Barely celebrating his fourteenth birthday, Shainy Dejaegere-Pignon will participate in the ICF canicross world championship which will take place from April 28 to May 1 in Plédran, in the Côtes-d’Armor.
Of a sporty nature, she practiced horse riding – with a father like Jean-François Pignon, you can’t miss it – and archery at the Milhaud club.
Three and a half years ago, Shainy adopted a border collie and discovered canicross. The start of a passion.
In 2021, she was spotted by the canicross federation and joined the hope pole. The young Vergèzoise is lucky to be educated at the Terre et crayons college in Codognan, which allows her to have flexible hours.
From competition to competition, she successfully passed the stages and was selected for the regionals of the discipline, as a cadet, then for the federal trophy in Poitiers. Well supervised by Gladys, manager of the Canicross Les Gard’o dog club in Aubais, where she is registered, she becomes vice-champion of France. But it’s also a whole family that participates in training, on bikes or on horseback, to encourage him in his physical efforts. You can also come across them during your training in the garrigue or on the Codognan course.
It is therefore with pride that she will represent, with her faithful border collie Percy4 years old, his country and region.
The competition will be fierce
However, the world level of racers and dogs is very high. And it will be difficult for Percy to compete with the greysters, German shorthaired pointer-greyhound cross, to combine endurance, power and speed or eurohound, pointer-husky cross for their power and speed.
“Let’s say Shainy goes to a Formula 1 race with a Formula 3 and she has to compensate with her racing abilities.explains his mother. But the duo is complicit and, whatever happens, it is together that they want to live this incredible adventure.
“I know it will be very difficult to get on the podium with my little Percy but it’s really not the main thing, I will be in competition with myself and it will be a great moment to live with lots of enthusiasts and d ‘dog lover’answers the athlete in the making.
Midi Libre correspondent: 06 32 32 33 98
