Cindy Pool & Niels Havenaar

Date of birth: Cindy; 12-07-1990 Niels; 03-04-1986

Residence: Nieuw Vennep

• What do you love about sports with dogs?

That you can see that the dogs are eager to work for you, and that they enjoy it ( and so do we. )

• What breed of dog(s) do you have and what is/are their name(s)?

We have 4 Siberian huskies named Hero, Hunter, Carmen and Corris also we have 3 Greysters named Luck, King and Annie. We also have a Jack Russel named Brownie.

• What sports do you play?

We do canicrosing, stepping and sledding with our dogs.

• How long have you been active in this sport(s)?

Niels grew up with the dog sport , his parents have had huskies for 35 years and his father has always been fanatic about the sled dog races all over Europe. I myself (Cindy) started canicrosing in 2012 with my Jackrussel Brownie. Later I started running with bigger dogs of my friend Sonja, she has Bracco Italiano,s. I have been Dutch Champion with Her dog Milan at the long canicross distance. I met Niels at these races and together we continued in this beautiful sport.

• Which part do you prefer and why?

Niels prefers to be on the sled and in fact so do I, we think sledding is the most beautiful discipline! Besides sledding Niels likes to stand on the Step and preferably with 2 dogs in front of it. I myself love to canicrose with the dogs.

• What are your goals for the future in this sport(s)?

We would like to keep running at the top and hopefully experience many more great European Championships and World Championships.

• What is your greatest sports moment to date?

Niels : my best sports moment was in 2005; there I got second place at the World Championships in Slovakia with my four Huskies.

Cindy : My best sport moment was this year at the European Championships sled dogs in Sweden there I got a 3rd place with our 2 greysters Luck and King.

• What is the funniest or least funny sports moment to date?

Cindy : my least fun sports moment was at the European Championships stepping in Belgium, there I had a hard fall on the second day of competition and because of that my competition was actually over.

Niels: that was last year then I broke my foot during the European Cup of sled dogs in Haidmule and because of that I lost my 3rd place.

• Can you give one tip to other canicrossers/steppers/bikers/sled dog mushers what is best to do/don’t do in this sport(s)?

If you are good to your dog they will be happy to work for you. So working together that is the best thing there is.

• What is your favorite Fastdog product for your dog(s)?

Those are the power bonbons! After training or competition, in addition to the Fastdog Recovery Shake, our dogs also get a Power bonbon , they love it!!!