Six-time world champion Matt Hodgson is calling on Sussex residents and businesses to help his Infury Sleddogs team reach the 2026 World Sleddog Association Dryland World Championships in Ströhen, Germany, taking place from 20 to 22 November.
Based in Heathfield, Matt has spent more than 20 years in sled dog racing and has won six world championship titles. In 2023, he became Great Britain's first on-snow sled dog world champion.
It is an extraordinary record for a competitor whose training has taken place on the Sussex Downs rather than in the snowy landscapes usually associated with the sport.
Sled dog racing is not confined to winter. At dryland events, dogs race in harness while pulling wheeled equipment, with the musher guiding the team along a course. Matt and the dogs are now preparing to compete against international opposition once again.
However, the team faces a last-minute funding shortfall. Matt says the combined costs of travel and the paperwork required to take the dogs overseas mean he cannot currently cover the trip without additional support.
The appeal is for contributions from individuals and sponsorship from businesses. Matt has also offered to publicly thank local firms that get behind the team.
“We’re incredibly proud to represent our local area on the world stage, and even a simple share could make a massive difference,” Matt told thebestof Eastbourne in his appeal.
With the championships approaching, the most useful support is immediate. Anyone able to contribute can visit Infury Sleddogs' website and follow the Support the Team link. Businesses considering sponsorship can view the team's partnership information.
If financial support is not possible, sharing Matt's original Facebook video appeal could help the message reach someone who can assist.
Matt hopes that, with help from the community, he and his dogs can make it to Germany and have the chance to bring another world title back to Sussex.
