In the rolling hills of East Sussex, where snow is a rarity and mud is abundant, an extraordinary athlete is rewriting the rules of what's possible in sled dog racing. Matt Hodgson from Heathfield has achieved what many thought impossible: becoming a six-time world champion in a sport traditionally dominated by countries with Arctic climates.

With four titles on dry land and two on snow, Hodgson's success story is a testament to determination, hard work, and the incredible bond between humans and their canine companions. His secret? Simply putting in the miles with his athletic dogs Lux, Nimis, and Pride on the Sussex Downs, rain or shine.

"We train hard in this country to get the dogs as fit as possible," Hodgson explains with characteristic humility. "It's not really me, it's the dogs. They're the athletes. I just try not to mess it up." This modest champion understands that his role is to support and guide his four-legged teammates, who possess thousands of years of Arctic adaptation in their genes.

Hodgson's journey began with dry land sled dog racing, a sport that has thrived in the UK for decades despite the obvious lack of snow. Using specially designed aluminum sleds with wheels, he mastered the art of racing through what he laughingly calls "a lot of mud" before taking the bold step of transitioning to snow racing in 2017.

The switch wasn't without its challenges. "When I started, I'd never even skied," Hodgson admits. "At first, I was terrible. I couldn't get used to the feeling of my feet sliding away and not being able to steer." But perseverance paid off spectacularly. In 2023, he became Great Britain's first sled dog world champion on snow in Italy, then defended his title the following year in Austria.

Now, this inspiring athlete is embarking on his most ambitious challenge yet. In February, Hodgson will compete for the first time in the class for up to six dogs at the World Sled Dog Association's World Championships in Romania. He'll race with five dogs, including two borrowed teammates, across three demanding 12km events over three days.

The journey itself is an adventure. Hodgson will drive his specially adapted van more than 1,500 miles to Transylvania, stopping in the Alps for snow training along the way. He's no stranger to extreme conditions, having faced temperatures plummeting to minus 30 degrees Celsius, where water freezes solid and van doors can trap the unwary.

"The dogs are fine, they're from Greenland," he says with a smile. "It's me who has to learn to cope."

Why This Inspires

Hodgson's story reminds us that greatness isn't limited by geography or resources. His success proves that passion, dedication, and respect for our animal partners can overcome any obstacle. His philosophy on working with his dogs is particularly heartwarming: "You can never get a dog to do something it doesn't want to do. It's about making it fun and getting them to do it your way." This approach, built on trust and joy rather than force, has taken a racer from the green hills of Sussex to the pinnacle of a sport dominated by Arctic nations. His journey shows that with the right attitude and commitment, we can achieve extraordinary things in the most unexpected places.