Finally, the hard work and years of preparation payed off. Joël and Ingrid achieved the highest degree of perfection there is in purebred sleddog racing: the title of World Champion in the Open class.

The 2008 World Championship will be known as the most competitive and internationally flavoured event in history to date. With over 250 mushers from 16 countries, competition was very hard and unpredictable. Team Belgium was not swept away, quite the contrary.

Joël destroyed the competition in the O class and finished with almost 12 minutes faster overall on the second placed German Rick Göpfert. He started out with 14 dogs, and ran the last manche on Sunday with 12. He had three clean runs on a perfect trail.

Livina and Werner finished 11th and 15th respectively, in a very tough D1 class out of 24 starters. With only two dogs each, they had to push very hard to keep their ranking. Tim finished 4th in the D2 class with his 2 Alaskan Malamutes, only 53 seconds (total time) behind number 3!

Denis Deluycker was placed fourth after two days of racing in the C2 class. With his four Greenland dogs, he had a slower third run and lost one place. Freddy Guillaume ran in the C1 class with 4 Siberian Huskies, finishing 36th out of 39 finishers.

 Check out the final results here!

Congratulations to all mushers and many thanks to the handlers, sponsors & supporters!

Guy & Patrick ran the distance class (D2-2) and finished 3rd and 4th on 5 starters. 

Meanwhile, Sam & Dries are running the Iditarod. Follow the race updates here. Danny Bulens will start in the Polar Distans tomorrow.

Belgians do mushing? Sure they do!