THE PYRENEES

El Tarter, Andorra.- Bramble and Jimmy are two very beloved and wellknown dogs in this edition of the Pirena Grand Prix Advance. They do not win. The do not beat records. They do not win much speed. However, they are the evidence that two pet dogs well trained and well fed can manage to compete in a great competition at the same standard. Bramble and Jimmy have got dark hair; border collie crossed with Belgian Shepherd, they belong to the skijorer Louise Brown.

Louise Brown, a Brit settled in Sant Celoni ( Barcelona), had never practised skijoring until a few years ago. She arrived at this sport coming from Athletics. In fact, Brown won twice in the Race El Corte Inglés, 10 Km. Long, and has been sub champion in cross modality in Spain.

"Once, after two puppies were offered to me, I went run with one of them and I got much fun. It was then when I got enthusiastic about this sport: First canicross and after skijoring". Brown ads: "Doing sport with an animal seeing how it enjoys it as Bramble and Jimmy do is a unique experience, something very intense".

The young British sportswoman, who has been accompanied by her 7 months son Tom for the whole race, highlights: "this sport is very accessible: you just need two dogs and a pair of skiers. It's very different from mushing. The best of Pirena is the atmosphere of help and motivation you're involved in since the first day. At the beginning I didn't feel being able to run 15 Km. At present I'd be able to complete 30". Louise Brown is sponsored by Ara Lleida.

In last night stage, 14 Km. long, in Grandvalira El Tarter, where participants had to face a steep slope with 680 m. of unevenness and after that a slope downhill towards the finish line, Tom Andres (Gaes) won once more, completing the trail in 31 minutes and 27 seconds. Iker Ozcoidi (Gaes) arrived in second position and the Swiss Patrick Wirz (Powerdogs) was third.