Firefighter Gary Crone and his trusty hound Spangle are gearing up to compete against hundreds of athletes in the Czech Republic.

Mr Crone, 37, from Kidlington, and five-year-old Spangle are representing the UK at the 11th CaniX European Championships, taking place in the city of Decin. This is the first time the country has entered the competition.

CaniX is cross-country running while attached to a dog, and is related to the winter dog-powered sports of skijoring and bikejoring, where skiers or cyclists are hitched to one to three dogs.

Mr Crone said he was confident he and Spangle would do the country proud.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to the competition — there's some fantastic runners in Europe.

"It's been a long time in the planning and we want to win. It should be fun."

Twenty-seven UK CaniX athletes are competing against 12 other European countries at the championships.

The UK team includes the current holder of the Spanish National CaniX Champion- ships and a Welsh 1,500m record holder.

Mr Crone said: "I heard about CaniX through a friend and it seemed a fun thing to try out.

"Spangle and I came second in our first race a couple of years ago and last season we took part in just about every event and even won the male age group, 13 to 39.

"They picked the fastest three racers in each age group to represent the UK."

The European Championships start tomorrow with a 2km timed cross-country sprint. Competitors start at 30-second intervals and aim to catch the athlete in front.

On Sunday there is a 5km race, with everyone starting together.

Mr Crone — the only competitor from Oxfordshire — said: "It will be carnage with all those dogs."

Finally, each team's top three athletes will compete in a 6km relay.

Mr Crone said competing in races with Spangle had been great fun.

He said: "I've really enjoyed it — I've met people from all over the country and all walks of life. It's a great sport and kills two birds with one stone — it keeps me fit and my dog fit."

The UK CaniX season runs from September to May.

Last season 1,511 teams competed at 15 events in 13 counties across the country.