Too icy for the huskies but Notts folk enjoyed the snow

A SIBERIAN husky racing event had to be cancelled over the weekend – owing to the wintry conditions.

The dogs might be able to cope with temperatures as low as -50C, but it was the ice that meant the British Siberian Husky Racing event at Sherwood Pines Forest Park was called off.

"It wasn't an easy decision to make but when we checked the course on Friday there was a lot of ice and given the speeds the racers go at we decided it was too dangerous for the meet to go ahead," said organiser Sharon Sargent.

"If it was just snow on the ground then we would have been fine, but it was just compacted ice.

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"The safety and welfare of the riders has to come first – they travel at up to 25mph and it just wasn't safe when we inspected the course.

"It is a real shame, for both us as organisers who have spent a long time setting the event up and the competitors who were looking forward to the weekend."

The meet has now been cancelled until next year.

While the icy conditions saw off the husky racing, hundreds of people flocked to parks and fields across the county to make the most of the snow.

People wrapped up and took to their sledges at Woodthorpe Grange Park to make the most of the steep hill.

Among them was Fran Reynolds and her 10-year-old son Louis. Mrs Reynolds, 40, of Southview Road, Carlton, said: "This is the first time that we've come here sledging and it's fantastic.

"It beats doing the chores at home, everyone's having a good time and it's just been great fun.

"I understand there's more snow forecast but that doesn't worry me – the buses have been brilliant in getting us around."

Louis added: "It's great fun playing in the snow, making snowmen and sledging – I'm glad the snow has lasted all the way through to the weekend."

Evan Shaw, nine, was also sledging with five-year-old sister Megan. He said: "We've had snowball fights and gone sledging and built two snowmen, it's been excellent."

Notts County fans helped ensure their match against Sheffield United went ahead on Saturday. Snow had covered the Meadow Lane pitch but fans helped clear it along with club staff and youth team players.

Manager Keith Curle said that it was a "coming together" of the football club.