Matt and Border Collie Dizzy for Canicross World Championships

Matt and Border Collie Dizzy for Canicross World Championships

24 September 2025

A COMBER man and his beloved dog will be joining forces to compete in the Canicross World Championships this November.

Matt Milliken (63) along with his seven year-old Border Collie mix, Dizzy, will be heading to Pardubice in the Czech Republic to represent Team Ireland in a sport which can be described as cross country running with a dog.

The prestigious event takes place from November 6-9 and Matt will be competing in the veterans category.

The world championships draw in excess of 1,000 competitors from over 30 countries each year.

The sport was originally developed as a competitive activity by Scandinavians who were seeking a way to maintain their sled-dogs’ fitness after the winter snows had melted.

From there, canicross has spread across the world and every year the finest athletes compete with the speediest dogs on an international stage at the world championships.

This will be former youth worker Matt and Dizzy’s first time competing on the world stage after first hearing about the sport five years ago.

“I was out running with Dizzy one day and a woman saw us and made me aware of the sport,” Matt recalled.

“The athlete wears a belt which is attached to a harness on the dog. The dog pulls and the athlete tries to keep up with the dog,” he explained.

Since taking up the sport, Matt has enjoyed great success with Dizzy and his other dog, Willow. 

“I am an all-Ireland two-dog canicross champion with Dizzy and Willow. This meant I was entitled to apply to be on Team Ireland for the world Championships, ”he continued.

“It’s pure madness. I’m 63 years of age and I’m competing for Ireland for the first time.”

Matt described the Ireland team’s participation in the world Championships as “a milestone not just for the athletes, but for the growing canicross community across the island of Ireland”.

“Canicross is a sport that celebrates the bond between humans and dogs, and the Irish team embodies that connection beautifully. We’ll put on a show,” he said.

Matt and Dizzy will embark on their adventure to the Czech Republic via camper van, and will travel through Scotland, England, the Netherlands and Germany with a stop off in Liverpool to pick up Matt’s son, Myles, who will support the duo at the championships. 

“It’s something different, that’s the fun of the whole thing,” Matt added.

There are a number of local sponsors of Canicross Ireland, including Downe Vets in Downpatrick and Feedwell Animal Foods Ltd. in Castlewellan.

To follow Team Ireland’s progress or to get involved in the sport, visit the Canicross Ireland website: https://www.canicross-ireland.com/ or follow Canicross Ireland on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canicross_ireland/?hl=en.