Man's best friend shows his muscle

Dog owners raced two kilometres through Bottle Lake Forest on Saturday as part of an event that copies sled-dog competitions held in icier climes.

The competitors were part of the 2km Canicross competition, where participants are strapped to their dog by a leash and run through the forest for the finish line. Marcus King, of Christchurch, won the race with his siberian husky, Oscar.

The Canicross event is based on one run in the northern hemisphere where competitors race over ice and snow.

It was part of the Canterbury Sled Dog Club's Double Banger race weekend, which attracted about 50 competitors from around the South Island and about 150 dogs. MORE>>