Rowde teenager Ayla Lovegrove and her Alaskan Malamute dog, Emme, are the best in the country for dryland sleddog racing.

The pair clinched the Affiliated British Sleddog Activities junior UK championship at the last race of the season at Yateley Heath, Surrey, last month.

What made their achievement even more remarkable is that Ayla, 15, competed against ten other juniors who had two dogs pulling their sled, some of which included huskies who are faster than Alaskan Malamutes, whereas Ayla just had Emme.

Ayla, a pupil at Devizes School, has been sleddog racing competitively for three years having got a taste for the sport through her parents, who both race. Previously she achieved third and fifth in the championships and was the highest placed junior Malamute team in 2009 with her dog at the time, Maddy.

This is the first season she and 20-month-old Emme have raced together.

They were leading going into the final race of the season, but after a disappointing run had a nail-biting wait to see if it was enough to win.

An hour and a half later, Ayla and her parents, Mark and Natalie, and siblings, Hayden and Keira, were jumping for joy when the organisers announced they were the champions with two points to spare.

They also won the KODI Memorial Trophy for the highest placed Junior Malamute team.

Ayla said: “It was brilliant. I wasn’t expecting to come first, but throughout the season we were consistent. I trust Emme and she trusts me, so when we are running it’s automatic.”

Ayla said of her unusual hobby: “It’s so different and good fun. You meet new people and are building up your relationship with your dog.”

The sleddog races are up to two miles in length along woodland courses. Teams go out in intervals and race against the clock.

Ayla’s mum, of Springfield Road, said: “We are extremely proud of Ayla and Emme. We gave Ayla a big hug and totally embarrassed her when it was announced she had won.”

Next season Ayla will be old enough to compete at seniors level.