A FINANCE broker who went from working behind a desk to racing his two husky dogs has made it all the way to the sled dog world championships.

Matt Hodgson, from Brighton, will be the only competitor representing Great Britain at the World Sled Dog Association Dry-land World Championships in Falzè di Piave, Italy, next month.

Mr Hodgson raced in the snow for the first time when he competed in the European Sled Dog Championships in Inzell, Germany, in February and is now feeling much more hopeful about his chances on land.

The 41-year-old said: “There is a big difference this time round as it is on wheels.

“I will be the only representative from Britain going. I hope to be better on the track.

“But it is difficult to know because I don’t know who is going to be there competing.

“I have been doing a lot of dry land training but it has only just got cool enough for the dogs to start running fast again.

“It will be in the mountains over in Italy. The dogs have been having some therapy which is like physiotherapy and have been getting in shape.

“Their trainer has been getting their muscle balance right.”

The huskies he will be using once again are a half brother and sister team of Canadian Eskimo dogs named Invidia and Ira.

Canadian Eskimo dogs are an extremely rare breed of Arctic dog which nearly became extinct in the 1960s and 1970s.

Mr Hodgson said: “It is easier on a track for the dogs to work out where they are going.

“On a sled you don’t really have steering so you are just kind of taken where the dogs go.

“The other thing really noticeable when racing on the snow was the patches of open snow that could cause some issues and slow you down, which you don’t get on dry land.

“I haven’t had a chance to look at the course fully so the hardest part is facing the unknown.”

After becoming British champion for his category in 2013 with his two former racing dogs, Invi and Fury, Mr Hodgson started to venture further afield to compete in the sport.

He will be driving to Italy with Invidia and Ira for the world championships, which are being held from November 18 to 19.