Megan overcomes heart condition to win contest

DESPITE having two heart conditions which impede her fitness, Megan Jamieson has won her first sleddog competition - beating the current national champion by over a minute.

- BY CATHERINE SMYTH

Megan, 15, from Bacup, attends The Valley Leadership Academy, Stacksteads, where she has been a Sports Leader since Year 7 supporting Rossendale School Sports Partnership events.

Her interest in dogsledding began after her Christmas present was a two-hour experience at Mynydd Sleddog Adventures in North Wales in January 2021.

Megan said: “She [owner Joe Swiffen] personally invited me to join the academy where they train you for national competitions.

“I go every other Sunday. Two hours to get there, training for nearly three hours and then two hours to get back home.”

When she was about 12, Megan randomly developed a heart condition Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) which causes an abnormal and very fast heartbeat and can be triggered by exercise.