By Sarah Dean There may not be a drop of snow in sight but that hasn't stopped 190 Australian dog sled enthusiasts banding together to race in their own 'dry' version of the traditional winter sport. Forget the sleds used to compete in the Arctic regions of the United States, Canada and Russia - in Northern Victoria people jump on specially imported scooters and homemade vehicles, adapted from $1000 mountain bikes, for the fast and furious races. And it's not just the ordinary dog sled racing breeds, such as the Alaskan malamute, Alaskan husky and Siberian husky, that take part in the competition.
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Australia's largest dry dog sled race takes place over the Queen's birthday bank holiday weekend every year
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People ride specially imported 'scooters' and homemade vehicles adapted from mountain bikes to race
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The dogs that take part include imported Nordic breeds and crossbreed eurohounds
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'The dogs love it, they race each other,' organiser Vaughan Winther says
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The fastest pooches can reach 30/35kmph around the 2.2km dirt track just outside of Shepparton, Victoria
One man in the fast race (left) is pulled by two @placeholder dogs, while a girl in the junior category (right) is led by just one dog